New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-02-25

which In the hands OF the government appropratihB
portion Of the money to his personal usef Was not he
tho man who would be- in the public Judgment,
condemned as the greatest usurper OF modern umesf
The plot OF which the removal Of Mr. Stanton was the
outrowh was thls The President desired to get control
OF the War Department In order, as In 1891 that the
Ministers OF War and the army materials might be used
for the purpose Of enabling him to succeed In his apra
tons the next Presidency Of the United states He
knew that Il he could corrupt the leaders OF the army II
be could bend them to his WILL he wond have the South
erp States In his CONTROL and could send to the Demo
cratic Convention on the Ith OF July next men
who would support his claim for the Presidency
on the allegation. which he could well carry out and
which other man could make good, tnat Win tne army
and with his influence among the Leaders Oh s sout no
could the electoral vote OF those zen STATES ny e1
n nerehance this man could get sufficient votes In the
North to elect him. when added to the votes or the ten
mort If the army to be inaugurated President at
| the hazard Of a civil war; 1t was this day that
the army but one man had found to obey this will,
and he Old impotent and weak the object OF sympathy
This day said Mr. Boutwell, in conclusion the country is
safe. Though there may be momentary e4eltemen!'
fer as sometimes the sun sets behind the day clouds In
the West and the thunder alarms the timid and the
| ing with celestial beauty, 1t will be II we
do duty remove the man from the olee which
he holds redeem the Republic and set an example 70 an
posterity which it will gladly initiate II unhappy IKE
circumstances shall again arise, and to postery anu MS
Mr. KERR dem, fndJ next addressed the House in
opposition the resolution. He would not consider INC
question as partisan one It Infinitely above that
character He and those with whom ne acted ha9 no
knowledge OF the Presidents intention 10 do what had LED
TO this movement They bad, therefore only TO meet the
great duties OF the hour Upon their connections he was
utterly unable TO discover any single ground Tor I'm,
parchment that rose above the meTest partsanshp The
President had removed from his Cabinet an offensive
officer. He had done so under the Constitution ana IN
spite Of law OF most doubtful meaning about when
the opinion Of its authors differed widely lie had i
right to do this Every President IN the history oi inc
| Government had done as much. .,,....o,,,,,o,,
Mr.. MARSHALL Dem, ILL followed on the same slde'
and spoke OF the power of small minority OF men Oh eh
treIne views, in the Republican ranks Tor tho past SIX
years remarkng that the majority OF the House was
being whipped into this measure, as II mas been whipped
into every other measure by their Radical leaders.
! Mr.. BINGHAM rep, Ohio rising to point OF order
objected TO the words whipped into" iii.
| The SPEAKER ruled that the words were not parma
Mr. EiDRIDGE Dem, VIA desired to remind the
Speaker that he had Ovorruled like point pf order on
the ground that the words applied not to particular men"
bers but TO party
Before Mr.. Stevens commenced his speech, which he
"a 4! o'clock, Mr. Bingham asked that his time be ex
tended from the nail hour 10 which all speeches to-day
were limited 10 an hour but strong opposition was
made OH the Republican side OF the House. the members
wishing TO- have the question brought to vote at
o'clock.
Mfr. BINGHAM moved to suspend the rules to enable
him to make the notion but he received only votes 10
sustain him.
Mr. STEVENS, who had scat at the Clerks desk,
the first sentence he asked account Of the weakness OF
his voice that his speech might be read by the Clerk
That privilege granted, and the speech was read In
clear distinct, and well emphasized tones by Mr. Me
PHERsoN
SPEECH BY THE HON. THADDErs STEVENS
Mr.. STEVENS rep PENN closed the debate. He said
81 agree with those gentlemen who have gone before me-
that this grave subject and shonld be gavey treated
II s important the high official who IA the subject OF
these charges and 1t is Important to nation Of forty
millions OF people now free, and rapidly increasing TO
hundreds Of millions The official character Of the Chief
Executive OF this grand nation being thus involved the
charge If falsely made, is cruel IT, on the other
hand the msdemeanors and usurpatons charged against
him are true he Is guilty OF as atrocous attempts TO
usurp the liberty and destroy the happiness OF this nation
as pepetrated by the most detestaoe yrant
who ever opposed his fellow Let US, therefore DIS
cuss these questions In partisan spirit but with legal
accuracy and impartial justice. The people desire no
victim and they will endure usurper The charges, 80
far rs shall discuss them few and distinct Andrew
johnson charged with attempting to the powers
OF other branches OF the Governments with attempting
10 obstruct and resist the execution OF the law with
sprson OF bribery and in the open violation OF laws,
which declare his misdemeanor and subject him TO
fine Imprisonment and with rem owing from office the
Secretary OF War during the session OF the Senate with
out the advice consent Of the Senate and with viola
ton 9th section OF the actenttled an act regulating
the tenure Of certain evil officers There are other Of
lenses charged the papers referred TO the committee
which may consider by themselves In order to sustain
| impeachment under Constitution do dot hold that
IL is necessary prove that crime Is an inhcable Of
tense / agree with tho distinguished gentleman from
Pennsylvania on the other side of the House. who holds
this to be purely political proceeding. It Is intended
for remedy mafeasance in Office. and to prevent the
continuance thereof Beyond that IL is not intended
personal punishment for past onses for future eX
I ample Impeachment under our Constitution
is very different from impeachment under
the English law. Tho trainers Of our
Constitution did rely for safety upon the ayengng
dagger OF Brutus but provided peaceful remedies which
should prevent that necessity England had two systems
OF jurisprudence for trial and punishment OF COM
offenders and for the trial OF men in higher sta
lions, whom II found difficult 10 convict before the
ordinary tribunals This latter proceeding by inn
parchment or by bills Of attander" generally practced
punish maefaotors. But the system degenerated
into political and personal persecution, and men
tried condemned and executed by this Court from mag
nant motives Such was the condition on the English
laws when Constitution was framed and the Conven-
ton determined to provide against the abuse OF that high
powell that revenge and punishment SHOULD not be in
| hicted upon political personal enemies. Hence the
whole punishment made to consist IN removal from
office, aud bills Of atainder wholly prohibited We
to treat this question as wholly political In which, II
an officer Of the Government abuse his trust attempt
peryert 10 TO improper purposes, whatever be his mo-
tive he becomes subject TO impeachment and remov-
al from Office. The ohense being indictable
does not prevent impeachment, but is not neces-
sary to sustain IT, (see Story's Commentaries
on the Constitution, Madison and othorsl.
such Is the opinion OF elementary writer's Nor can
any case OF impeachment tired in this country be found
where any attempt made to prove the oense crmi
nal and indlctable. What, hen the official mlsdc
meanors OF Andrew Johnson disclosed by the evidence
On the ID day Of March, 1867. Congress passed Act
entitled An act regulating the tenure OF certain Civil
Offices" Among other provisions 1t enacted that no
officer who had been appointed by and with the advice
% ha