The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-25
THE ATTEMPT TO IKPEACH ANDREW
JOHNSON.


The Union exclaims, in staring heads,
1.-THE Presideut Inps.chs1f" This i no
fast. He is not yet fmpeashed. The house
has asked the senate to impcach him. 1ke
debate on the passage Of he resolutioA -
ing the senate % impeach bin, was consin-
ued on Monday, and passed by strict party
vote of those present, viz: l26 to Al. Quite
a number of short speeches were made on
the resolution, the radicals taking the ground
that the removal of Stanton was vio'asion
of the tenure of Office act and therefore the
President was liable TO impeachment. That
is the only point they make, ana that was
.blv answered BY Judge Woodward, Of
Pennsylyan, brief synopsis of his remarks
being furnished, by telegraph, as follows:
Mr.. Woodward, (of Pennsylvania obtain.
ed the floor, refusing to yield q few minutes
time to Mr.. Washburne to conclude his re.
marks, because Of the ISLANDERS uttered BY
him against the President, and proceeded to
address the house against impeachment.
He argued that any impeachment of the
President, or any idea that Mr.. Stanton was
within the protection of the tenure Of Office
act, was bluader. Whatever power the
Federal Government possessed was vested
10 the President and the Senate could on.
" regulate the exercise of the power. II
Congress- meddled with it. Congress be-
came tresspasser. He argued that de.
bate in the first Congress settled the ques.
ton absolutely, and demonstrated the ute,
unconstitutionality of the act of March I'd
1867. He verify believed that the President
was trying to restore the Union. to paci6cate
the country and to administer his high office
with faithful regard to the obligations Of
the constitution and the best interest Of the
people. He seemed to him to be true
friend to the whole of his country; faith.
full public officer and entitled to cabinet 9TH
GERS who were his friends and not his enc
mics. At the risk of denunciation, hs
(Woodward) denied the right of the Senate
to try an impeachment The House wal
not composed, as the constitution required
of members chosen by the people of the sew
eral states, nor was the Senate composed o
two senators from each state.
In conclusion be said, "Mr. Speaker, 81
sure am that the American penple will re
spect this objection that if ] were thePresi
dents counsellor would advise him, If yol
prefer articles OF impeachment 70 demur, DOT
| to your Jurisdiction and to that of the sen
| ate, and to issue proclamation, that Will
he held himself Improbable for misdemean
or in office, before constitutional tribunals
he would never subject the Office he holds i
trust for the people, to unconstitutional fral
mentary bodies who propose to strip him c
it. Such a proclamation, with the arm
!, and navy in hand to sustain him, would NEE
a popular response that would make an en-
of impeachment and the impeachers.'
The resolution having been adopted wi
now go to the senate, where the trial wi
take place, the senators acting as the Jur,
and Chief Justice Chase presiding. tn
trial will be a most remarkable one, as form
ing one step in the march of fanaticism
an overthrow of the government and the e
adjustment of central military despotisn