Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-02-24
To-day's Proceedings.
MONDAY. February "a.

" 00.y L 44OSSSoAA6Ss
MONDAY, February "a
SENATE.-The Chaplain, Dr. Gray, IN his
prayer to-day, begged the Senators, in the
midst OF turmoil and strife that now ragged
around, not TO be unmindful that God reiSns,
and that both Senators and Rcpresen "a lives
should come prepared 10 discharge the high
ana dinicuit duties now depending upon them
with clear hearts and consciences. ard that
me people throughout the whole country
would respect inviolably the laws.
!lhe galleries were all crowded, and the Ut
mos, silence prevailed.1
After the readiag of the journal, a number OF
ferred.
Mr.. Johnson presented joint resolution of
Legs slatnre OF Maryland, relative TO the rights
OF naturalIZed citizens, which was referred to
Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr.. Sumner introduced bill TO renew the
charter of the CRY OF Washington. Referred TO
Committee on District OF Columbia.
Mr.. Edmnnds called up the bill regulating
the presentation OF bills 10 the President and
the Return ol the same.
Mr. Drake was not prepared 10 offer an
amendment 10 the bill, but the second section
left IL 10 person outside o! Congress To decide
when bill became a law, to-wit: The Secre-
tary OF State, and il also lett II in the power Of
the President 10 deliver or not 20 de1iv-r .ha
bill TO the Secretary Of State II, tnbupht thar
the two Houses Of Congress and their o;ficcrs
,nSu,d alone have the po.sef to declare when a
bill became n law.
Mr.. Edmunds diI no; see the necessity of
providing against the Imaginary dancprSug-
gested by the Senator from Missouri. tNr
Drake.)
Ar. 3uckalew thought it rat her improper 10
pass law the effects OF which would be TO
amend the Constitution of the United States
The Constitution declares when a bill shall be-
come A law, and now this bill is brought for
ward TO alter The meaning of the-orgonic law.
Mr.. Davis asked that the bill be laid over.
Mr.. Edmunds said there was nothing fright
ful or revolutionary IN the bill.
MIR. Davis did not think the honorable Sena-
tor IRON Vermont, Mr.. Edmurds,) was a very
good Judge OF what was revolutionary.
Mr.. Hendricks explained thTt thIs bill had
been inspired by the circumstances attending
the action OF the Executive on the bill striking
the word white from all laws and o. nances
relating TO the District OF Columbia. He. how
ever, did not wish TO be understood that its ef-
feet would le 10 make that bill valid.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, racess
taken at II l. on Saturday night expired at 10
O'Clock this morning, and the House was called
10 order promptly II that hour-the galleries
being crow ded to their utmost capacity; but the
attendance OF members upon the floor az the
opening was meagre.
Mr.. Ashley tO.) opened the business of the
day, by speaking In favor of the resolution of
impeachment. He sand he approached this
question With no feeling OF party spirit. but he
endea Nored 10 take broad view OF the whole
subject. Before proceeding with the line of his
argument he desired to call attention TO the
statute under which he believed the President
was guilty. and he then read the 5th section OF
the Ienure-of-cftice act. In defiance Of this
provision Uf law the Pres ident had on Friday
last removed the SECRETARY of War. While he
regarded this a. one of the smallest offence of
which this man had been guilty, Yet il was
sufficient TO satisfy all that the Presidents
purpose was 10 violate the law. The
offence OF Mr.. Johnson must satisfy all OF the
justice OF impeachment. who had hitherto held
THAI the President could not be impeached, eN-
cept for some direct violation Of statute law.
He could not call 70 mind a single instance
where the President mad removed any officer
who was confirmed by the Senate without the
consent OF the Senate. He denied the nght of the
Executive under any law preceding the Tea
urc Of Ofiice of law TO effect removals without
the consent of the Senate. There was no war
rant in the Constitution which would authorize
the President 10 peremptorly remove a faith
full public Officer while the Senate was in ses-
sion, without the consent OF the Senate. II
there were no statute against removal, the
President would still be amenable for an IN
fraction of the Constitution. But this one
OF the smallest OF the crimes OF which the
President OF the United States had been
guilty. and IL would be shown when
the case comes 10 be tried before the Sanate
This President has arrogated 10 himself and
usurped the law-makng and the lud cIal power
OF the country. He claimed the power to con-
duet reconstruction: he conspired and con.
sented IA the massacres Of Memphis an,I NJ,
Orleans, and il held TO the Just execration of ali
the country; he has used the money of tho
country for unlawful purposes; and with
entire disregard Of oaths and OF law he has tried
10 bring on conflict with the Iii fferent bran ch.s
OF the Government He had made every effort
TO prevent reconstruction, and n new rev volution
VIII be upon us If the President IL not brought
10 the bar OF the House and tried. Ii WAS for
The purpose of keeping The President in check
that Congress was compelled 10 resort 10 ev.
iraordinary legislation, and still the Pres ident
las violated law. until no course is left tut to
put hIm on trial before the Senate The Hons
OF Representatives is again to be brought 10 a
vote on a case of transcendent imporfapce
Again we are to be brought face to face with a
man whom loyalists and rebels recognize as
traitor, and as cOnspirator against the life
oil the nation, and who, as President, has done
more TO make the lost cause respectable than
any general Of the late rebel army could possi
bly, have done. and, under these circum.
stances, dare no longer shrink from wrestling
from this usnrper the power he has abused. In
this connection, Mr.. Ashley hoped the House
wonld pardon him for repeating what be had
said upon a former occasion, and he proceeded
to read speech delivered when ne first
brought the question of impeachment before
the House. He had no doubt that the result of
this u ial would fully yindicate the course he
had pursued, but he could say honestly and
truly that he would prefer moi to be sustained
il the Presidents innocence could he fully es-
tabished. But he honestly believed that An.
drew johnson was usurper, and has cor.
Tuptly used all The power entrusted to him.
Believing thence, IL was the duty of the Hon.e
To impaach the President. - =
Mr.. Cook, (Ill.) 10 whom Mr.. Ashley yielded
for two minutes, said he should vote for this
because he did not believe the President had
any power under the Constitution 70 remove a
Cabinet ofhcer while the Senate was in session
IL was to him not only violation of the law.
hut also violation Of the Constitution.
Mr.. Boyer (Pa.) opposed the resolution. He
referred to the numerous acts this Congress
had passed which he claimed were unconstifn.
iional. Twice before efforts had been made 10
imPeach, but these efforts had failed. md this
admitted that until Friday last this Conrress
had not been able 70 dud any ground OF crime
against the President. In this effort il is not
pretended, In view Of the former action of this
House, that there was any cause for fmpeach
ment o. the President until on the 2lst instant.
when Mr.. yohnson removed Mr. Stanton and
appointed Gen. Thomas. This Is the he'd and
front OF Mr.. Johnson's o6eudinx, and for this
cause only the nation y % b convulssd by
Impeachment. lt remains 10 be- seen vhetAer
ine people OF this country viii enAorse thiA sf-