The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-03-04
Emerson ynteuligel1fu.. ).
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST rAaE.)

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE.
final disposition of the conquered country
belonged to Congress alone, according to
every principle of the law of nations
Neither the Executive nor the judiciary
had any right to interfere with it, except
30 Far as 1T was necessary to control 1t by
military rule, until the sovereign power
Of the nation had provided for its civil
administration. No power but Congress
has any right to say whether ever or
when they should, be admitted to the
Union as. States, and entitled the privl.
leges of the Constitution Of the United
States. And yet Andrew Johnson, with
unblushing hardihood, undertook to rule
them by his own power alone; to LEAD
them intofull communion with the Union !;
direct them. what governments to erect,
and what conclusions to adopt, ana ser seho
Senators and Representatives to -, Con
gress according to his Instructions. +" neh
admonished by express act OF Congress,
more than once repeated, he dlsrcgafaec
the warning, and continued his lawless
usurpation. He is since known to have
obstructed the re-establishment OF those
governments by the authority OF Congress,
aSnd has advised the inhabitants to resist
the legislation OF Congress. In my judg.
ment. his conduct was a high.handed
usurpation of power, which ought long
400 to have brought him to impeachment
and trial, and to have removed him from
his position of great mischief He has
been lucky in thus escaping through false
logic and false law. But his then acts,
Which will, on trial, be shown to be afro
cious. are open evidence of his wicked de
termination to subvert the laws of his
country. thrust that when We come to
vote upon this question, we shall remem-
Der that, although it is the duty of the
President to see thatthe laws be executed,
the sovereign power Of the nation rests in
Congress, who have been placed around
the Executive as muniments to defend his
rights, and as watchmen to enforce his
obedience to the laws and the Constitu-
tion. His oath to obey the Constitution,
and our duty to compel him to do it, are
tremendous obligation, heavier than was
ever assumed by mortal rulers. We are
to protect or to destroy the liberty and
happiness of mighty people, and to take
care that they progress in civilization, and
defend themselves against every kind OF
tyranny. AS we deal with the first great
political malefactor, so will be the result
ofour efforts to perpetuate the happiness
and good government of the human race.
The God Of our fathers, who inspired them
with the thought of universal freedom,
will hold us responsible for the noble insti:
tutions which they projectedand expected
as to carry out This is not to be the
Temporary triumph of a political party, but
is to endure in it's CONSCIENCE until this
whole continent shall be filled with free,
antrammeled people, or shall be nest OF
shrinking, cowardly slaves.
Before Mr.. Stevens commenced his
speech, which he did at halfpast four, Nh:
Bingham asked that his time be extended
from the half hour, to which all speeches
to-day were limited, to an hour; but
strong opposition was manifest on the
Republican side of the House, members
wishing to have the matter brought to a
vote at five O'Clock. Mr.. Bingham moved
TO suspend the rules to- enable him to make
the motion, but he only got twenty-five
votes to sustain him.
Mr.. Stevens, who had seat at the
Clerks desk, commenced to read his
speech; but, after getting through the
first sentence, he asked, on account of the
weakness of his voice, that his speech
might be read by the Clerk. That privi-
lege was granted, and the speech was read
in clear, distinct, well-emphaszed tones,
by Mr.. Mcpherson. 1t was completed at
two minutes before FIVE.
The House then proceeded, amid great
but suppressed excitement, to vote OH the
resolution, as follows:
Resozved, That Andrew Johnson. Presi-
dent of the United States, be impeached
of high crimes and misdemeanors.
The vote resulted-yeas, 1875; naya, Al,
a strict party vote, only two Republicans
voting with the Democrats against the
resolution.
WASHINGTON, February 25.
In the House bill was introduced fora a
ship canal around the Falls of Niagara,
Stevens and Bingham reported that
they had performed the duty of informing
the Senate Of the impeachment resolu-
.tions.