The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-24
XLth CONGRESS- Second Session.

!
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. %.
| The Reconstruction Committee made its ap-
| pearance, and a buzz of excitement ran
through the galleries and House. The House
which was in Committee of the Whole shortly
rose, rnd then amid profound silence, and
most eager and painful interest Mr.. Stevens
rose. The Speaker took the precaution to an
nounce that there must be neither applause
nor dissent from either the floor or galleries,
| and that disregard of the rules of the House
would be followed by prompt ejectment of the
| offender.
| Mr.. Stevens commenced with few prelimi-
nary remarks the report of the Committee,
as follows, which was read by the Clerk:
- In addition to the papers referred to the
| committee, we lind that the President, on the
2lst day of February, 1868, signed and issued
commission or letter of authority to enc Lo-
renzo Thomas, directing and authorizing said
Thomas to act as Secretary of War dd inte-
RIM, and to take possession of the books re
cords, papers and other public property in the
war Department, of which the following is
copy:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
-, Washington, ID. c., Feb. 81, 1868.
tSir,-The Honorable Edwin NJ Stanton hay
ing been removed from Office as Secretary of
the Department. of War, you are hereby au-
thorized and empowered to act as Secretary of
War dd interim, and will Immediately enter
upon the discharge of the duties pertaining to
choo oLlCC. Ihr. CGdutUU mas De6Q instructed
to transfer to you all records, books, papers
and other public property entrusted to his
charge.
(Signed) ANDREW JOHNSON.
To Brevet Major General Lorenzo Thomas,
Adiutant General, U. S. A.
Official copy. Respectfully furnished to
Hon. Edwin NJ. Stanton.
III a(Signedl = L. THOMAS,
Sec'y of War ad Interim
Upon the evidence collected by the Commit
tee which is hereafter presented and in virtue
of the powers with which they have been in
vested by the House, they are of the opinion
that Andrew johnson, President of the Unit
ed States, be impeached of high crimes and
misdemeanors. They therefore recommend to
the House the adoption of the accomp anying
resolution.
(Signed9 Thaddeus Stevens, George A.
Stvvens, George A. Boutwell,, John A. Bing-
Farnsworth III. E. Paine
Resot0ed, That Andrew johnson, President
OF the United States, be impeached of high
crimes and misdemeanors.
AT the conclusion of the reading, Mr.. Ste
vens said if there was no disposition to discuss
the matter on the Democratic side, he would
move the previous question at once, but if
there was he would listen to what they had to
say and reserve his remarks until the close of
the debate. Il ,- l.1f'
Mr.. Brooks of New York the floor in a gem
eral sort of speech arguing against the pro-
priety and regularity of the proceedings
Mr.. Bingham of Ohio followed, first yield |
ing five minutes to his colleague, Mr.. Spald- |
ing, who announced he has thus far been op- |
posed to bringing Andrew johnson to the bar |
OF the Senate for his conduct, but he should |
now oppose it no longer.
Mr.. Bingham then spoke half an hour, TAX |
ing the ground that it was useless if not GRIM |
mai any longer to ignore the crimes of the |
PRESIDENT He should approach the matter |
and decide it upon his oath as representa- |
tive of the people. .@lsn. il-i--
Mr.. Farnsworth of Illinois followed in |
long speech for impeachment during which |
an effort was made to come to some under
standing as to when the vote should be taken.
After lnnumerable propositions and objec-
tons thereto, it was finally agreed, on motion
OF Mr.. Bingham, that the vote be taken at
O'Clock Monday, and that the House meet in
the evening for speeches and debate, and con-
tlnue to the exclusion of other business until
the hour of voting was reached All speeches
to be limited to thirty minutes. Recess.
AT the evening session the galleries were
c1owded, and it was estimated four thousand
persons were present r
Gen. Farnsworth concluded his remarks,
and was followed by Messrs. Baker, Kelley,
Logan, Ingersoll, Phelps, Beck and Holman,
toe three latter against impeachment
Mr.. Ingersyll caused to be read dispatch
from Governor Oglesbee OF Illinois, sustain
ing the impeachment movement, which was
received with demonstrations of applause.
The debate was continued with extraordina-
ry propriety.
Mr. Holman attempted to have Washing
toms Farewell Address read by the Clerk in
lieu of speech from him, but Mr.. Blaine who
was in the chair pro tena., sustained an obiec-
ton to its being read on the ground that it
was not german to the subject under discus
sion, and was therefore out of order. The
session was prolonged until nearly midnight,
when recess was taken until 10 O'clock Mon
day morning.