The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-03-27

luton reported from the Committee ee lteconstruc
tion for the Impeachment Of the President
Mr.. LYNCH said;
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: The question under consid
GRAFTON is one OF great magnitude aud impor
tance. The power to impeach the President o
the United States Is one of the highest prer0g
atives of this House. The reasons for confer
ring this authority upon this body lie at tn
foundation of our form Of government. Tn
fundamental principle Of this Government Is
that all power Is derived from the people
''That all Just governments derive their author
ity from the consent Of the governed" Act
ing upon this principle In the formation OF ou
Government, Its founders provided three grant
departments through which Its powers should
be exercised, the legislative, the executive. nnt
the judicial. The legislative branch of th'
Government represents the people. 1t Is th'
mclium through which the will OF the peopl
finds expression In the form Of law. The exec
utive and judicial departments execute and ad
minister its will. II possesses the comprehen'
siyp power "tO provide for the common defense
and the general welfare Of the Unitc'l States
In providing for an executive officer, to bt
called President, whose term OF oihce was iixed
at four years, the people prudently reserved tc
themselves the right to remove that officer BY
liz.
came guilty Uf high crimes or misdemeauors
Trey did not define In the Constitution the Of
6cial misdcmeanors for which the exercise o
this mower should be evoked, but wisely re.
served the right to Judge for themselves In each
case that might arise. To this House Is dele.
gated the sole power to impe.ch, and to ths
Senate the sole power to Try impeachments
and from this high tribunal there lies no appeal
Impeachment is not the innictiOn Of = punish,
nent, as It's effects extend only 10 remova
from office. Its object II 10 secure the falthiu
administration OF Office, and thereby to pre-
serve the Constitution and the liberties OF the
people. As holding Office Is not right, but q
privilege conferred by the people, the lawful
deposition from Office by the people through
their Representatives Is not the deprivation ~
violation of any personal right whatever. !,
Is simply the assertion 0f the right to unmakt
by the power that made; the demanding by
the master Of the unfaithful steward the talents
he has misused. As the people cannot act di'
rectly upon great public questions hut only
through their chosen Representatives. and a,
they cannot reach any executive or judicial Of
fcer during MS otnclal .erm ehcep. an'ougn
this representative agency oecom.S Us w os
viGilant and watchfnl OF the great in,e.eN:
committed TO our charge anu 70 see 70 u 'nA'
no officer, however high, CHOSEN 20 eAecu's tne
peoples wili' sexpresseu 'hrousn .neu mep
resentatiyes, snail III 'ne AnStu .eouy W
his official tenure oetray the nlSn Huss eom.
OF the people, mas aii the rient VI Hs priho'p"'
with oil the uu'ies oi an aSeh''
tis the exercise OF this prerogative and the
discharge of this sacred duty that Congress,
as the agent Of the people Of the United States.
is now called upon to assume and fulhl' Enter
tanning these views rs Ia the power and duty
Of Congress. and believing that Andrew John:
SON has, during the past two years, disgraced
The high Office whose duties he has been called
to discharge; that he has used his position for
his own ambitious purposes and to the detr-
mcnt NJ the hest interests Of the country,
have during that time. entertained no shadow
Of doubt, either rs to the constitutional right
of Congress to impeach him. or rs to the expe-
diency Of Its exercising that right. And, eur.
When In December last gave my vote IN TINS
House for his impeachment du SO 9hiy re-.
GREETING that an earlier opportunity nha not
been afforded me, and that the requisite ma
jOrity was wanting to make that vote elective
II |, not strange that in 1860 and 1861 Con-
rress should have sat here discussing legal
Gubhles until walked from their letharcy by an
actual conflict Of arms. The threats Of great
party, just then defeated In q political contest,
10 resist the authority Of IN Administration
which they declared to be sectional and uncon-
were very naturally regarded As
idle vaporings, unworthy Of serious considcra.
ton. but. sir, after the terrible experience
through which we have passed. since that time,
and knowing MS We now do the desperate char.
actcr of the adversary with which VIC have to
contend, and kno wing rs we do that Andrew
Johnson IL ns much the agent Of the rebellion
as was jefferson Davis, 1t il strange that We
have so nearly repeated the folly Of those days.
SIR. what has Andrew johnson donel What
acts has he committed! What constitutional
duties has he neglected, which render him lia-
HE Ia and deserving of impeachment indepeD.
den, of this last act of open violation of law
Gr which he is now arrairpel, lie has usurp-
sd the prerorstiyes of Conrre-, In assuming
!" So, np governments In the rebel States; per-
si.,;ng in his usurnations after the assembling
nf Congress, and ,n,nlen,ly informing us in his
6r.t annual message ,ba, he had completed the
wnrk of REORGANIZATION. and that We had moth
;nr ,o do but Ia accent !, and 10 Judge of the
1T, s,J ,n.I;ss!,;' .,,L ,.mhsr. as