The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-05-02
rHAD, sTEvEss, Porsr,.

B. CRABB,
Chairman First District Con rsssionli Committee
THAD. sTEvEns, POIsr..
The speech Of Thad. Stevens on the i'm
parchment Of Andrew johnson seizes tn,
strong points in the case, and presents then
learly, SO logically, so tru.hfully and ;
powerfully that the mere statement Of hi
propositions carries conviction to every mind
The great point upon which, above al
others, the defense has relied, is disposed o
in the following cinching statement Of th'
law:
The single charge which had the hon
to sugRest am expected to maintain. Tha
duty is q light one, easily performed, ane
which. apprehend. it will be found impos
sible for the respondent to answer or evadf
When Andrew johnson took upon himsel
the duties Of his high Office he swore to obey
the Constitution and take care that the laws
be faithfully executed. That, indeed, is and
has always been the chief duty Of the Presi-
dent of the United States. The dnties Of
legislation and adjudica,ing the laws Of this
country fall in no way to his lot. To obey
The commands of the sovereign power Of the
nation, and to see that others should obey
them, was his whole dut7-a duty which he
could not escape and any attempt to do SC
would be in direct violation OF bis official
oath, in other words, misprison Of perjury
accuse him, in the name of the House OF
Representatives. of hay ng perpetrated that
foul offense against the laws and interests OF
his county. On the I'd of March, 1867,
Congress passed law over the veto Of the
President, entitled :. An act to regulate the
tenure of certain civil Offices" the first Sec
ton of which is as follows:
he it enacted By the Senate and House Of
Representatives. Of the United States Of Amer
icd, in Congress assembled, That every per-
son holding any civil office to which he has
been appointed by and with the advice and
consent Of the Senate, and every person who
may hereafter be appointed to nny such Office
and shall become duly qualified 10 act there-
in, is and shalt be entitled to hold such office
until . successor shall have heen in like man
ner appointed and duly qualified, except as
hereinafter otherwise provided: Prorided,
That the Secretaries of State, OF the Treasu-
~, OF War, of the Navy and Of the Interior,
the Postmaster G enerai, and the Attorney
General, shall hold their Offices respectively
for and during the term Of the President by
whom they may have been appointed and foi
one month thereafter. subject to removal by
and with the advice and consent of the
Senate.
Now see how clear he makes the demon
stration in few words:
The FIRST section provides that ererv person
holding the ci Ill office, who has been appoint.
ed with the advice and consent of the Sen ate
and eyery person that hereafter shall be an.
pointed to any such Office, shall be entitled &c
hold such ONCE until successor shall have
been in like manner appointed and duly quail
Then comes the proyiso which the defend
,nt's counsel say does not embrace Mr.. Stan.
tom because ne was not appointed oy the
If l ~ .nos1 ,e.m ne vas Ien'oseu'
he was novhere eanec;ally nrov;dad for and
was consequently embraced in the first clause
OF the first section, which declares that every
person 1o.alng any civii once not o!nerwise
III. a.. III. rssoondsn, .na r9s,s.or ~ :.
law, appointed General Thomas 10 Office.
whereby. according to the express terms OF
me act, he was guilty OF high misdemeanor.
regard 10 the Tenure Of Office act. he knew
it was law, and SO recorded upon the stat.
utes. I disclaim ali necessary in trial ~
;mneachment - NOV. the s;ntsd ~ ~ nnIa ~ =
FIJI ;nsent;on If M rssnand.n. md !, ~ nm
wise ever to AVERT. IN imneacbments. mora
than iu indictments. ,bs averrin0 ~ The fact
CHARGED carries with i all ,bat i neeasss, > ~
saw about intent. In ;nd;ctne nts Won CHARGE
that the defendant. ..instieated by The deyi,si
and so on: and YOU might "a we'll call an the
prosecution to nroye the presence. shane. and
color of his majesty. a. to cali upon the man
ayers in impeachment 10 prove intention.
49,,
Gnu oonn'on' vi ms COUNSEL wigsie
ous OF that! Every candid man sees, and
will admit, that the case of the Secretary of
eDia'eu ~ 'ne Jaw.
Inns law vas passed over the Residents
veto, by two-thirds vote of both Houses,
and was therefore "A valid .pnder tho nrov;s;,
of the Cons,;,n,;o, ~ 49, -.
.;cn.a .-~., 'es'ueh' haa
o. 4 'pp'o,eu y.
see Wnat settler the great Radical deals
the President on tina. point. quoting his own
acts and words, in proof of his recognition
Of tia validity ef ,ha .na H. .,;s...
10 ri. verv c.s.. afp'''as'o"
The President cav. r.. :.
Stanton simnly 70 IL, ~ Nc lemosed az.
Of the Ienure.of. of;ca iaw ssohs'ia.lonallty
cision. He ba. .i.asan ~ ajndieiai de-
decided by The vote, 49, ea = .es1ea and
thirds Of the Senators and or s ,he o. .wo-
Representatives. Il stood A. /. ~. ~ louise OF
statute books. No case had .,;ssr pun sns
that law, or is referred To bv The p,a.;a".,
which required any ind;c;ai ;n,araa.;..'
If there had been, or should be- ,hs o sonrs.
were open to sny one vho fslt 800; ~ 49, hs
the action ofMr. Stanton. Rnt ;..,s.d y
enforcing the law he tske. .d,sn,.s ss e :.
name and the funds Of the United Sat-. 't ~
resi., it, and to induce others to resiss 4. IN.
II esa q s s,s,enp.ns :: the Execoave Of the
tuIl, erecn,sd 70 1 see that that Law was faith
petrats The ACT. - s, ,oos great psins and per-
only g res;ss Il h;nss 1870 IN this article, not
10 do The ..ms n ou. 70 seduce others
Csusral-in.rh;.ecf ~ soogh. 70 induce the
an open, svoved oh.eyr 49, - g :, ad him in
stood unrepeslsd M. -. s,. =. me law, sit
could find no On. e uc;se vii J liz oGos. He