Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-08-18

ing the remaiDuef Oi MS tcrm ton
gress passed bill alter bill designed I,
cripple his power and assert II
authority in the subjugated States. Tn
President answered by vetoing eacl
hostile measure, making his messag
the occasion of an elaborate defence o
his policy. Before the close Of his torn
he had vetoed no less than nincteei
bills. Among the moro important o
these measures were tho Civil Right
bill, March 2S, 1866 the Freedmen
Bureau bill, June IL, 1868; the Mill
tary Reconstruction bill, March 3, 1867
the Supplementary Reconstruction bill
July 20, 1867, and the admission o
Southern representatives, June 26, 1868
Seeking for popular support in thi
warfare, President johnson encouraged
the holding of a convention at Phila
delphio in August, 1864, at whicl
many Republicans and Democrats wer,
present. This convention approved o
his policy and sent a deputation TO as
sure him vf it's oohad--s.. pspiy;ns
to the delegates, Mr.. Johnson spoke o
Congress as "a body hanging upon tn,
verge of Government" and declared
that it was "a Congiess of only par
of the States" whilclt assumed to rep
resent the whole. Confiding still
further in the peopb whom he sup
posed were with Inn, Mr. johnson
made a tour through the Middle and
Western States with The view OF affect
ing the result of tho approaching cleo
tions. This swinging around the cir
Gle" as he termed II, however, had no
sensible effect on the popular mind, and
at the State elections Congress was
sustained, and his supporters were
placed in hopeless minority. En-.
couraged by the toneof popular senti'
ment, the Hon. james A. Ashley, Of
Ohio, at the instance Of leading Re.
publicans, moved n resolution in the
House of Representatives on the 9TH
OF January, 1867, directing the Judi
ciary Committee to inquire ii there
was not cause for theimpeachment OF
the President, which resolution was
adopted by vote OF l07 to 80. The
matter remained in allegiance until
November %, 1867, when tho House
by vote of 1OS TO 81, refused to adopt
a resolution impeaching him. The
significant removal Of Secretary Stan
ton in January, 1868, however, was
more than the Mongrels could endure,
and on the oath of February the House,
by vote of 1913 TO AZ, resolved to i'm
peach Andrew johnson of high crimes
and misdemeanors.
In accordance with this resolution
Thaddeus Stevens and John A.. Bing-
ham appeared (Feb, 25) by order Of
the House at the bar of the Senate and
formally impeached the President, The
charges comprised the removal of Sec.
retary Stanton, the public expressions
of the Presidents contempt Of Con
gnss, and his declaration that il was
not constitutional assemblagc. The
Senate organized as High Court Of
Impeachment March 81, with Chief
Justice Chase as its presiding officer
The President declined to appear in
person and was represented by his
counsel. In reply to the articles Of
impeachment he plead that he was
only carrying out the purpose of Presi-
dent Lincoln, and that Secretary Stan
ton had implicitly confirmed the legality
Of his construction of the Tenure Of
Office act. The trial lasted until May
IL, when the Chief Justice proposed to
put the question OF guilty or not guilty
to the Senate. On tho 10th of that
month the vote was taken, and he was
acquitted on the eleventh article by a
vote of 35 GUILTY. to 10 mot guilty.,
one vote more being required TO con
vict. On May Goth the Senate voted
on the second and third articles, with
the same result, and then adjourned
sine die as High Court of lmpeach-
ment. In the mindity of nineteen
were seven Republicans.
During the remainder of his term
President johnson continued hostile TO
Congress, but was less aggressive. He
crowned his defiant course, however,
by proclajming at Christmas, 1868, o
general amnesty to Ill who were en-
gagged in the late Rebellion. During
his term of office Nj. Johnson's Cabi-
net was composed d Republicans, to
whom he allowed considerable scope
so long as they actedin general accord
with him. The foreign as well as the
financial policy of the country was
therefore in little respects his own.
Returning to Tennessee, the cx-Presi-
dent re-cntercd State politics with his
former vigor, and was a candidate for
Congressman-at-Large, but was IN a
considerable minority, owing to a Dem
ocratic candidate being in the field.
Last Summer, however, he again en-
tered the field as a candidate for the
United States Senatorship, and after
spirited contest he was elected on the
10th of January last on the fiity-fifth
ballot, when he had two more votes
than were needed. Mr.. johnson occu-
pied his seat during the brief extra scs-
sion Of the Senate in March last, and
spoke on resolution, against recog
nizing the Kellogg Government His
re-appcarance at Washington was re-
ceived with favor throughout the
country, and several years of useful
ness were hopefully predicted for him.