The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-08-11

questions arising from the recon
struction acts; and this opinion,
after being considered in the Cabi-
net. where MIR. Stanton alone object
ed to those portions calculated to
nuIlify the law, was issued to the
district commanders as an order.
General Sheridan. commanding the
Fifth District, soon after reported
to General Grant Commander-in-
Chief. that ''the result of Mr.. Stan.
berry's opinion is beginning to show
itself by a defiant opposition to all
acts of the military commander. by
impeding and rendering helpless the
civil officers acting under his ap-
pointment." In July Congress pass
ed an act, declaring the meaning
of the previous act, and making the
conduct of the military command
ers subject only to the approval of
the general of the army. This was
vetoed, and passed over the veto.
The only resource left to the Presi-
dent was to change the military COM
manders, which he did before the
end of the year. On August II.
1867, the President notified Mr..
Stanton of his suspension from Office
as Secretary of War, and the ap-
pointment of Gen. Grant as Secre-
tary dd interim. Mr.. Stanton turn
ed over the Office to the latter, sub,
mitting ''under protest to superior
force. but denying the right of the
President to remove him. The de-
nial was based on the tenure-of.office
act (passed March 2. 1860, which
provided that no such removal
should be made, without the consent
of the Senate. and that appoint
ments to vacancies occurring during
the recess of Congress should be
subject to the approval of the SEN
ate at its next session. On August
goth, the President issued a procla.
nation, declaring that peace, order
and authority, existed once more
throughout the United States, and
on September 7th he proclaimed an
amnesty which relieved nearly all
the white inhabitants of the South
ern States from any liability to con-
fiscation of property, and restored
to them The right Of suffrage. When
Congress assembled in September,
the President sent to the Senate a
statement of his reasons for the re-
moval of Mr.. Stanton. hut that body
refused to sanction the removal and
Gen. Grant immediately resigned
the office into Mr.. Stanton's hands.
On Feb. 21, 1861, Mr.. Stanton was
again informed of his removal,
and of the appointment Of Gen.
Lorenzo Thomas as Secretary of
War ad interim. When the Senate
was officially informed of this ac-
ton, it passed a resolution declaring
that 1.-The President has no power to
remove the Secretary of War and
designate any other person to per-
form the duties of that office" Mr..
Stanton therefore refused to vacate
his office. On the following day the
House of Representatives passed o
resolution that the President be inn
peached for high crimes and misde-
meanors. yeas 1926; nays AZ; not
voting III The articles ofimpeach-
ment were agreed to by the House
on March Sd, and presented to the
Senate On the 5th. Tue specifica-
tions were based on the Presidents
removal of Mr.. Stanton. his express
sions in public speeches of contempt
for Congress, declaring the Thirty
ninth not a constitutional Congress,
and bis hindrance of the execution
of some Of its acts. The trial be-
gan on March %, the President ap-
pearing by counsel. The late L. A.
X. Nelson, of Knoxville, the Presi-
dents intimate friend, appeared as
one Of his counsel. In his defense
he asserted that his reconstruction
policy vas in pursuance of a course
which had been marked out and de-
termined upon by President Lincoln
and his Cabinet. and that Mr.. STAN
ton. himself had expressed his en-
phatic opinion Of the unconstitution-
ality of the tenure e-of-offiee act, what
its veto was under consideration.
On May 16, the Senate voted upon
the article in reference to contempt
of Congress, and hindrance of exc.
cution of its acts, and on the 26th,
upon that in reference 10 the re-
moval of Mr. Stanton. In each case
the vote stood. guilty 35. not guilty
10. So the President was formerly
acquitted. as a tworthirds vote is
required to convict. Mr.. Stanton
resigned his Office, and
was succeeded by General Sehofeld.
At the Democratic National Con-
ventIon held in New York, July 4,
1868, Mr.. Johnson's name was pre-
sented as a candidate for the
and on the first ballot
he received sixty-five votes, leading
all the other candidates exeep-
@. III. Pendleton, who received one
and FIVE. On July 4th,
President Johnson issued aprOcla-
nation of pardon to all persons ex-
cept those under presentment, or
indictment before q United States
Court; and on December 25th, full
pardon to everybody who had par
cipitated in the rebellion. On March
4. 1869, he was succeeded In the
Presidential office by q. S. Grant,
and retired TO his home in Greene
vile. Tennessee. In 1870 he was a
before the Legislature of
Tennessee for a seat in the United
States Senate, but was defeated by
two votes. In 1872, he was an In
candidate for Congress
man-at-large and divided tile Demo
cratic vote with Gen. b. f.. Cheat
ham. which resulted in the election
or Horace Maynard, the Republican
In January. 1875. Andrew John