Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-02-10
IMPEACHMENT OF JOHNSON.
Generally Recognized Now That 1t
Was q Mistake.

The beginning OF the SWayne I'M
parchment trial necessarily recalls the
great occasion when Andrew johnson
was accused before the senate Of high
crimes and misdemeanors, says the
Kansas City Star. That famous pro-
cedure lasted less than three months.
and reported to the house a resolution
declaring for Impeachment. The meas
ure was adopted two days later and a
committee Of two was appointed to
appear at the bar Of the senate and
there impeach the president.
On February 25, Stevens. as chair
man of the committee, made an I'M
pressive speech before the upper
house. "Mr. President" he began, I'm
obedience to the order Of the house
Of representatives, we appear before
you and In the name Of the house OF
representatives we do impeach An
drew Johnson, president Of the United
States. Of high crimes and misdemean-
ors in office; and We further inform
the senate that the house Of represen-
tatives will, in due time. exhibit par
ticular articles Of impeachment against
him and make good the same; and
in their name we demand that the
senate take order for the appearance
of the said Andrew Johnson to answer
said Impeachment"
Meanwhile a committee was prepar-
ing articles which were presented to
the house on February 20 and were
adopted three days later by a party
vote. There were eleven articles MAX
ing various charges. but the only one
Of Importance was that the president
had violated the tenure-of-office act
by which congress had denied him the
right to remove any civil ice-holder
without the consent Of the senate.
Johnson had had a rupture with STAN
ton, Lincolns secretary Of war, and had
superseded him. first by Grant and
then by Thomas. The real animus OF
the proceedings, Of course, was the
quarrel between the president and
congress over the reconstruction meas
ure. This had become so bitter that
to most Republicans in Office he was a
menace to the republic and that any
means Of getting rid of him would
justifiable.
On March the senate organized as
a court OF impeachment with the chief
justice. in the chair and then adjourn
ed for a week when the president en-
tered his appearance by his counsel.
who were then allowed ten days to
prepare an answer which was given
on March 80 with one Of Ben Buffers
characteristic TRADES against the pres
ident. Throughout the conduct Of the
the proceedings the attitude OF the
house managers was intensely partisan
and unfair. They tried to persuade
the court to regard itself as a
political body and to admit all
manner Of evidence, and they
prevailed on 1t contrary to the rul-
ings Of the chief justice to refuse
to hear the presidents testimony con-
cerning the purpose Of the acts which
they impugned.
The case which was conducted with
ability by the presidents
counsel. headed by Curtis and Evarts.
was closed on May 6. and vote was
taken ten days later. Fifty-four sem
ators constituted the court. Nine
teen votes were necessary for acquit-
tai. The chief justice put the ques-
ton to each senator: "Mr. Senator,
what say you? Is the respondent,
Andrew Johnson, president Of the
United States, guilty or not guilty Of
high crimes and misdemeanors. charged
in these articles?" Eight Democrats
and II Republicans voted mot guilty"
BY this margin Of one vote was injus-
tice done. For 1t is now agreed that
however poor president Johnson was
he had done nothing worthy of i'm
peachment.