Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-01
Some Things You Want to Know
The Amerioan OOngress-JOhnsOn Against o@Ongress.

houses passed measures over his veto with
out difficulty. johnson Immediately at
trscted the support Of every democrat In
congress. but there was only a "corporars
guard" of republicans who supported the
administration The president sought TO
use the patronage OF his office TO bolster
up his strength, but congress promptly dis
armed him by passing the tenure-of-office
act, taking away from the president the
right Of removing federal officeholdets
without the consent Of the senate. There
were many clashes OF authority, but the
flight finally centered about Edwin NJ. stan
ton, whom Johnson had inherited with
Lincoln's cabinet as secretary Of war.
Stanton had barely tolerated Lincoln; he
completely ignored johnson. The president
suspended him from office under the pro-
visions Of the enure-of-offic act and re-
ported, his action to the senate, which body
refused to confirm II. Later Johnson took
the bull by the horns and removed Stan
ton from office.
Then the wrath OF the congressional
party broke all bounds. A movement to
impeach Johnson early in 1867 had failed.
But on the very day Stanton was removed.
February q, 1868, a resolution impeaching
the president was offered in the house.
Next day It was adopted by a vote Of 1876
to a, the division being strictly according
to party lines, every republican voting
aye and every democrat no" 1t was
charged in all gravity that johnson was
removing Stanton so that he could get
hold Of the munitions OF war and perpetu-
ate himself I'm the White House by force
of arms.
The next day Johnson allayed the fears
of the more conservative element by APP
pointing Thomas Ewing to be secretary Of
war. Men might doubt Johnson, but they
could not doubt Ewing and his loyalty to
the union. But no one reckoned that the
senate would soberly try the president on
the charges presented. Everywhere it was
predicted: In ten days honest Ben Wade
will be in the White House" Wade was
president pro tenn of the senate, and I'M
der the law as it prevailed until 1886, would
succeed to the presidency IN case Of the
death or removal Of Johnson.
The trial in the senate began on March
., 1868, and was finally concluded on May
q. Thad Stevens was one of the managers
on the part Of the house charged with the
prosecution, but the hand Of death was
upon him. He was carried in a chair to
the capitol to read his speech in the argu-
ment against the president, but he failed
and was forced to hand the manuscript to
General Ben Butler. 1t was Stevens last
fight.
The first roll call of the senate on the
trial was had on May 16. Thirty-five SEN
ators voted Guilty and nineteen voted
Not guilty" A change Of one vote would
have meant conviction, as 1t would have
completed the two-third vote required by
the constitution. All twelve of the demo-
Gratis in the senate voted mot guilty" as
did seven republicans. These seven men
UrAwZ
time as traitors, and the republican ma
tional convention which met on May 20.
between the time of the first roll call and
the last, formally excommunicated them.
TIL seven senators who saved Johnson and
the prestige, OF the presidency were William
p. F~essenden OF Maine, Joseph s. Fowler
of Tennessee, James w. Grimes OF Bur
lington. John B. Henderson Of Missouri
Edmund u. Ross OF Kansas. Lyman Trum-
bull Of Illinois and Peter G. Van Wrinkle
of West Virginia OF this number John B.
Henderson IS the only spfyivor,
Johnson was acquitted and Ben wade's
hopes Of the presidency died with the YER
dict Of the senate. The fourteenth amend
ment had been made prerequisite to the
readmission of the southern states to the
union. and negro suffrage had beer as
sured over the protest Of the president. Yet
the more radical plans or the Stevens
party, such as the confiscation Of the
lands in the south and their division among
the freed slaves, had been defeated by
the subbornness Of johnson.
Had congress not opposed the Johnson
scheme of reconstruction, the southern
states would have been received at once
into the councils OF the nation, their rep
resentation in congress would have been
increased because Of emancipation. and
they would have formed a political coalition
with the northern democrats which
would have driven the republican party
out Of power at once. To prevent this con-
gress forced the adoption Of the four
teenth and fifteenth amendments to the
constitution.
But even these did not suffice long to
secure republican supremacy. for in 1874
the democrats gained control of the hous
of representatives and in 1876 they con
tested the election OF president. 1t was to
meet this condition that republican con-
crosses Sought to enact legislation proVld-
ing for federal control Of elections.
ny FRRDRIC J. HAsRIN.
Tomorrow-THE AMERICAN CONGRESS-
T "Forcs Bill" and Cloture.