Year: 1868

fully attempting to devise means TO prevent Edwin
= Stanton from re:uming the once Of Secretary pf
after Mr. stanton had been restored This letter, re-
General Grant In regard to certain communications
oral and written, which had passed between them,
se0sts dd not concur IN ssanon suspenson to
compel him to resort to the courts to regain posses
sion Of the War Department, with view Of obtain
Of Once act but the intention was never carried out
and Stanton took possession BY the voluntary surren
or purpose of the President to Obtain judicial de
cison In the only way then practicable high misde


It is unnecessary to inquire whether the. President
would have been justified In carrying his attention
into effect 1t was not dOnav and his entertaining
offence. There is, however, to my mind another
conclusive answer to this charge In the eleventh
s1ce az as I IN ysw mad S cna
by removal at any time have lawfully kept him from
again taking possession Of the office.


There Is no proof to sustain the other charges OF
this article. In coming to the conclusion that the
President Is not guilty OF any OF the high crimes and
misdemeanors with which he stands charged, have
endeav0red to be governed by the made without
reference to other acts Of his not contained In the
record record and without giving the least heed to the
ciamor OF incorporate zeaOts who demand the con-
Victi0n or Andrew Johnson as test OF party faith,
or seek to identify with and make responsible for his
acts tn0se VINO from convictions OF duty feel COM
PEELED on the case made to vote for his acquttal.
HIS speeches and the general course Of his admns-





and should consider 1t the great calamity of the age
III the disloyal element SO often encouraged by his
nnaso gam pSca @ II tue
Presidentf" I Should answer, "No.n But it is not
a party question nor upon Andrew Johnson's deeds
the record, that am to decide.


Painful as 1t is to disagree with so many political
associates and friends, whose conscientious convic-
tions have led them to different result, must
nevertheless In the discharge OF the high RESPONSE
and tell me IS the ruth ana hs
Justice and the law Of this case. What law does
this record show the President to have voatedP Is
1t the Tenure OF O0ice act? believe In the con-
stitutionaty OF that act, and stand ready to
punish Its vioators; but neither the removal OF that
(Which deeply regreD, nor the al Interim desgna-
ton Of Lorenzo Thomas, were, az has been shown,
ever the facts may be- this record does not con ain
particle OF evidence OF their violation. Is 1t the
conspiracy actf No facts are shown to sustain
SUCH charge, and the same may be said or the
March 1867; and these ali the laws alleged to
Andrew Johnson has violated the constitution. The
1act may be so but where s the evidence OF 1t to be
it. To Convict and depose the Cef Ma rssrate Of
great nation when his guilt was not made palpable
by the record and for insufficient cause would be
fraught with far greater danger to the future Of the
country than can arise from leaving Mr.. Johnson in
office for the remaining months Of his term with
recent legislation.


Once set the example Of impeaching a President
IOr what, when the excitement OF the hour shall
have subsided, will be regarded as insufficient
causes, as several OF those now alleged against the
PRESIDENT were decided to be by the House Of Repre-
sentatives only few months since, and no future
President will be safe who happens TO differ with
majority of the House and two-thirds of the Senate
on any measure deemed by them important, particu-
larry If OF political character. Blinded by partisan
ZEAL with such an example before them, they will
not scrupe TO remove out OF the way any obstacle to
the accomplishment of their purposes, and then
becomes OF the checks and balances OF the constitu
ton so carefully devised and so vital to its perpe-
tultyP They are all g0ne In view Of the cOnse-
quences likely to flow from this days proceedings
should they result In conviction on what my judg-
ment tells me are insufficient charges and proofs, 1
tremble for the future Of my country. I cannot be
an instrument to produce such result; and at the
till clmer times shall do justice to my motives, no
alternative is left me but the inexibe discharge Of
duty.