Year: 1866

The Senate chamber was the centre
of attraction in the morning, and when
the hour for business arrived there
was not an available inch of room in
the galleries. After a petition or two
had been presented, Senator Wade
took the floor, and after introducing an
amendment to the Constitution de-
claring the President ineligible to Of
flee, began to speak in his characteris-
tic manner. AS his remarks were
almost an arraignment of President
Johnson, and as he represents those
most bitterly opposed to the veto
message, | give report of them:


"In offering this resolution | will
state that it is no new idea of mine,
for | have been an advocate of it for
many years. And have decided on
the veny strong impression | have on
the subject by very careful observa-
tion of the workings of our govern
ment through such periods as have
been an observer of it. [ believe ii
has been very rare that we have been
able to elect a President of the United
States who has not been tempted to
use the vast powers entrusted to him
according to his own opinions to ad-
vance his reelection, and when | say
it of the Presidents who have preceded
US, | say it in no attempt to depreci.
ate the merits Of these men, because
the Constitution places before them


temptations which we can hardly ex


pect that human nature will resist, and
in the long run, Sir, it never will re-
sit. Early in the history of our gov


ernment Washington himself, W h G
was exceedingly sagacious in the work


ing Of the government, informed us
that it was his opinion that here was
a weakness that ought to be remedied


He saw it early. He saw that MAI
entrusted with these more than rega


powers during the period he is Presi


dent might be tempted to use then
for his advancement aiterward; anC
almost all the Presidents since have
felt the necessity of some such check
upon personal ambition. 1t is the
injunction of more than human wis


dom to be relieved from these tempta


tions. We might trace this, had we
time, through preceding administra


tions, and we should find that this in


huence weighed like gravitation upoI
the mind OF almost every Presiden


we ever had. How is it, sir, in the
present case? | have no doubt tha


the present Chief Magistrate came in


to his office while he was perfectly


single in his mind and sincere anC


truthful in his opinions. What were


some of these opinions Why, sir


he spoke and recited it every day fol


two months that treason was a great


crime; that it ought to be punished


that it must be rendered odious; ant


that he was the man to do this. HI


said it to every delegation that wait


ed upon him until the words became


stereotyped in the minds of the whole


people. How, Sir, has he performed


that pledge? Has he punished any


body? Why, Sir, we have the unheart


OF spectacle of one OF the greatest re


belilons that ever cursed mankind


involving more people, more lives
more expense than all the rebellion
that have ever occurred in history
: and yet, Sir, no man has been pun
ished i'll consequence of it Some
thing is wrong. Ii this is all righ
then the whole system OF penitentiarie
throughout the Union ought to be abo
lshed, Sir, the President was righ
when he said that treason was a grea
crime aud ought to be rendered odiou.
} Why did he not carry out this declar;
, lion? What mas occurred to chang
) MS position Oh this question? | WI
: not say that this ambition which ha
r tempted ali who have gone befor
: him weighed upon his mind to temp
: MIN, but it is exceedingly singular thu
: so lar from rendering treason odiol
) Dy punishment, he has hoisted into th
n most exalted positions many of tt
: reading traitors in the South. WI
h else, in any period OF the world
1 history ever thought Of taking rebe
G red with the blood OF his cOuntryme
It and pacing him in the position OF 10
t ernOr of a State-a Governor OF