Year: 1876

within the literal description OF the constitution. In
this country the only judgment that could be rendered
IN impeachment removal from office and
future disqualification from holding Office, but by the
statutes person guilty Of such offences could be in
dcted tried and sentenced by the criminal courts Of
the country. He protested against hot haste in the
matter without having the testimony printed. He
thought such haste unworthy of this grave question
and If he stood alone he would still stand here say



Mr.. BLACKBURN (dem.) OF KY, another member OF
the committee expressed his satisfaction that the re-
port which been read by hts colleague Mr. Clymer,
showed the world that nothing had been left undone
by the committee TO shield and shelter from dishonor
every person except the whom IT was the duty Of
the committee to investigate aud report uponj
He would consent that the gentleman from Mnssa-
chusets should make this political or partisan
question. He would consent that his side Of the
House should be placed the position OF prosecutors
and the other side should take tho position of defend
crs II was question which addressed Itself alike to
every member OF the House He regarded the case us
an unprecedented one in more respects than one. The
action Of tho President in accepting Secretary Beknaps
resignation under the circumstances unprece-
denied and this the first instance in the history Of
tho country where any man claiming manhood and
holding exalted station had sought to shelter him
self from legitimate investigation by ntcrposng the





ton OF the impcachabihty OF Mr. Bcknap he suggested
that that question: Judge Story had ntmatcd might
properly be lett the decision of the Senate on such
a state OF facts would the House, he asked, shrink
from tho performance OF ts duty because
there might be the mist shadow of doubt
on that points The House could not do II would
not be admissible: He quoted from the impeachment
of Lord Bacon, in which It stated that where
the Lord Chancellor had sought to himself by



the King did not and could not interpose Was the
House to be told that the power at the other
end Of the avenue was able TO


RON AN AMERICAN CONGRESS


OF a right and power which King of Great Britain
could not take from Parliament? Sensation and ap-
pause) It used TO be the theory that the king could
do no wrong; but no man had ever been found bold
enough in this country TO say that the President
do no wrong II the man who had uttered the mem.
orable sentence, "Let no guilty escape" held II
in his power to rob American Congress OF its right
to infict punishment to pronounce on a
publicly convicted criminal, where the barrier
be found beneath whose shelter the liberties OF the
people could rest secureg (Applause)


Mr. HoAR-Does the gentleman say that Congress has
the power to punish any man in this country?


hr. IiLAcKBURS-I will not submit to Interruptions
am the last man who would introduce atom OF
politics In this discussion II Is not admissible here
The republican members of the committee were as
earnest and honest in the prosecution OF the inquiry
and IN tho presentation of this report the members
representing the majority of this House We have
seen no difference in the committee room. | appeal
to the members Of the House that there shall no
difference manifested here. If fraud has been perpe-
trated, if crimnality exists If corruption has been
proved let the representatives OF the people in this
House declare 1t ana send the issue to the court
where il may finally be tried; and If unable to
punish where guilt is almost openly confessed let the
responsibility for that failure other shoulders
than ours.


Mr. DASFoRrH, (rop) of Ohio, another member OF
the committee expressed it as his judgment that the
acceptance of Mr. Belknap's resignation in no manner
changed the position Of that officer to the country.
He disagreed, however, with the statement of the
chairman Mr Cymerl that the conduct OF this officer
the legitimate outgrowth OF the principles of the
party in power aud he expressed the hope that there
would not be single vote the republican side of the
House against the resolution


REMARKS oP MR.. KAssoN


Mr.. KAssoN, OF Iowa, said that few years ago there
had gone from his State young, well educated and
gallant gentleman nght the battles of his country
He haa gone through the war; and the President had
afterward called him to seat in his Cabinet placing
HIM at the head OF that army Of which he had been
humble but somewhat distinguished member. This





had heard that that gentleman who had been SO much
respected in his State and is much honored by
the nation, had been found guilty of receiving
pensation for act of Official duty and that that
compensation had been continuous. The House would
Judge of the emotion with which the members from
that State had listened to tho reading Of the evidence
He had never heard anything read with greater
interest than the report, and when at the
close OF the reading he had made an appeal
to his friend from Pennsylvania (Mr. Clymer.
for himself alone, but for his colleagues. whose
pride and honor touched by the character OF
the report for moments delay that they might find
out whether there might not be in the evidence
extenuatng circumstance, he had been met by the dc
mand for the previous question He did desire to
claim any exemption for Mr.. Bclknap from ali the pen
alties which his entitled him; but he found the


MOST PAINFUL FEATURE


disclosed by the evidence the fact that not one
word touched the officer in question until the death
which broke heart had occurred (Sensation) Was he
to be blamed that he and his colleagues wanted
right to ascertain the extent of that officers guilt by
reading the evidence in pontS Was he to be blamed
that when he found that the delicate relations in
the human life involved this proceedings relation
delicate that he dared not allude to 1t in detai-he
asked opportunity to consider whether there was
anything to be saidsln extenuation OF high and so
great misdemeanorS But it was too late 80 back
that He aud his colleagues had been refused
that opportunity and now he only asked the attention
OF the House 70 the question whether the House did
not need moro time to ascertain whether this officer
mpeachabe.


Alter quoting from Judge Story this point he
argued that the powers OF Congress limited by the
constitution and that II Mr. Belkuap DO mpcached the
Senate could not execute the constitutional provision
which declares that he shall be removed from once
II he liable to impeachment let It be understood
that they were all


WITHOUT EXCEPTION IMPEACHMENT,
but II the House establishing precedent which did
not rest on the constitution and which dangerous
for the future, he thought right that the House
should pause and consider by a report from its Ju-
dicarv CommlIec the nnesiion of lie rirhi 10 mnre