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History of the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson； President of the
United States
by Edmund G。 Ross
PREFACE。
Little is now known to the general public of the history of the attempt to remove President Andrew Johnson in 1868； on his impeachment by the House of Representatives and trial by the Senate for alleged high crimes and misdemeanors in office； or of the causes that led to it。 Yet it was one of the most important and critical events； involving possibly the gravest consequences； in the entire history of the country。
The constitutional power to impeach and remove the President had lain dormant since the organization of the Government； and apparently had never been thought of as a means for the satisfaction of political enmities or for the punishment of alleged executive misdemeanors； even in the many heated controversies between the President and Congress that had theretofore arisen。 Nor would any attempt at impeachment have been made at that time but for the great numerical disparity then existing between the respective representatives in Congress of the two political parties of the country。
One…half the members of that Congress； both House and Senate； are now dead； and with them have also gone substantially the same proportion of the people at large； but many of the actors therein who have passed away； lived long enough to see； and were candid enough to admit； that the failure of the impeachment had brought no harm to the country； while the general judgment practically of all has come to be that a grave and threatening danger was thereby averted。
A new generation is now in control of public affairs and the destinies of the Nation have fallen to new hands。 New issues have developed and will continue to develop from time to time； and new dangers will arise； with increasing numbers and changing conditions； demanding in their turn the same careful scrutiny； wisdom and patriotism in adjustment。 But the principles that underlie and constitute the basis of our political organism； are and will remain the same； and will never cease to demand constant vigilance for their perpetuation as the rock of safety upon which our federative system is founded。
To those who in the study of the country's past seek a broader and higher conception of the duties of American citizenship； the facts pertaining to the controversy between the Executive and Congress as to the restoration and preservation of the Union； set out in the following pages； will be interesting and instructive。 No one is better fitted than the author of this volume to discuss the period of reconstruction in which； as a member of the Federal senate； he played so potent and patriotic a part； and it is a pleasure to find that he has discharged his task with so much ability and care。 But it is profoundly hoped that no coming generation will be called upon to utilize the experiences of the past in facing in their day； in field or forum； the dangers of disruption and anarchy； mortal strife and desolation； between those of one race； and blood； and nationality； that marked the history of America thirty years ago。
DAVID B。 HILL。
CHAPTER 1。 THE PROBLEM OF RECONSTRUCTION。
MR。 LINCOLN'S PLAN
The close of the War of the Rebellion； in 1865； found the country confronted by a civil problem quite as grave as the contest of arms that had been composed。 It was that of reconstruction； or the restoration of the States lately in revolt； to their constitutional relations to the Union。
The country had just emerged from a gigantic struggle of physical force of four years duration between the two great Northern and Southern sections。 That struggle had been from its inception to its close； a continuing exhibition； on both sides； of stubborn devotion to a cause； and its annals had been crowned with illustrations of the grandest race and personal courage the history of the world records。 Out of a population of thirty million people； four million men were under arms； from first to last； and sums of money quite beyond the limit of ordinary comprehension； were expended in its prosecution。 There was bloodshed without stint。 Both sides to the conflict fought for an ideaon the one side for so…called State Rights and local self…governmenton the other for national autonomy as the surest guaranty of all rightspersonal； local； and general。
The institution of negro slavery； the basis of the productive industries of the States of the South； which had from the organization of the Government been a source of friction between the slave…holding and nonslave…holding sections； and was in fact the underlying and potent cause of the war； went under in the strife and was by national edict forever prohibited。
The struggle being ended by the exhaustion of the insurgents； two conspicuous problems demanding immediate solution were developed： The status of the now ex…slaves； or freedmenand the methods to be adopted for the rehabilitation of the revolted States； including the status of the revolted States themselves。 The sword had declared that they had no constitutional power to withdraw from the Union； and the result demonstrated that they had not the physical powerand therefore that they were in the anomalous condition of States of though not States technically in the Unionand hence properly subject to the jurisdiction of the General Government； and bound by its judgment in any measures to be instituted by it for their future restoration to their former condition of co…equal States。
The now ex…slaves had been liberated； not with the consent of their former owners； but by the power of the conqueror as a war measure； who not unnaturally insisted upon the right to declare absolutely the future status of these persons without consultation with or in any way by the intervention of their late owners。 The majority of the gentlemen in Congress representing the Northern States demanded the instant and complete enfranchisement of these persons； as the natural and logical sequence of their enfreedment。 The people of the late slave States； as was to have been foreseen； and not without reason； objectedespecially where； as was the case in many localities； the late slaves largely out…numbered the people of the white race： and it is apparent from subsequent developments that they had the sympathy of President Lincoln； at least so far as to refuse his sanction to the earlier action of Congress relative to restoration。
To add to the gravity of the situation and of the problem of reconstruction； the people of the States lately in rebellion were disfranchised in a mass； regardless of the fact that many of them refused to sanction the rebellion only so far as was necessary to their personal safety。
It was insisted by the dominant element of the party in control of Congress； that these States were dead as political entities； having committed political suicide； and their people without rights or the protection of law； as malcontents。
It is of record that Mr。 Lincoln objected to this doctrine； and to all propositions that contemplated the treatment of the late rebellious States simply as conquered provinces and their people as having forfeited all rights under a common government； and under the la