按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
urthermore report that the most of the testimony that has been taken is of a secondary character； and such as would not be admitted in a court of justice。
In view of this conclusion I can see no good in a continuation of the investigation。 I am convinced that all the proof that can be produced has been before the Committee； as no pains have been spared to give the case a full investigation。 Why； then； keep the country in a feverish state of excitement upon this question any longer； as it is sure to end； in my opinion； in a complete vindication of the President； if justice be done him by the committee； of which I have no doubt；
A。 J。 Rogers。
The two reports were ordered printed and laid on the table。
This session of the House； and with it the Thirty…Ninth Congress； ended a few hours later； the legislative day continuing till twelve o'clock； noon； on Sunday； March 3rd。 The House adjourned sine die at that hour； when all unfinished business lapsed。
RENEWAL OF THE IMPEACHMENT。
The first session of the Fortieth Congress began on Monday； March 4th； 1867； and on the 7th； in the House of Representatives； Mr。 Ashley （Rep。） offered the following Preamble and Resolutions：
Whereas the House of Representatives of the Thirty…Ninth Congress adopted； on the 7th of January； 1867； a Resolution authorizing an inquiry into certain charges preferred against the President of the United States； and whereas the Judiciary Committee； to whom said Resolution and charges were referred； with authority to investigate the same； were unable for want of time； to complete said investigation before the expiration of the Thirty…Ninth Congress； and whereas in the report submitted by said Judiciary Committee on the 2nd of March they declare that the evidence taken is of such a character as to justify and demand a continuation of the investigation by this Congress； therefore：
Be it Resolved by the House of Representatives； That the Judiciary Committee； when appointed； be； and they are hereby； instructed to continue the investigation authorized in said Resolution of Jan。 7th； 1867； and that they have power to send for persons and papers； and to administer the customary oath to witnesses； and that the committee have authority to sit during the sessions of the House and during any recess which Congress or this House may take。
Resolved； That the Speaker be requested to appoint the Committee on the Judiciary forthwith； and that the Committee so appointed be directed to take charge of the testimony taken by the Committee of the last Congress； and that said Committee have power to appoint a clerk at a compensation not to exceed six dollars per day； and employ the necessary stenographers。
At the close of the debate on Mr。 Ashley's Resolution； it was adopted without a division； its form being changed to the following：
Resolved； That the Committee on Judiciary be requested to report on the charges against the President as aforesaid； on the first day of the meeting of the House after the recess hereafter to be determined。
Congress adjourned a few days later。 It re…assembled on the 3rd of July； and on the 11th the following resolutions was offered by Mr。 Stevens； （Rep。） of Pennsylvania：
Resolved； That the Committee on the Judiciary； to whom was referred the Resolution and Documents relative to the Impeachment of the President； be directed to report the evidence at this session； with leave to make further report if they shall deem proper。
That the impeachment enterprise was waning； and that its forces had received little encouragement during the recess of the Congress that had just closed； was evidenced by the fact that there could not be mustered ayes enough to put the resolution to a vote； and Mr。 Wilson； of Iowa； moved the following substitute：
Resolved； That the Committee on Judiciary be； and they are hereby； authorized and directed to have the usual number of copies of the evidence taken by said committee relative to the Impeachment of the President； printed and laid on the desks of Members of the House on the first day of the next Congress； whether adjourned or regular。
The Resolution was adopted by a vote of 85 to 48； whereupon Mr。 Stevens dejectedly remarked that； 〃after the vote which had been taken on this resolution； indicating the views of a majority of the House in regard to it； I am willing to abandon it。 I therefore move that the Resolution as amended be laid on the table；〃 which motion was agreed to。
On the 15th of July； 1867； Mr。 Farnsworth； （Rep。） of Illinois； offered the following resolution and demanded the previous question thereon：
Resolved； That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the question of the Impeachment of the President of the United States； and that the testimony already taken by said committee be printed for the use of the House。
The resolution was not seconded； and went over under the rules。
On the 25th of Nov。 1867； Mr。 Boutwell （Rep。）； on behalf of the Judiciary Committee； submitted the report of the majority of that committee； of the testimony taken in behalf of the proposed impeachment of the President。 The report recommended his impeachment。
Mr。 Wilson； submitted the report of the minority of the Committee （himself and Mr。 Woodbridge）； and moved the adoption of the following resolution：
Resolved； That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the proposed impeachment of the President of the United States； and that the subject be laid upon the table。
Mr。 Marshall； on behalf of himself and Mr。 Eldridge； the two Democratic members of the committee； stated that though they had not signed the minority report submitted by Mr。 Wilson； they joined in support of the resolution submitted by him； and asked leave to introduce and have printed separate views。
This； the first session of the Fortieth Congress； then adjourned； Dec。 2nd； 1867。
The second session of the Fortieth Congress was begun on the same day； and on the 5th； the impeachment question came up in its order in the House； on the resolution reported from the Judiciary Committee：
That Andrew Johnson； President of the United States； be impeached of high crimes and misdemeanors。
After a brief discussion of the order of business； the House adjourned for that day。
The debate was closed on the 6th； by Messrs。 Boutwell and Wilson； the members of the Committee on the Judiciary having Charge of the impeachment measure。 The closing passages of Mr。 Boutwell's speech were as follows：
What is our position to…day？ Can this House and the Senate； with the knowledge they have of the Presidents purposes and of the character of the men who surround him； give him the necessary power？ （to remove alleged dishonest officials。） Do they not feel that if he be alloyed such power these places will be given to worse men？ Hence； I say that with Mr。 Johnson in office from this time until the 4th of March； 1869； there is no remedy for these grievances。 These are considerations why we should not hesitate to do that which justice authorizes us to do if we believe that the President has been guilty of impeachable offenses。
Mr。 Speaker； all rests here。 To this H