Andrew Johnson

Trial of Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, Before the Senate of the United States, on Impeachment by the House of Representatives for Hi

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868 Excerpt: ...wisdom of the fathers of the Constitution, by increasing immensely the powers and privileges of the executive at the expense of the legislative department. Thenceforward the ruler will no longer be the servant of the people, but the people will be the servants ol the ruler, and we shall not be able hereafter to say, in the sublime language of the martyred Lincoln, that ours is "a government of the people, by the people, and for the people." » Believing, as I conscientiously do, that such are the results which must follow the acquittal of Andrew Johnson by this tribunal, and believing that the House of Representatives have made good the material charges preferred against him, 1 cannot doubt as to my duty in the premises. I deeply regret that the necessity for these momentous proceedings has arisen. I would gladly have escaped the solemn responsibilities of this hour. But this may not be, and I must, therefore, upon the law and the evidence, in accordance with the dictates of my conscience, and in view of the solemn obligations of my oath, declare that in my judgment Andrew Johnson is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors as charged by the representatives of the people. Opinion Of Mr. Senator Tipton. When the act regulating the tenure of civil offices passed Congress on the 2d day of March, 1867, Edwin M. Stanton was Secretary of War, having been appointed to said office by Mr. Lincoln and confirmed by the Senate January 15, 1862, and commissioned to hold the office " during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being." The first section of the act is as follows: That every person holding any civil office to which he has been appointed, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and every person who s...