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！
I do impeach Andrew Johnson； Vice President and acting President of the United States； of high crimes and misdemeanors：
I charge him with a usurpation of power and violation of law：
In that he has corruptly used the appointing power；
In that he has corruptly used the pardoning power；
In that he has corruptly used the veto power；
In that he has corruptly disposed of public property of the United States；
In that he has corruptly interfered in elections； and committed acts which； in contemplation of the Constitution； are high crimes and misdemeanors： Therefore；
BE IT RESOLVED； That the Committee on the Judiciary be； and they are hereby； authorized to inquire into the official conduct of Andrew Johnson； Vice President of the United States； discharging the powers and duties of the office of President of the United States； and to report to this House； whether； in their opinion； the said Andrew Johnson； while in said office； has been guilty of acts which are designed or calculated to overthrow； subvert； or corrupt the Government of the United States； or any department or office thereof； and whether the said Andrew Johnson has been guilty of any act； or has conspired with others to do acts； which； in contemplation of the Constitution； are high crimes and misdemeanors； requiring the interposition of the constitutional power of this House； and that said committee have power to send for persons and papers； and to administer the customary oath to witnesses。
The question was taken on agreeing to the Resolution； and it was decided in the affirmativeyeas 107； nays 39； not voting 45。
On the 2nd of March； 1867； the subject of impeachment again came up in the House； and the following proceedings were had：
Mr。 Wilson； of Iowa； （Rep。）I am directed by the Committee on the Judiciary to present a report relative to the official conduct of the President of the United States。
Mr。 Eldridge； （Dem。）Mr。 Speaker； I wish to raise a question of order： I see by the clock that it is almost three o'clock in the morning； and I believe this is the Sabbath day。 I think we should not do any more business tonight； except it be business of necessity or charity。
The Speaker。This； in parliamentary view； is Saturday。 The clerk will read the report submitted by the gentleman from Iowa。
The clerk read as follows：
The Committee on the Judiciary； charged by the House with examination of certain allegations； of high crimes and misdemeanors against the President of the United States； submit the following report：
On the 7th day of January； 1867； the House； on the motion of the Hon。 James M。 Ashley； a Representative from the State of Ohio； adopted the following preamble and resolutions； to…wit：
The duty imposed upon this committee by this action of the House； was of the highest and gravest character。 No committee during the entire history of the Government； has ever been charged with a more important trust。 The responsibility which it imposed was of oppressive weight； and of a most unpleasant nature。 Gladly would the committee have escaped from the arduous labor imposed upon it by the Resolution of the House； but once imposed； prompt； deliberate； and faithful action； with a view to correct results； became its duty； and to this end it has directed its efforts。
Soon after the adoption of the Resolution by the House； Hon。 James M。 Ashley communicated to the committee； in support of his charges against the President of the United States； such facts as were in his possession； and the investigation was proceeded with； and has been continued almost without； a day's interruption。 A large number of witnesses have been examined； many documents collected； and everything done which could be done to reach a conclusion of the case。 But the investigation covers a broad field； embraces many novel； interesting； and important questions； and involves a multitude of facts； while most of the witnesses are distant from the Capital； owing to which the committee； in view of the magnitude of the interests involved in its action； have not been able to conclude its labors； and is not therefore prepared to submit a definite and final report。 If the investigation had even approached completeness； the committee would not feel authorized to present the result of the House at this late period of the session； unless the charges had been so entirely negative as to admit of no discussion； which； in the opinion of the committee； is not the case。
Certainly no affirmative report could be properly considered in the expiring hours of this Congress。
The committee not having fully investigated all the charges prepared against the President of the United States； it is deemed inexpedient to submit any conclusion beyond the statement that sufficient testimony has been brought to its notice to justify and demand a further prosecution of the investigation。
The testimony which the committee has taken will pass into the custody of the Clerk of the House； and can go into the hands of such committee as may be charged with the duty of bringing this investigation to a close； so that the labor expended upon it may not have been in vain。
The committee regrets its inability definitely to dispose of the important subject committed to its charge； and presents this report for its own justification； and for the additional purpose of notifying the succeeding Congress of the incompleteness of its labors； and that they should be completed。
James F。 Wilson； Chairman。 Francis Thomas； D。 Morris； F。 E。 Woodbridge； George S。 Boutwell； Thomas Williams； Burton C。 Cook； William Lawrence；
Mr。 Ancona； the only Democrat on the committee； presented a minority report； as follows：
The subscriber； one of the Judiciary Committee； to which was referred by the House the inquiry into the official conduct of His Excellency； the President of the United States； with a view to his impeachment upon certain charges made by Hon。 James M。 Ashley； begs leave to submit the following report：
The Committee refuses to allow a Report to be made giving to the House at this time upon grounds which are no doubt satisfactory to themselves； therefore； I cannot report the evidence upon which my conclusion is based； which I would gladly do did the Committee deem it expedient。 The examination of witnesses and the records was commenced； as appears by the majority report； about the time of the reference； to…wit： on the 7th day of January； 1867； and continued daily。 A large number of witnesses has been examined； and everything done that could be； to bring the case to a close； as appears by the majority report： and the majority have come to the conclusion 〃that sufficient testimony had been brought to its notice to justify and demand a further prosecution of the investigation。〃 I have carefully examined all the evidence in the case； and do report that there is not one particle of evidence to sustain any of the charges which the House charged the Committee to investigate； and that the case is wholly without a particle of evidence upon which impeachment could be founded； and that with all the effort that has been made； and the mass of evidence that has been taken； the case is entirely void of proof。 I furthermore