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it shall be supreme over every territory； it shall be supreme upon every deck covered by your flag in every zone all round the globe。 Every man within its jurisdiction； official and unofficial； must bow to the supremacy of the Constitution。
The gentleman says that the issue involved is an issue about an office。 I beg the gentleman's pardon。 The issue involved is whether the supremacy of the Constitution shall be maintained by the people's Representatives。 The President of the United States has assumed； sir； to set himself above the Constitution and the laws。 He has assumed to defy the law； he has assumed to challenge the people's Representatives to sit in judgment upon his malfeasance in office。 Every man who has considered it worth while to observe my conduct touching this question that has so long agitated this House and agitated this country may have discovered that I have kept myself back and have endeavored to keep others back from making any unnecessary issue between the President and Representatives of the people touching the manner in which he discharged the duties of his great office。 I had no desire； sir； to have resort unnecessarily to this highest power reposed by the people in their Representatives and their Senators for the vindication of their own violated Constitution and violated laws。 Notwithstanding there was much in the conduct of the President to endanger the peace and repose of the country； yet； so long as there was any doubt upon the question of his liability to impeachment within the text and spirit of the Constitution； I was unwilling to utter one syllable to favor such a proposition or to record a vote to advance it。 * * *
Mr。 Beck； （Dem。 of Ky。） The single question upon which the decision of this House is now to be made is that the President has attempted to test the constitutionality of a law which he believes to be unconstitutional。 All the testimony heretofore presented upon which to base an impeachment of the President was decided by even a majority of the Republican members of this House to be insufficient to justify impeachment。 All questions growing out of the combinations and conspiracies lately charged upon the President were ruled by the Reconstruction Committee to be insufficient； and were not brought before this House。 And the sole question now before us is； is there anything in this last act of the President removing Mr。 Stanton and appointing Adjutant General Thomas Secretary of War ad interim to justify his impeachment by this House？
I maintain that the President of the United States is in duty bound to test the legality of every law which he thinks interferes with his rights and powers as the Chief Magistrate of this nation。 Whenever he has powers conferred upon him by the Constitution of the United States； and an act of Congress undertakes to deprive him of those powers； or any of them。 he would be false to his trust as the Chief Executive of this nation； false to the interests of the people whom he represents； if he did not by every means in his power seek to test the constitutionality of that law； and to take whatever steps were necessary and proper to have it tested by the highest tribunal in the land； and to ascertain whether he has a right under the Constitution to do what he claims the right to do； or whether Congress has the right to deprive him of the powers which he claims have been vested in him by the Constitution of the United States； and that is all that he proposes to do in this case。 * * *
Mr。 Logan； （Rep。 of Ills。） Now； Mr。 Speaker； let us examine this question for a moment。 It seems to me very plain and easy of solution。 It is not necessary； in order to decide whether this action of the President of the United States comes within the purview and meaning of this statute； for us to talk about revolutions or what this man or that man has said or decided。 What has been the act of the President is the question。 The law is plain。 If the President shall appoint or shall give a letter of authority or issue a commission to any person； without the consent of the Senate； he is guilty ofwhat？ The law says of a high misdemeanor。 And； under and by virtue of the Constitution； the President can be impeachedfor what？ For high crimes or misdemeanors。 This law declares the issuing a commission to； or giving a letter of authority to； or appointing to or removing from office； any person。 without the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States； shall be a high misdemeanor； which is within the meaning and within the pale of the Constitution of the United States。
Now； what is the evidence presented to this body by one of its committees？ It is of this character： The Secretary of War； Edwin M。 Stanton； has been declared by a solemn vote of the Senate to be the Secretary of War； by virtue ofwhat？ By virtue of an appointment to that office； by reason of the fact that Andrew Johnson did not relieve him from office when he had the right to present the name of somebody elsesoon after his taking the presidential chairnot the right to turn him out； but the right to nominate some one else to the senate and ask them to confirm him to that office。 That the President failed to do。 Then； acting under the provisions of this statute； the President suspended Mr。 Stanton as Secretary of War； but the Senate passed upon that act； and decided that the reasons given by the President for suspending Mr。 Stanton were not satisfactory； and accordingly； by virtue of this law； Mr。 Stanton was confirmed and reinstated in his position as Secretary of War。
Now； all this having been done； it cannot certainly be claimed that the President； in his recent course in regard to Mr。 Stanton； has acted without any intention of violating the law。 Nor can it be claimed that the President is ignorant of the law。 * * *
Mr。 Holman （Dem。； Ind。） We have listened to much excited eloquence upon this question。 It is too manifest that Congress； moving on with that impetus which is ever the result of excessive political power。 seeks to usurp those powers which are by the Constitution vested in the other Departments of the Government。 I do not propose to discuss this subject or answer the speech of the gentleman from Illinois ＇Mr。 Logan＇ with any words of my own。 I have before me a paper which is full of mature wisdom and patriotic counsel； a speech that comes from the solemn past； yet speaks to every heart that beats for the Union of these States； and the prosperity of the American people； a voice that is answered back from every battlefield of the Revolution； and from the grave of every soldier who has fallen in defense of American liberty。 I ask that this speech may be read to the House； as appropriate to this day； the 22nd of February； a day once so venerated。 I ask that this immortal address to the American people； a speech that needs no revision： a speech in which there can be no interruptions made in this moment of passion； be read to the American Congress； for I can well afford to be silent while that great voice speaks to the Representatives of the people of this Republic。
The Clerk commenced the reading of Washington's Farewell Address。
Mr。 Peters： I rise to a question of order。 I insist that that a