PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE
SITTING FOR
THE TRIAL OF ANDREW JOHNSON
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
On Articles of Impeachment
exhibited by the
House of Representatives
On Monday, February the 24th, 1868, the House of
Representatives of the Congress of the United States resolved to impeach
Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors,
of which the Senate was apprised and arrangements were made for the trial.
On Monday the 2d of March, articles of impeachment were agreed upon by
the House of Representatives, and on the 4th they were presented to the
Senate by the managers on the part of the House, who were accompanied by
the House, the grand inquest of the nation, as a Committee of the Whole
on the state of the Union. Mr. BINGHAM, chairman of the managers,
read the articles as follows:
Articles exhibited by the House of Representatives
of the United States, in the name of themselves and all the people of the
United States, against Andrew Johnson, President of the United States,
in maintenance and support of their impeachment against him for high crimes
and misdemeanors.
ARTICLE I.
That said
Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, on the 21st day of February,
in the year of our Lord, 1868, at Washington, in the District of Columbia,
unmindful of the high duties of his office, of his oath of office, and
of the requirement of the Constitution that he should take care that the
laws be faithfully executed, did unlawfully and in violation of the Constitution
and laws of the United States issue and order in writing for the removal
of Edwin M. Stanton from the office of Secretary for the Department of
War, said Edwin M. Stanton having been theretofore duly appointed and commissioned,
by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States,
as such Secretary, and said Andrew Johnson, President of the United States,
on the 12th day of August, in the year of our Lord 1867, and during the
recess of said Senate, having been suspended by his order Edwin M. Stanton
from said office, and within twenty days after the first day of the next
meeing of said Senate, that is to say, on the 12th day of December, in
the year last aforesaid, having reported to said Senate such suspension,
with the evidence and reasons for his action in the case and the name of
the person designated to perform the duties of such office temporarily
until the next meeting og the Senate, and said Senate thereafterward, on
the 13th day of January, in the year of our Lord 1868, having duly considered
the evidence and reasons reported by said Andrew Johnson for said suspension,
and having been refused to concur in said suspension, whereby and by force
of the provisions of an act entitled "An act regulating the tenure of certain
civil offices," passed March 2, 1867, said Edwin M. Stanton did forthwith
resume the functions of his office, whereof the said Andrew Johnson had
then and there due notice, and siad Edwin Stanton, by reason of the premises,
on said 21st day of February, being lawfully entitled to hold said office
of Secretary for the Department of War, which said order for the removal
of said Edwin M. Stanton is, in substance, as follows, that is to say:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, D.C., February
21,
1868
SIR: By virtue of
the power and authority vested in me, as President by the Constitution
and laws of the United States, you are hereby removed from the office of
Secretary for the Department of War, and your functions as such will
terminate upon receipt of their communication. You will transfer to Brevet
Major-General L. Thomas, Adjutant-General of the Army, who has this day
been authorized and empowered to act as Secretary of War ad interim, all
books, paper and other public property now in your custody and charge.
Respectfully yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War
Which order was
unlawfully issued, and with intent then are there to violate the act entitled
"An act regulating the tenure of certain civil office," passed March 2,
1867; and, with the further intent contrary to the provisions of said act,
and in violation thereof, and contrary to the provisions of the Constitution
of the United States, and without the advice and consent of the Senate
of the United States, the said Senate then and there being in session,
to remove said Edwin M. Stanton from the office of Secretary for the Department
of War, the said Edwin M. Stanton being then and there Secretary of War,
and being then and there in the due and lawful execution of the duties
of said office, whereby said Andrew Johnson, President of the United States,
did then and there commit, and was guilty of a high misdemeanor in office.
ARTICLE II.
That on the
21st day of February, in the year of our Lord 1868, at Washington, in the
District of Columbia, said Andrew Johnson, President of the United States,
unmindful of the high duties of his office, of his oath of office, and
in violation of the Constitution of the United States, and contrary to
the provisions of an act entitled "An act regulating the tenure of certain
civil offices," passed March 2, 1867, without the advice and consent of
the Senate of the United States, said Senate then and there being in session,
and without authority of law, did, with intent to violate the Constitution
of the United States and the act aforesaid, issue and deliver to one Lorenzo
Thomas a letter of authority, in substance as follows, that is to say:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, D.C., February
21,
1868
SIR: The Hon. Edwin
M. Stanton having been this day removed from office as Secretary for theDepartment
of War, you are hereby authorized and empowered to act as Secretary of
War ad interim,
and will immediately enter upon the discharge of the duties pertaining
to that office.
Mr. Stanton has
been instructed to transfer to you all the records, books, papers and other
public property now in his custody and charge.
Respectfully yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON
To Brevet Major-General Lorenzo Thomas,Adjutant
General United States Army, Washington, D.C.
then and there
being no vacancy in said office of Secretary for the Department of War:
whereby said Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, did then and
there commit, and was guilty
of a high misdemeanor in office.
ARTICLE III.
That said Andrew
Johnson, President of the United States, on the 21st day of February,in
the year of our Lord 1868, at Washington in the District of Columbia,
did commit, and was guilty of a high misdemeanor in office, in this, that,
without authority of law, while
the Senate of the United States was then and there in session, he didappoint
one Lorenzo Thomas to be Secretary for the Department of War, ad interim,
without the advice and consent
of the Senate, and with intent to violate the Constitution of the United
States, no vacancy having happened in said office of Secretary for the
Department of War during the recess of the
Senate, and no vacancy existing in said office at the time, and which said
appointment so made by Andrew
Johnson, of said Lorenzo Thomas is in substance as follows, that is to
say:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, D.C., February
21,
1868
SIR: The Hon. Edwin
M. Stanton having been this day removed from office as Secretary for theDepartment
of War, you are hereby authorized and empowered to act as Secretary of
War ad interim,
and will immediately enter upon the discharge of the duties pertaining
to that office.
Mr. Stanton has
been instructed to transfer to you all the records, books, papers and other
public property now in his custody and charge.
Respectfully yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON
To Brevet Major-General Lorenzo Thomas,Adjutant
General United States Army, Washington, D.C.
ARTICLE IV.
That said Andrew
Johnson, President of the United States, unmindful of the high duties
of his office, and of his oath of office,
in violation of the Constitution and laws of the United States,on the 21st
day of February, in the year of our Lord 1868, at Washington, in the District
of Columbia, did unlawfully conspire
with one Lorenzo Thomas, and with other persons to the House of
Representatives unknown, with intent by intimidation and threats unlawfully
to hinder and prevent Edwin M. Stanton, then and there, the Secretary for
the Department of War, duly appointed under the laws
of the United States, from holding said office of Secretary for the Department
of War, contrary to and in violation
of the Constitution of the United States, and of the provisions of an act
entitled "An act to define and punish certain conspiracies," approved July
31, 1861, whereby said Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States, did then and there commit and was guilty
of high crime in office.
ARTICLE V.
That said Andrew
Johnson, President of the United States, unmindful of the high dutiesof
his office and of his oath of office, on the 21st of February, in the year
of our Lord 1868, and on divers others days and time in said year before
the 2d day of March, A.D. 1868, at Washington, in the District of Columbia,
did unlawfully conspire with one Lorenzo
Thomas, and with other persons in the House of Representatives unknown,
to prevent and hinder the execution of an act entitled "An act regulating
the tenure of certain civil office,"
passed March 2, 1867, and in pursuance of said conspiracy, did attempt
to prevent Edwin M. Stanton,
then and there being Secretary for the Department of War, duly appointed
and commissioned under the laws of the United States, from holding said
office, whereby the said Andrew Johnson, President of the United States,
did then and there commit and was guilty of high misdemeanor
in office.
ARTICLE VI.
That said
Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, unmindful of the high duties
of his office and of his oath of office, on the 21st day of February, in
the year of our Lord 1868, at Washington,
in the District of Columbia, did unlawfully conspire with one Lorenzo Thomas,
by force to seize, take, and
possess the property of the United Sates in the Department of War, and
then and there in the custody and charge of Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary
for said Department, contrary to the
provisions of an act entitled "An act to define and punish certain conspiracies,"
approved July 31, 1861, and with
intent to violate and disregard an act entitled "An act regulating the
tenure of certain civil offices,"
passed March 2, 1867, whereby said Andrew Johnson, President of the UnitedStates,
did then and there commit a high crime in office.
ARTICLE VII.
That said Andrew
Johnson, President of the United States, unmindful of the high dutiesof
his office, and of his oath of office, on the 21st day of February, in
the year of our Lord 1868, at Washington, in the District
of Columbia, did unlawfully conspire with one Lorenzo Thomas with intent
unlawfully to seize, take, and possess the property of the United States
in the Department of War, in the custody and charge of Edwin M. Stanton,
Secretary of said Department, with intent to violate and disregard the
act entitled "An act regulating the tenure of certain civil offices," passed
March 2, 1867, whereby said Andrew Johnson, President of the United States,
did then and there commit a high misdemeanor in office.
ARTICLE VIII.
That said Andrew Johnson, President
of the United States, unmindful of the high duties of his office and of
his oath of office, with intent unlawfully to control the disbursements
of the moneys appropriated for the military service and for the Department
of War, on the 21st day of February, in the year of our Lord 1868, at Washington,
in the District of Columbia, did unlawfully and contrary to the provisions
of an act entitled "An act regulating the tenure of certain civil offices,"
passed March 2, 1867, and in violation of the Constitution of the United
States, and without the advice and consent of the Senate of the United
States, and while the Senate was then and there in session, there being
no vacancy in the office of Secretary for the Department of War, with intent
to violate and disregard the the act aforesaid, then and there issue and
deliver to one Lorenzo Thomas a letter of authority in writing, in substance
as follows, that is to say:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, D.C., February
21,
1868
SIR: The Hon. Edwin
M. Stanton having been this day removed from office as Secretary for theDepartment
of War, you are hereby authorized and empowered to act as Secretary of
War ad interim,
and will immediately enter upon the discharge of the duties pertaining
to that office.
Mr. Stanton has
been instructed to transfer to you all the records, books, papers and other
public property now in his custody and charge.
Respectfully yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON
To Brevet Major-General Lorenzo Thomas,Adjutant
General United States Army, Washington, D.C.
Whereby said Andrew Johnson, President of the United
States, did then and there commit and was guilty of a high misdemeanor
in office.
ARTICLE IX
That said Andrew
Johnson, President of the United States, on the 22nd day of February, in
the year of our Lord 1868, at Washington, in the District of Columbia,
in disregard of the Constitution
and the laws of the United States, duly enacted, as Commander-in-Chief
of the Army of the United States, did bring before
himself, then and there William H. Emory, a Major-General by brevet in
the Army of the United States,
actually in command of the department of Washington, and the military forces
thereof, and did and there, as
such Commander-in-Chief, declare to, and instruct said Emory, that part
of a law of the United
States, passed March 2, 1867, entitled "An act for making appropriations
for the support of the army for
the year ending June 30, 1868, and for other purposes," especially thesecond
section thereof, which provides, among other things, that "all orders and
instructions relating to military
operations issued by the President or Secretary of War, shall be issued
through the General of the Army,
and, in case of his inability, through the next in rank," was unconstitutional,
and in contravention of
the commission of said Emory, and which said provision of law had
been theretofore duly and legally promulgated
by general order for the government and direction of the Army of the United
States, as the said Andrew Johnson
then and there well knew, with intent thereby to induce said Emory, in
his official capacity as Commander of
the department of Washington, to violate the provisions of said
act, and to take and receive, act upon and obey such orders as he, the
said Andrew Johnson, might make
and give, and which should not be issued through the General of the Army
of the United States, according to the provisions of said act, and with
the further intent thereby to enable him, the daid Andrew Johnson, to prevent
the execution of an act entitled "An act regulating the tenure of certain
civil offices," passed March 2, 1867, and to unlawfully prevent Edwin M.
Stanton, then being Secretary for the Department of War, from holding said
office and discharging the duties thereof, whereby said Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States, did then and there commit, and was guilty
of a high misdemeanor in office.
ARTICLE X.
That said Andrew
Johnson, President of the United States, unmindful of the high duties of
his office and the dignity and proprieties thereof, and of the harmony
and courtesies which ought to exist and be maintained between the executive
and legislative branches of the Government of the United States, designing
and intending to set aside the rightful authorities and powers of Congress,
did attempt to bring into disgrace, ridicule, hatred, contempt and reproach
the Congress of the United States, and the several branches thereof, to
impair and destroy the regard and respect of all the good people of the
United States for the Congress and legislative power thereof, (which all
officers of the government ought inviolably to preserve and maintain,)
and to excite the odium and resentment of all good people of the United
States against Congress and the laws by it duly and constitutionally enacted;
and in pursuance of his said design and intent, openly and publicly and
before divers assemblages of citizens of the United States, convened in
divers parts thereof, to meet and receive said Andrew Johnson as the Chief
Magistrate of the United States, did, on the 18th day of August, in the
year of our Lord 1866, and on divers other days and times, as well before
as afterward, make and declare, with a loud voice certain intemperate,
inflammatory, and scandalous harangues, and therein utter loud threats
and bitter menaces, as well against Congress as the laws of the United
States duly enacted thereby, amid the cries, jeers and laughter of the
multitudes then assembled in hearing, which are set forth in the several
specifications
hereinafter written, in substance and effect, that it to say:
Specification
First. In this, that at Washington, in the District of Columbia, in
the Executive Mansion, to a committee of citizens who called upon the President
of the United States, speaking of and concerning the Congress of the United
States, heretofore, to wit: On the 18th day of August, in the
year of our Lord, 1866, in a loud voice, declare in substance and effect,
among other things, that is to say:
"So far as the
Executive Department of the government is concerned, the effort has been
made to restore the Union, to heal the breach, to pour oil into the wounds
which were consequent upon the struggle, and, to speak in a common phrase,
to prepare, as the learned and wise physician would, a plaster healing
in character and co-extensive with the wound. We thought and we think that
we had partially succeeded, but as the work progresses, as reconstruction
seemed to be taking place, and the country was becoming reunited, we found
a disturbing and moving element opposing it. In alluding to that element
it shall go no further than your Convention, and the distinguished gentleman
who has delivered the report of the proceedings, I shall make no reference
that I do not believe, and the time and the occasion justify.
"We have witnessed
in one department of the government every endeavor to prevent the restoration
of peace, harmony and union. We have seen hanging upon the verge of the
government, as it were, a body called or which assumes to be the Congress
of the United States, while in fact it is a Congress of only part of the
States. We have seen this Congress pretend to be for the Union, when its
every step and act tended to perpetuate disunion and make a disruption
of States inevitable.
"We have seen
Congress gradually encroach, step by step, upon constitutional rights,
and violate day after day, and month after month, fundamental principles
of the government. We have seen a Congress that seemed to forget that there
was a limit to the sphere and scope of legislation. We have seen a Congress
in a minority assume to exercise power which, if allowed to be consummated,
would result in despotism or monarchy itself."
Specification
Second. In this, that at Cleveland, in the State of Ohio, heretofore
to wit: On the third day of September, in the year of our Lord, 1866, before
a public assemblage of citizens and others, said Andrew Johnson, President
of the United States, speaking of and concerning the Congress of the United
States, did, in a loud voice, declare in substance and effect, among other
things, that is to say:
“I will tell
you what I did do? I called upon your Congress that is trying to break
up the Government."
* *
* * * *
* * * *
* *
"In conclusion, beside
that Congress had taken much pains to poison the constituents against him,
what has Congress done? Have they done anything to restore the union of
the States? No: On the contrary, they had done everything to prevent it:
and because he stood now where he did when the rebellion commenced, he
had been denounced as a traitor. Who had run greater risks or made
greater sacrifices than himself? But Congress, factions and domineering,
had undertaken to poison
the minds of the American people."
Specification
Third. In this case, that at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, heretofore
to wit: On the 8th day of September, in the year of our Lord 1866, before
a public assemblage of citizens and others, said Andrew Johnson, President
of the United States, speaking of acts concerning the Congress of the United
States, did, in a loud voice, declare in substance and effect, among other
things, that is to say:
"Go on, perhaps
if you had a word or two on the subject of New Orleans you might understand
more about it than you do, and if you will go back and ascertain the cause
of the riot at New Orleans, perhaps you will not be so prompt in
calling out "New Orleans." If you will take up the riot of New Orleans
and trace it back to its source and its immediate cause, you will find
out who was responsible for the blood that was shed there. If you will
take up the riot at New Orleans and trace it back to the Radical Congress,
you will find that the riot at New Orleans was substantially planned. If
you will take up the proceedings in their caucuses you will understand
that they knew that a convention was to be called which was extinct by
its powers having expired; that it was said that the intention was that
a new government was to be organized, and on the organization of that government
the intention was to enfranchise one portion of the population, called
the colored population, and who had been emancipated, and at the same time
disfranchise white men. When you design to talk about New Orleans you ought
to understand what you are talking about. When you read the speeches that
were made, and take up the facts on the Friday and Saturday before that
convention sat, you will find that speeches were made incendiary in their
character, exciting that portion of the population? the black population?
to arm themselves and prepare for the shedding of blood. You will also
find that convention did assemble in violation of law, and the intention
of that convention was to supersede the organized authorities in the State
of Louisiana, which had been organized by the government of the United
States, and every man engaged in that rebellion, in the convention, with
the intention of superseding and upturning the civil government which had
been recognized by the Government of the United States, I say that he was
a traitor to the Constitution of the United States, and hence you find
that another rebellion was commenced, having its origin in the Radical
Congress.
* *
* * * *
* * * *
* *
"So much for the
New Orleans riot. And there was the cause and the origin of the blood that
was shed, and every drop of blood that was shed is upon their skirts and
they are responsible. I could test this thing a little closer, but will
not do it here to-night. But when you talk about the causes and consequences
that resulted from proceedings of that kind, perhaps, as I have been introduced
here and you have provoked questions of this kind, though it does not provoke
me, I will tell you a few wholesome things that have been done by this
Radical Congress in connection with New Orleans and the extension of the
elective franchise.
" I know that I have
been traduced and abused. I know it has come in advance of me here, as
elsewhere, that I have attempted to exercise an arbitrary power in resisting
laws that were intended to be forced upon the government; that I had exercised
that power; that I had abandoned the party that elected me, and that I
was a traitor, because I exercised the veto power in attempting, and did
arrest for a time, that which was called a "Freedmen’s Bureau" bill. Yes,
that I was a traitor. And I have been traduced; I have been slandered;
I have been maligned; I have been called Judas Iscariot, and all that.
Now, my countrymen, here to-night, it is very easy to indulge in epithets;
it is easy to call a man a Judas, and cry out traitor, but when he is called
upon to give arguments and facts he is very often found wanting. Judas
Iscariot? Judas! There was a Judas, and he was one of the twelve Apostles.
O, yes, the twelve Apostles had a Christ, and he never could have had a
Judas unless he had twelve Apostles. If I have played the Judas who has
been my Christ that I have played the Judas with? Was it Thad. Stevens?
Was it Wendell Phillips? Was it Charles Sumner? They are the men that stop
and compare themselves with the Savior, and everybody that differs with
them in opinion, and tries to stay and arrest their diabolical and nefarious
policy is to be denounced as a Judas."
* *
* * * *
* * * *
* *
"Well, let me say
to you, if you will stand by me in this action, if you will stand by me
in trying to give the people a fair chance? soldiers and citizens? to participate
in these office, God be willing, I will kick them out. I will kick them
out just as fast as I can.
"Let me say to
you, in concluding, that what I have said is what I intended to say; I
was not provoked into this, and care not for their menaces, the taunts
and the jeers. I care not for threats, I do not intend to be bullied by
enemies, nor erawed by my friends. But, God willing, with your help, I
will veto their measures whenever any of them come to me."
Which said utterances,
declarations, threats and harangues, highly censurable in any, are peculiarly
indecent and unbecoming in the Chief Magistrate of the United States, by
means whereof the said Andrew Johnson has brought the high office of the
President of the United States into contempt, ridicule and disgrace, to
the great scandal of all good citizens, whereby said Andrew Johnson, President
of the United States, did commit, and was then and there guilty of a high
misdemeanor in office.
ARTICLE XI.
That the said Andrew Johnson, President of the
United States, unmindful of the high duties of his office and of his oath
of office, and in disregard of the Constitution and laws of the United
States, did, heretofore, to wit: On the 18th day of August, 1866, at the
city of Washington, and in the District of Columbia, by public speech,
declare and affirm in substance, that the Thirty-Ninth Congress of the
United States was not a Congress of the United States authorized by the
Constitution to exercise legislative power under the same; but, on the
contrary, was a Congress of only part of the States, thereby denying and
intending to deny, that the legislation of said Congress was valid or obligatory
upon him, the said Andrew Johnson, except in so far as he saw fit to approve
the same, and also thereby denying the power of the said Thirty-Ninth Congress
to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States. And in
pursuance of said declaration, the said Andrew Johnson, President of the
United States, afterwards, to wit: On the 21st day of February, 1868, at
the city of Washington, D.C., did, unlawfully and in disregard of the requirements
of the Constitution that he should take care that the laws be faithfully
executed, attempt to prevent the execution of an act entitled "An act regulating
the tenure of certain civil office," passed March 2, 1867, by unlawfully
devising and contriving and attempting to devise and contrive means by
which he should prevent Edwin M. Stanton from forthwith resuming the functions
of the office of Secretary for the Department of War, notwithstanding the
refusal of the Senate to concur in the suspension therefore made by the
said Andrew Johnson of said Edwin M. Stanton from said office of Secretary
for the Department of War; and also by further unlawfully devising and
contriving, and attempting to devise and contrive, means then and there
to prevent the execution of an act entitled "An act making appropriations
for the support of the army for the fiscal year ending June 30,1868, and
for other purposes," approved March 2, 1867. And also to prevent the execution
of an act entitled "An act to provide for the more efficient government
of the rebel States," passed March 2, 1867. Whereby the said Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States, did then, to wit: on the 21st day of February,
1868, at the city of Washington, commit and was guilty of a high misdemeanor
in office.
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