爱爱小说网 > 其他电子书 > history of the impeachment of andrew johnson >

第33章

history of the impeachment of andrew johnson-第33章

小说: history of the impeachment of andrew johnson 字数: 每页3500字

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!




YeasAnthony; Bayard; Buckalew; Cole; Davis; Dixon; Doolittle; Fessenden; Fowler; Frelinghuysen; Grimes; Henderson; Johnson; McCreery; Morrill of Maine; Morrill of Vermont; Morton; Norton; Patterson of Tennessee; Ross; Sherman; Sumner; Trumbull; Van Winkle; Vickers; Willey1616 Republicans and 10 Democrats。

Nays…Cattell; Chandler; Conkling; Conness; Corbett; Cragin; Drake; Edmunds; Ferry; Harlan; Howard; Howe; Morgan; Nye; Pomeroy; Ramsay; Stewart; Thayer; Tipton; Williams; Wilson; Yates22all Republicans。

The question was decided to be admissible; and the anawer was 〃yes。〃

No。 16。

The next question; in immediate connection with the last; was:

If he did; state what he said his purpose was?

The yeas and nays were ordered and the vote was:

YeasAnthony; Bayard; Buckalew; Cole; Cobertt; Davis; Dixon; Doolittle; Fessenden; Fowler; Frelinghuysen; Grimes; Henderson; Hendricks; Johnson; McCreery; Morton; Norton; Patterson of Tennessee; Ross; Sherman; Sumner; Trumbull; Van Winkle; Vickers; Willey2615 Republicans and 11 Democrats。

NaysCameron; Cattell; Chandler; Conkling; Conness; Cragin; Drake; Edmunds; Ferry; Harlan; Howard; Howe; Morgan; Morrill of Maine; Morrill of Vermont; Nye; Patterson of New Hampshire; Pomeroy; Ramsay; Stewart; Thayer;  Tipton; Williams; Wilson; Yates25all Republicans。

So the question was permitted to be answered; and General Sherman said:

The President told me that the relations between himself and Mr。 Stanton; and between Mr。 Stanton and the other members of the Cabinet; were such that he could not execute the office which he filled as President of the United States without making provision ad interim for that office; that he had the right under the law; he claimed to have the right; and his purpose was to have the office administered in the interest of the Army and of the Country; and he offered me the office in that view。 He did not state to me then that his purpose was to bring it to the Courts directly; but for the purpose of having the office administered properly in the interest of the Army and the whole Country。 I asked him why lawyers could not make a case; and not bring me; or any ofcer of the Army; into the controversy。 His answer was that it was found impossible; or a case could not be made up; but; said he 〃if we can bring the case to the Courts; it would not stand half an hour。〃

Mr。 Butler; of the Prosecution; objected; and after debate; General Sherman continued:

The question first asked me seemed to restrict me so close to the purpose that I endeavored to confine myself to that point alone。 On the first day; or first interview; in which the President offered me the appointment ad interim; he confined himself to very general terms; and I gave him no definite answer。 The second interview; which was on the afternoon of the 30th; was the interview during which he made the points which 1 have testified to。 In speaking he referred to the constitutionality of the bill known as the civil tenure…of…office bill; I think; or the tenure of civil office bill; and it was the constitutionality of that bill which he seemed desirous of having tested; and which; he said; if it could be brought before the Supreme Court properly; would not stand half an hour。 We also spoke of force。 I first stated that if Mr。 Stanton would simply retire; although it was against my interest; against my desire; against my personal wishes; and against my official wishes; I might be willing to undertake to administer the office ad interim。 Then he supposed the point was yielded; and I made this point? 〃Suppose Mr。 Stanton do not yield?〃 he answered; 〃Oh! he will make no objection; you present the order and he will retire。〃 I expressed my doubt; and he remarked。 〃I know him better than you do: he is cowardly。〃 I then begged to be excused from giving him an answer to give the subject more reflection; and I gave him my final answer in writing。 I think that letter; if you insist on knowing my views; should come into evidence; and not parol testimony taken up; but my reasons for declining the office were mostly personal in their nature。

Mr。 Henderson (of the Court) asked this question:

Did the President; on either of the occasions alluded to; express to you a fixed purpose or determination to remove Mr。 Stanton from his office?

General Sherman answered:

If by removal is meant a removal by force; he never conveyed to my mind such an impression; but he did most unmistakably say that he could have no more intercourse with him in the relation of President and Secretary of War。

Mr。 Howard (of the Court) asked the General:

You say the President spoke of force。 What did he say about force?

General Sherman answered:

I enquired; 〃Suppose Mr。 Stanton do not yield? What then shall be done?〃 〃Oh;〃 said he; 〃there is no necessity of considering that question。 Upon the presentation of an order he will simply go away; or retire。

Mr。 Henderson (of the Court) asked the question:

Did you give any opinion; or advice to the President on either of those occasions in regard to the legality or propriety of an ad interim appointment; and if so; what advice did you give; or what opinion did you express to him?

Mr。 Bingham of the prosecution; objected; and the Chair put the question to the Senate whether it should be answered。 The Senate; without a division; refused answer to the question; and the examination of Gen。 Sherman closed for that day。

No。 17。

Wednesday; April 15th。 The defense offered several extracts from records of the Navy Department; to prove the practice of the Government in cases of removal from office by different Presidents prior to Mr。 Johnson。 of which the following are samples:

NAVY AGENCY AT NEW YORK。

1861。 June 20。 Isaac Henderson was; by direction of the President; removed from the office of Navy agent at New York; and instructed to transfer to Paymaster John D。 Gibson; of United States Navy; all the public funds and other property in his charge。 Navy Agency at Philadelphia。

Dec。 26; 1851。 James S。 Chambers was removed from the office of Navy Agent at Philadelphia and instructed to transfer to Paymaster A。 E。 Watson; U。 S。 Navy; all the public funds and other property in his charge。

The prosecution objected and the yeas and nays were ordered。

YeasAnthony; Bayard; Buckalew; Cole; Conkling; Corbett; Davis; Dixon; Doolittle; Edmunds; Ferry; Fessenden; Fowler; Frelinghuysen; Grimes; Henderson; Hendricks; Howe; Johnson; McCreery; Morrill of Maine; Morrill of Vermont; Morton; Patterson of New Hampshire; Patterson of Tennessee; Ross; Saulsbery; Sherman; Stewart; Sumner; Trumbull; Van Winkle; Vickers; Willey; Wilson; Yates3625 Republicans and 11 Democrats。

NaysCameron; Cattell; Chandler; Conness; Cragin; Drake; Harlan; Howard; Morgan; Nye; Pomeroy; Ramsay; Thayer; Tipton; Williams15all Republicans。

So the evidence was admitted。

No。 18。

Thursday; April 16; Mr。 Walter S。 Cox on the stand。 The defense offered to prove:

That Mr。 Cox was employed professionally by the President。 in the presence of General Thomas; to take such legal proceedings in the case that had been commenced against General Thomas as would be effectual to raise judicially the question of Mr。 Stanton's legal right to continue to hold the office of Secretary for the Department of War against the authority of the President; and also in reference to obtaining a writ of quo warranto for the same purpose; and we shall expect to follow up this proof by evidence of what was done by the witness in pursuance of the above employment。

Mr。 Drake demanded the yeas and nays; and they were ordered:

YeasAnthony; Bayard; Buckalew; Corbett; Davis; Dixon; Doolittle; Fessenden; Fowler; Frelinghuysen; Grimes; Hendricks; Howe; Johnson; McCreery; Morrill of Maine; Morton; Norton; Patterson of New Hampshire; Patterson of Tennessee; Ross; Saulsbury; Sherman; Sprague; Sumner; Trumbull; Van Winkle; Vickers; Willey2917 Republicans and 12 Democrats。

NaysCameron; Cattell; Chandler; Conkling; Cragin; Drake; Edmunds; Ferry; Harlan; Howard; Morgan; Morrill of Vermont; Nye; Pomeroy; Ramsay; Stewart; Thayer; Tipton; Williams; Wilson; Yates21all Republicans。

So the testimony was received; and the witness proceeded to detail the steps he had taken by direction of the President to procure a judicial determination of General Thomas' right to the office of Secretary of War and to put him in possession; till the following question was asked。

No。 19。

What did you do toward getting out a writ of habeas corpus under the employment of the President。

Prosecution objected; and the yeas and nays were ordered:

YeasAnthony; Bayard; Buckalew; Davis; Dixon; Doolittle; Fessenden; Fowler; Frelinghuysen; Grimes; Hendricks; Johnson; McCreery; Morrill of Maine; Morgan; Norton; Patterson of New Hampshire; Patterson of Tennessee; Ross; Saulsbury; Sherman; Sprague; Sumner; Trumbull; Van Winkle; Vickers; Willey2715 Republicans and 12 Democrats。

NaysCameron; Cattell; Chandler; Conkling; Conness; Cragin; Drake; Edmunds; Ferry; Harlan; Howard; Howe; Morgan; Morrill of Vermont; Nye; Pomeroy; Ramsay; Stewart; Thayer; Tipton; Williams; Wilson; Yates23all Republicans。

The Senate having decided the evidence to be admissible;

Mr。 Cox proceeded:

When the Chief Justice announced that he would proceed as an examining Judge to investigate the case of General Thomas; and not as holding Court; our first application to him was to adjourn the investigation into the Criminal Court then in session; in order to have the action of that Court。 After some little discussion this request was refused。 Our next effort was to have General Thomas committed to prison; in order that we might apply to that Court for a habeas corpus; and upon his being remanded by that Court; if that should be done; we might follow up the application by one to the Supreme Court of the United States。 * * * The Chief Justice having indicated an intention to postpone the examination; we directed General Thomas to decline giving any bail for further appearance; and to surrender himself into custody; and announce to the Judge that he was in custody; and then present to the Criminal Court an application for a writ of habeas corpus。 The Counsel on the other side objected that General Thomas could not put himself into custody; and they did not desire that he should be detained in custody。 The Chief Judge also declared that he would not restrain General Thomas of his liberty; and would not hold him or allow him to be held in custody。 Supposing that he must be either committed or finally discharged; we then claimed that he be discharged; not supposing that the Counsel on the other side would consent to it; and supposing that would bring about his commitment; and that we should then have an opportunity of getting a habeas corpus。 They made no objection; however; to his final discharge; and accordingly the Chief Justice did discharge him。

No。 20。

The witness; Mr。 Cox; was asked by counsel for defense:

After you had reported to the President the result of your efforts to obtain a writ of habeas corpus; did you do any other act in pursuance of the original instructions you had received from the President on Saturday to test the right of Mr。 Stanton to continue in the office; and i

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的