Twenty Years of Congress, Volume 2 | Page 4

CONGRESS, MARCH 4TH,
1867.--CONSPICUOUS CHANGES IN SENATE AND
HOUSE.--CAMERON, CONKLING, MORTON, IN
SENATE.--BUTLER, PETERS, BECK, IN HOUSE.--MR. JAMES
BROOKS OBJECTS TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE
HOUSE.--SEVENTEEN STATES ASSENT.--THE CLERK
DECLINES TO RECEIVE HIS MOTION.--THIRD ELECTION OF
MR. COLFAX AS SPEAKER.--SUPPLEMENTARY
RECONSTRUCTION ACT.--THE PRESIDENT'S PROMPT
VETO.--PASSED OVER HIS OBJECTIONS.--CONGRESS
ADJOURNS TO JULY 3D.--SECOND SUPPLEMENTARY ACT OF
RECONSTRUCTION.--ANOTHER VETO.--OMINOUS WORDS
FROM THE PRESIDENT.-- REPUBLICANS
DISQUIETED.--CONGRESS ADJOURNS TO NOVEMBER.--THE
SOUTH PLACED UNDER MILITARY
GOVERNMENT.--PRACTICAL RECONSTRUCTION.--
CONVENTIONS IN THE SOUTHERN
STATES.--CONSTITUTIONS SUBMITTED TO THE
PEOPLE.--SECOND SESSION FORTIETH
CONGRESS.--AGGRESSIVE MESSAGE FROM THE
PRESIDENT.--SOUTHERN STATES RE-ADMITTED TO
REPRESENTATION.--ANOTHER VETO FROM THE
PRESIDENT.--RECONSTRUCTION CONTEST PRACTICALLY
ENDED.-- REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS FROM THE
SOUTH.--MISTAKES OF FORMER

SLAVE-HOLDERS.--UNFORTUNATE BLUNDERS.--PECULIAR
MENTAL QUALITIES OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON.--THE VETO
POWER.--ITS INFREQUENT USE BY EARLIER
PRESIDENTS.--EXAMPLE OF JACKSON.--FOLLOWED BY HIS
SUCCESSORS.-- DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC AND
WHIG PRESIDENTS.--MR. TYLER AND MR.
JOHNSON.--RATIFICATION OF THE FOURTEENTH
AMENDMENT.--PROCLAIMED BY MR.
SEWARD.--IMPORTANCE OF ITS PROVISIONS.--SINGULAR
HOSTILITY OF THE DEMOCRATS.--A NEW CHARTER OF
FREEDOM.--SWEEPS AWAY OPPRESSION AND EVERY
DENIAL OF JUSTICE.--CREDIT OF IT CONCEDED TO THE
REPUBLICANS.
CHAPTER XIII.
GOVERNMENT FINANCES AFTER THE WAR.--DIFFICULTIES
OF THE SITUATION.-- INTREPIDITY OF CONGRESS.--ITS
GREAT TASK.--$600,000,000 BILL.--SUMMARY OF PUBLIC
DEBT, DECEMBER, 1865.--FUNDED AND FLOATING
OBLIGATIONS.-- AGGREGATE DEBT, JANUARY 1, 1866,
$2,730,491,745.--$1,600,000,000 FLOATING OBLIGATIONS.--MR.
McCULLOCH'S ESTIMATES.--HIS FINANCIAL
POLICY.--CONTRACTION THE LEADING FEATURE.--WAYS
AND MEANS COMMITTEE REPORT A FUNDING BILL.--HOUSE
DEBATES THEREON.--SENATE DEBATE.--FINAL
PASSAGE.--REVENUE LAWS IN CONGRESS.--CONTRASTED
WITH BRITISH PARLIAMENT.--LARGE REDUCTION OF
INTERNAL TAXES.--SECOND REDUCTION OF INTERNAL
TAXES.--CONTRACTION POLICY OPPRESSIVE.--INDIRECT
RELIEF.-- HOSTILITY RAPIDLY INCREASES.--PROGRESS OF
FUNDING BILL.--REPEAL OF CONTRACTION BILL.--ITS EVIL
EFFECTS.--FURTHER REDUCTION OF INTERNAL
TAXES.--FINANCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE
GOVERNMENT.--LARGE REDUCTION OF NATIONAL
DEBT.--VALUABLE TREASURY OFFICIALS.--PURCHASE OF
ALASKA.-- PRICE, $7,200,000 IN GOLD COIN.--PURCHASE AT

FIRST UNPOPULAR.-- RESISTANCE IN THE HOUSE.--MR.
WASHBURNE AND GENERAL BUTLER OPPOSE.-- TREATY
ABLY SUSTAINED BY GENERAL BANKS.--INTERESTING
DEBATE.--MANY PARTICIPANTS.--POWER OF THE HOUSE
RESPECTING TREATIES.--CHRONIC CONTROVERSY.--THE
BILL PASSED.--OPINION OF JUDGE McLEAN.--OF MR.
JEFFERSON.--EXTENT OF ALASKA.--VALUE OF IT.--ITS
ELEMENTS OF WEALTH.-- FIRST NORTHERN TERRITORY
ACQUIRED BY THE UNITED STATES.--NEGOTIATION ABLY
CONDUCTED BY MR. SEWARD.
CHAPTER XIV.
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON.--FIRST
MOVEMENT THERETO.--MR. ASHLEY'S GRAVE
CHARGES.--GENERAL GRANT'S IMPORTANT TESTIMONY.--
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE DIVIDE.--IMPEACHMENT
DEFEATED, DECEMBER, 1867.-- ANALYSIS OF
VOTE.--SUSPENSION OF MR. STANTON.--TENURE-OF-OFFICE
LAW.-- SENATE DISAPPROVES MR. STANTON'S
SUSPENSION.--MR. STANTON RESTORED AS SECRETARY OF
WAR.--AN UNWELCOME CABINET OFFICER.--PREVIOUS
VIEWS OF LEADING STATESMEN.--PRESIDENT'S
ANOMALOUS SITUATION.--HE REMOVES MR.
STANTON.--APPOINTS LORENZO THOMAS Ad
Interim.--SENATE CONDEMNS THE PRESIDENT'S
COURSE.--IMPEACHMENT MOVED IN THE
HOUSE.--EXCITING DEBATE. --IMPEACHMENT
CARRIED.--MANAGERS APPOINTED.--ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT PRESENTED TO THE SENATE.--THOMAS
EWING NOMINATED FOR SECRETARY OF WAR. --NOT
CONFIRMED.--COURT OF IMPEACHMENT.--THE CHIEF
JUSTICE.--THE PRESIDENT'S COUNSEL.--JUDGE CURTIS.--MR.
EVARTS.--MR. GROESBECK.--THE PRESIDENT'S
ANSWER.--GENERAL BUTLER'S ARGUMENT.--TESTIMONY
PRESENTED BY MANAGERS.--ARGUMENT OF JUDGE
CURTIS.--THE PRESIDENT'S WITNESSES.-- REJECTION OF

TESTIMONY BY SENATE.--TESTIMONY
CONCLUDED.--ARGUMENT OF GENERAL LOGAN.--OF MR.
BOUTWELL.--OF MR. NELSON.--OF MR. GROESBECK.-- OF
THADDEUS STEVENS.--OF THOMAS WILLIAMS.--OF MR.
EVARTS.--OF MR. STANBERY.--OF MR.
BINGHAM.--TWENTY-NINE SENATORS FILE THEIR
OPINIONS.-- FIRST VOTE ON LAST ARTICLE.--GENERAL
INTEREST AND EXCITEMENT.--THE RESULT.--ACQUITTAL
OF PRESIDENT.--VIEWS OF REPUBLICANS.--CONDEMNATION
OF CERTAIN SENATORS.--SUBSEQUENT CHANGE OF
OPINION.--THE PRESIDENT UNWISELY
IMPEACHED.--ACTUAL OFFENSES OF THE
PRESIDENT.--THEIR GRAVITY. --IMPEACHED ON OTHER
GROUNDS.--THE REAL TEST.--NATURE OF AN IMPEACHABLE
OFFENSE.--LAWYERS DIFFER.--EFFECT ON MR.
STANTON.--HIS POLITICAL ATTITUDE.--HIS
RESIGNATION.--APPOINTED SUPREME JUSTICE.--HIS
DEATH.-- GENERAL SCHOFIELD SECRETARY OF WAR.--MR.
EVARTS ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
CHAPTER XV.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1868.--REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
CONVENTION AT CHICAGO.--GENERAL GRANT THE
CLEARLY INDICATED CANDIDATE OF HIS PARTY.--
CONTEST FOR THE VICE-PRESIDENCY.--WADE, COLFAX,
FENTON, WILSON, CURTIN. --SPIRITED
BALLOTING.--COLFAX
NOMINATED.--PLATFORM.--DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
CONVENTION.--MEETS IN NEW YORK, JULY 4.--NUMEROUS
CANDIDATES. --GEORGE H. PENDLETON MOST
PROMINENT.--AN ORGANIZED MOVEMENT FOR CHIEF
JUSTICE CHASE.--HIS ALLIANCE WITH THE
DEMOCRACY.--HIS EAGERNESS FOR THE NOMINATION.--HIS
FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH
VALLANDINGHAM.--PRESIDENT JOHNSON.--SEEKS
DEMOCRATIC INDORSEMENT.--MR. AUGUST BELMONT'S

OPENING SPEECH.--HORATIO SEYMOUR PRESIDENT OF THE
CONVENTION.--HIS ARRAIGNMENT OF THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY.--CHARACTER OF HIS MIND.--THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM.--FAVORS PAYING THE PUBLIC DEBT IN PAPER
MONEY.--DECLARES THE RECONSTRUCTION ACTS TO BE
USURPATIONS.--WADE HAMPTON'S PROMINENCE.--
VARIOUS NAMES PRESENTED FOR THE
PRESIDENCY.--VARYING FORTUNES OF
CANDIDATES.--SEYMOUR NOMINATED.--THE
VICE-PRESIDENCY.--FRANK BLAIR NOMINATED BY
ACCLAMATION.--AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN OF BOTH
SIDES.--MR. SEYMOUR'S POPULAR TOUR.--FINAL
RESULT.--GENERAL GRANT'S ELECTION.
CHAPTER XVI.
REPUBLICAN VICTORY OF 1868 ANALYZED.--MR.
SEYMOUR'S STRENGTH UNEXPECTEDLY
GREAT.--ASTOUNDING DEFECTION OF CERTAIN STATES.--
DEMOCRATIC VICTORY IN NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, AND
OREGON.--EVIL OMENS.-- DEMOCRATIC VICTORY IN
LOUISIANA.--WON BY FRAUD AND VIOLENCE.--THE
FIGURES EXAMINED.--ACTION OF CONGRESS
THEREON.--FRAUD SUSPECTED IN GEORGIA.--DEMOCRATIC
DUTY UNPERFORMED.--IMPARTIAL SUFFRAGE.--VARIOUS
PROPOSITIONS.--AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.--MR.
HENDERSON OF MISSOURI.--MR. STEWART OF NEVADA.--MR.
GARRETT DAVIS.--PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE.--SPEECH
OF MR. BOUTWELL.--ANSWERED BY MR. BECK AND MR.
ELDRIDGE.--PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT BY HOUSE.--ACTION
THEREON IN SENATE.-- AMENDMENT OF MR.
WILSON.--PROPOSITION OF MR. MORTON AND MR.
BUCKALEW.-- DISAGREEMENT OF THE TWO
BRANCHES.--CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.--FIFTEENTH
AMENDMENT REPORTED.--PUBLIC OPINION IN THE UNITED
STATES.--FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT NOW MODIFIED.--ITS
EFFECT AND POTENCY LESSENED.--ITS FAILURE TO

REMOVE EVILS.--GREAT VALUE OF THE THREE
AMENDMENTS.--THEIR ASSURED ENFORCEMENT.--HONOR
TO THEIR AUTHORS.--LESSON TAUGHT BY MR. LINCOLN.--
ITS SIGNIFICANCE.
CHAPTER XVII.
INAUGURATION OF GENERAL GRANT FOR FIRST
TERM.--POPULAR ENTHUSIASM.-- HIS INAUGURAL
ADDRESS.--APPROVES FIFTEENTH
AMENDMENT.--ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS
CABINET.--GENERAL SURPRISE.--E. B. WASHBURNE.--JACOB
D. COX.--E. ROCKWOOD HOAR.--JOHN A. J.
CRESWELL.--ALEXANDER T. STEWART.--
INELIGIBLE.--NAME WITHDRAWN.--GEORGE S. BOUTWELL
APPOINTED.--ADOLPH E. BORIE.--HAMILTON FISH.--GEORGE
M. ROBESON.--GENERAL SCHOFIELD.--GENERAL
RAWLINS.--GENERAL BELKNAP.--GENERAL OF THE
ARMY.--THE SUCCESSION.-- SHERMAN
APPOINTED.--LIEUTENANT-GENERAL.--SHERIDAN
APPOINTED.--HALLECK.
--MEADE.--THOMAS.--HANCOCK.--CONGRESS
CONVENES.--ELECTION OF SPEAKER.--