JOHNSON
JOHNSON
organize state governments and pass laws on the
negro question in conformity with the will of the
voters of the respective states. When congress
met in December, 1865, it was overwhelmingly
Republican, and the first breach between the
President and the party was the veto of the
Freedmen's bureau act, February, 1866, on the
grounds that it had been passed by a congress in
which the southern states were not represented.
On March 27, 1866, the President vetoed the civil
rights act, making freedmen citizens without a
vote, but it was passed over his veto, and on
June 16, 1866, the proposed 14th amendment to
the constitution was disapproved by the President
but was ratified and declared in force, July 21,
18(58. The opposition to the President by his
party caused Attorney-General Speed to resign
in July, 1866, and Henry Stanbury was appointed
attorney-general. Postmaster-General Dennison
also resigned from the cabinet in July, 1868, and
the President appointed Alexander W. Randall
in his place. The second Freedmen's Bureau
act was vetoed in July, 1868, but was passed over
the President's veto, and the act giving negroes
the right of suffrage in the District of Columbia
was passed over his veto in December, 1866. An
attempt to impeach the President was made in
this congress, but it failed, and in January, 1867,
an act to deprive him of the right to proclaim
general amnesty was passed, but was disregarded.
By the incorporation of a clause in the army ap-
proj^riation bill the President was deprived of his
power as commander-in-chief of the army and
navy, the clause providing that all orders of the
executive be promulgated by the general of the
army, who was not to be removed without the
consent of congress. The act for the admis-
sion of Nebraska to the Union, providing that no
law denying the right of suffrage in the state on
account of race or color should ever be passed,
was also vetoed by the President and passed over
his veto. The " bill to provide efficient govern-
ments for the insurrectionary states " was passed
over his veto, and the southern states were thus
divided into military districts, each district un-
der a brigadier-general of the U.S. army, who
was to preserve order until a state government
could be established, and the state was admitted
into the Union. He also vetoed the tenure-of-
office act, which was passed, providing, among
other things, that members of the cabinet should
not be removed without the approval of the sen-
ate; and if congi-ess was not in session, the
President could suspend, but not remove, an offi-
cial, and in case the senate, at the next session,
should not ratify the suspension, the official
should be re-instated. On Aug. 5, 1867, the
President requested Secretary Stanton to resign
hisofficeassecretary of war, and upon his refusal.
he was suspended and General Grant was ap-
pointed secretary of war ad interim. The senataf
refused to ratify the suspension. General Grant
resigned and Mr. Stanton again entered upon laisr
duties. The President removed him, and on
Feb. 21, 1868, appointed Gen. Lorenzo Thomas
secretary ad interim. This removal was declared
illegal by the senate, Mr. Stanton refused to sur-
render the office, and General Thomas did not
enter the service. A resolution was passed for
the impeachment of the President, Feb. 24, 1868,
the eleven articles of impeachment charging
him in various forms with violation of the tenure-
of-office act; with violation of the constitution;
with conspiracy to prevent the execution of
the tenure-of-office act, and with conduct and
utterances tending " to bring the high office of
President into contempt, ridicule and disgrace."
The trial was presided over by Chief-Justice
Chase, and was conducted on the part of the
house of representatives by B. F. Butler. One of
the counsel for the defence was William M.
Evarts, of New York. During the trial, which
lasted for three months, Mr. Johnson made a tour
tlirough the north and west, which was charac-
terized by his enemies as "swinging round the
circle." He made strong speeches against the-
acts of congress, declaring that "the 39th con-
HOA\E. OF ANDRtW JOHA/SO/M .
gress was not a constitutional legislature," and. upon these speeches were based additional article* for impeachment. The test vote was made. May 16, 1868, thirty-six votes being needed to convict. The senate stood thirty-five for conviction tO' nineteen for acquittal. On the result of the im- peachment trial being announced Secretary Stan- ton resigned, and on June 2, 1868, President Johnson appointed Gen. John M. Schofield sec- retary of war, and he was continued in oifice bj- President Grant. Secretaries Seward, McCul- loch and Welles, and U.S. Ministers Cluirle* Francis Adams, Cassius M. Clay. George P. Marsli and John P. Hale, all appointed by President
