Page:Reminiscences of Sixty Years in Public Affairs (Volume Two).djvu/67



N the years 1865, ’66 and ’67 three important subjects of inquiry were placed in the hands of committees of which I was a member.

The Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives by resolutions adopted respectively the 9th and 30th days of April, 1866, was directed “to inquire into the nature of the evidence implicating Jefferson Davis and others in the assassination of Mr. Lincoln.”

James M. Ashley of Ohio introduced a resolution for the impeachment of President Johnson, and on the 7th day of January, 1867, the House authorized the Committee on the Judiciary “to inquire into the official conduct of Andrew Johnson, Vice-President of the United States, discharging the powers and duties of President of the United States,” etc.

By a resolution of the two Houses of Congress passed the 12th and 13th of December, 1865, a joint committee was created under instructions to “inquire into the condition of the States which formed the so-called Confederate States of America and report whether they or any of them are entitled to be represented in either House of Congress.”

William Pitt Fessenden was chairman on the part of the Senate and Thaddeus Stevens was chairman on the part of the House. Upon the death of Mr. Stevens I succeeded to his place. The testimony taken in these cases fills three huge