Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/114

 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 sliould 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