CHAPTER XX

IMPEACHMENT

The Tenure-of-Office Bill passed to curtail the President's power to remove office-holders--It does not apply to members of the Cabinet--The President vetoes it--The veto message written by Seward and Stanton in conjunction--Bill repassed over veto--First mutterings about impeachment--The Judiciary Committee reports in favor of it--The House rejects the report--The President requests Stanton's resignation--Stanton refuses to resign--The President removes him and appoints Grant Secretary of War _ad interim_--Stanton retires--The Senate disapproves of the removal of Stanton--Grant retires and Stanton resumes office--The President accuses Grant of bad faith, and appoints Lorenzo Thomas Secretary of War--The House votes to impeach the President and appoints managers therefor--The trial begins March 5, 1868--The President is acquitted by vote of 35 to 19, not two thirds--Seven Republican Senators including Trumbull vote "Not Guilty"--Newspaper comments sustaining the "Seven Traitors"--Trumbull's written opinion filed with the record--Consequences of the impeachment trial--Death of Fessenden--Death of Mrs. Lyman Trumbull 301