The fear of the Republicans
to test the Tenure-of-Office
Act before the courts.
Three days after this, as we have seen, the committee charged with preparing the articles of impeachment reported to the House. They were
The managers
of impeachment.
The charges against
the President.
Disregarding the legal order and form of the eleven articles of impeachment, we may say briefly that the charges against the President were:
First, that he violated the Tenure-of-Office Act in issuing an order deposing Stanton from the office of Secretary of War, and another order appointing Thomas to the office of Secretary of War ad interim.
Second, that he violated the Anti-conspiracy Act of July 31, 1861, in conspiring with Thomas to expel Stanton by force from the War Office, and to seize upon the property and papers of the United States in the War Office, and to unlawfully disburse the money appropriated for the military service and the Department of War.
Third, that he violated the Act of March 2, 1867, which, among other things, directed that the military orders and instructions of the President and Secretary of War should be issued through the General of the army, by attempting to induce General Emory, the commander of the troops around Washington, to disregard this law and take his orders immediately from the President.