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