HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

This article of impeachment is quoted often because it shows that criminal activity or violation of a law was not required for impeachment. The time was close to the adoption of the Constitution and presumably reflected sentiment of the founders. Chase however was acquitted as the Senate did not agree that the charges had been proven.

The JFK autopsy was very sloppily handled. So much so that the president’s brain had been removed and was missing at the time of the investigation and has never been located. That in itself is so hard to believe that it was just incompetence. The Texas criminal justice structure was not very sophisticated.

The Mexican War was as controversial as any war in American History. President Polk ordered action independent of the Congress, In all of American History there have been two Congressional censures of American Presidents. This was one. See {594521} for the other.

Jefferson had what was probably the largest library in America and as usual was in need of money. He offered to sell the library to Congress and this purchase was the beginning of the Library of Congress—now the greatest library of the world. Congress purchased 6,487 volumes for $23,950. There were a few members of the House who objected to the purchase. The first government financed library was also the first attempt at censorship. Voltaire was too liberal for the minority and Callendar was a Jefferson partisan. The “otherwise objectionable” referred to books where religion was questioned and sexual mores discussed—not terribly different from modern reasons for attempted censorship. The minority objections were noted and the overwhelming majority voted to begin the Library of Congress.

Many people notice that in the House of Representatives in a debate or a speech the speaker always addresses “Mr. Speaker.” This was the rule voted on by the first House. The purpose was to avoid the legislators shouting at each other and getting into personal arguments and insulting each other. Try it. It’s hard to be angry with someone when you have to argue through a third person.

Berger had been convicted as a “traitor” for an editorial he had written opposing WWI {587982}. By a 311 to 1 vote, Burger was denied his seat in Congress, and then he was re-elected again anyway. Finally, the Supreme Court overturned his conviction and the House seated him. See {587980} for the single Congressman who opposed unseating him.

The Congress was reacting against the prospect of France supporting a monarchy in Mexico.

The Pennsylvania Society for promoting the Abolition of Slavery had submitted a petition to Congress which refused to consider it, this resolution being the reason.

President Thomas Jefferson himself forwarded to the House some of the evidence against Pickering, the first Federal Judge to be removed by impeachment.

This article of impeachment is quoted often because it shows that criminal activity or violation of a law was not required for impeachment. The time was close to the adoption of the Constitution and presumably reflected sentiment of the founders. Chase however was acquitted as the Senate did not agree that the charges had been proven.

President Thomas Jefferson himself forwarded to the House some of the evidence against Pickering, the first Federal Judge to be removed by impeachment.

The Congress was reacting against the prospect of France supporting a monarchy in Mexico.

Many people notice that in the House of Representatives in a debate or a speech the speaker always addresses “Mr. Speaker.” This was the rule voted on by the first House. The purpose was to avoid the legislators shouting at each other and getting into personal arguments and insulting each other. Try it. It’s hard to be angry with someone when you have to argue through a third person.

Berger had been convicted as a “traitor” for an editorial he had written opposing WWI {587982}. By a 311 to 1 vote, Burger was denied his seat in Congress, and then he was re-elected again anyway. Finally, the Supreme Court overturned his conviction and the House seated him. See {587980} for the single Congressman who opposed unseating him.

The Pennsylvania Society for promoting the Abolition of Slavery had submitted a petition to Congress which refused to consider it, this resolution being the reason.

The Mexican War was as controversial as any war in American History. President Polk ordered action independent of the Congress, In all of American History there have been two Congressional censures of American Presidents. This was one. See {594521} for the other.

Jefferson had what was probably the largest library in America and as usual was in need of money. He offered to sell the library to Congress and this purchase was the beginning of the Library of Congress—now the greatest library of the world. Congress purchased 6,487 volumes for $23,950. There were a few members of the House who objected to the purchase. The first government financed library was also the first attempt at censorship. Voltaire was too liberal for the minority and Callendar was a Jefferson partisan. The “otherwise objectionable” referred to books where religion was questioned and sexual mores discussed—not terribly different from modern reasons for attempted censorship. The minority objections were noted and the overwhelming majority voted to begin the Library of Congress.

The JFK autopsy was very sloppily handled. So much so that the president’s brain had been removed and was missing at the time of the investigation and has never been located. That in itself is so hard to believe that it was just incompetence. The Texas criminal justice structure was not very sophisticated.