Mr. ASHLEY, of Ohio. I was saying when the gentleman made his point of order that I had formed my own views about this matter and why I had formed them. I was saying that I was for the impeachment of the acting President because he had usurped powers which under the Constitution belonged exclusively to Congress for his infidelity to his official oath, in that he had failed to execute the laws; for his treason to the nation, in that he had entered into a conspiracy to resuscitate the “lost cause” and establish the late rebels in power; thus rendering valueless the victories of the Union armies and revolutionizing the Government of the U.S.; and being in possession of information which satisfied me that he was guilty of other acts which in contem plation of . Constitution were high crimes and misdemeanors, Isaid to several gentlemen that unless some other member introduced a resolution inquiring into the conduct of the President before the holidays I should be compelled to do it. I delayed until a few days before our adjournment for the holidays hoping some one would move in the matter. At that time I intended to offer a resolution substantially like the one which was finally adopted by the House naming the President. On consultation with some gentlemen it was thought a resolution more general in its character and not naming the President would obtain a larger and more united vote. For that purpose, and for that purpose alone, I drew the resolution in the form in which it was offered. After I had drawn up the resolution the 1st gentleman to whom I read it was the distinguished Gentfrom Illinois, now absent, {Mr. WASHBURNE] I afterward read it to the Gentfrom Pennsylvania [Mr. STEVENs] and to 2 or 3 others, in order to obtain their judgment upon it and learn whether they would vote for it, and to be satisfied that they were clearly of the opinion that under such a resolution we had. right to investigate the charges which I proposed to prefer against the President. Certainly nothing was farther from my thoughts, or the thoughts of any gentleman with whom, I consulted, than to inflict a stab in the dark upon GenlGrant. If that had been my purpose I would hardly have read the resolution to the distinguished Gentfrom Illinois, {Mr. WAshburne]