At a later
time there was added: "The Vice-President and all civil officers
of the United States shall be removed from office on impeachment
and conviction." That was added as a limitation on the tenure
of office. It seems incredible that they should have intended,
without debate or division, to wholly change and so greatly
limit and narrow the clause previously adopted.
It is obvious that impeachment and removal from office will
be in many cases an insignificant and unimportant part of
the remedy as compared with perpetual disqualification from
holding office. It seems incredible that it could ever have
been intended that this judgment of perpetual disqualification
to hold office could only be rendered when the defendant is
willing, and can be avoided by his voluntary resignation.
The framers of the Constitution were very skilful Constitutional
mechanics. I am satisfied that the opinion of the majority
of the Senate will prevail hereafter, unless the case where
the question shall come up be, like that of Belknap, strongly
affected by party feeling.
President Monroe said: "The right of impeachment and of trial
by the Legislature is the mainspring of the great machine
of government.
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