James Grimes: “I respectfully urge you not to let your feelings about one man strong as they may be to establish a precedent that would…”

For the Senate to remove a duly elected president on vague, non- constitutional grounds such as abuse of power or obstruction of Congress would create a dangerous precedent.

The idea of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress is so far from what the framers had in mind that they so clearly violate the constitution and would place Congress above the law.

The framers understood that if they set the criteria for impeachment too low, few presidents would serve their terms.

The passions and fears of the moment must not blind us to our past and to our future.