Louis Stokes: “for 30 years I have served in this institution. It is an institution which I have always loved, honor and revered. I…”

“for 30 years I have served in this institution. It is an institution which I have always loved, honor and revered. I have taken pride in being able to speak from this well on many historic occasions. But it is no honor today to speak and cast the last votes of my career against a resolution to remove from office the President of the United States. This is, in my opinion, the saddest day in the history of the House of Representatives. It is also a sad day for America. As one who long before coming to Congress practiced and studied constitutional law, I am convinced that the Framers of the Constitution believe that they could entrust to this elected body the responsibility of determining what constitutes treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. I firmly believe that they trusted us to place the interest of the American people on such an exalted plane that they never envisioned this House removing a President from office except for grievous transgressions against the government which elected him. I believe the Founders never envisioned this provision of our Constitution being used in such an unconstitutional and unfair manner as to overthrow an election where the American people have gone to the polls to vote and elect their President. The action being taken in the ``People's House'' today makes a mockery of the Constitution and the electoral process which the American people have fought and died to preserve.”