What Did Congress Do To Punish President Andrew Johnson For The Removal Of His Secretary Of War?. He was impeached in 1868 for dismissing secretary of war edwin stanton without the approval of the senate as required in the tenure of office act and for attacking congressional policies on. When johnson fired secretary of war edwin stanton, an ally of the radical republicans, stanton barricaded himself in his office, and an outraged house voted for impeachment.

When johnson fired secretary of war edwin stanton, an ally of the radical republicans, stanton barricaded himself in his office, and an outraged house voted for impeachment. He was impeached in 1868 for dismissing secretary of war edwin stanton without the approval of the senate as required in the tenure of office act and for attacking congressional policies on. Counsel for president johnson argued that impeachment for violation of a statute whose meaning was unclear was inappropriate, and the statute barring removal of the secretary of war was.