Yates Argument

Rios 1

Roberto Rios

Professor Ingrid Jayne

English 110

10 February 2016

Hon. Richard Yates

During Andrew Johnson Impeachment trial, Congress member Hon Richard Yates claims in his article that Andrew Johnson is a “disgrace” to the Untied States and supports the impeachment of President Johnson. Yates argues that this Impeachment trial not only affects society negatively but the United States Government itself. He believes that Andrew Johnson is an “enemy” of the country due to his aider of treason. Yates asserts us that President Johnson “willingly” went against the United States constitution by trying to withdraw Edwin M. Stanton and Lorenzo Thomas without the involvement of the American Senate. In Richard Yates conclusion, he states, “The production of his own order removing Stanton, and of his letter of authority to Thomas, commanding him to take possession of the war office, are all the proofs necessary to establish his guilt.”

Yates used the persuasive rhetorical strategy pathos. This emotional strategy consists of big emotional words, vivid descriptions, and an emotional tone. Throughout the article, Yates attempts to persuade fear in this audience by giving President Johnson nicknames such as “a bold bad man” and “an enemy of his country.” Yates’s tone in his argument confirms that he is disappointed in President Johnson’s actions. He ends his conclusion with a question that leaves you thinking.

Yates also uses diction as a form of communicating with his audience in this article. Diction is a use of highly educated words to for curtain types of audiences. From start to finish he uses a great form or words. “It is difficult to estimate the importance of this trial. Not in respect merely to the exalted position of the accused, not alone in the fact that it is the trail before the highest tribunal known among us, the American Senate, upon charges preferred by the immediate representatives of the sovereignty of the nation, against the...