Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-04-03

the charge Of high treason. On his frs,
trial his counsel pleaded that, resisting by
force particular law Of the United States,
; does not amount to levying war against the
United States in the meaning Of the Con.
stitution The Court composed Of Justices
1redel and Peters, ruled against them and
Fries was convicted. A new trial was grant.
ed on another ground, and on the second
trial Justice Chase sat with Judge Peters.
On this trial Judge Chase announced, in
advance, to the prisoners counsel, that the
opinion Of the Court was made up on this
Constitutional point, and the counsel need
not argue it. The counsel retired from the
case, and Fries was convicted without de.
fense. 1t is this ruling that was declared to
be so arbitrary, oppressive and unjust az
to demand impeachment
The other case arose in the Circuit Court
of Virginia, under the sedition law Of John
Adams.
That famous act made it a misdemcanor,
punishable with fine and imprisonment, for
any person to write, print. utter or publish
a thing intended ''to defame the President
OF the United States or bring him into con-
tempt or disrcpute.' Under this act James
Thompson Calender was indicted for having
published a political article against President
Adams, under the title Of "The Prospect
Before U.s. On the trial Judge Chase
overruled the objection OF the jurors tha.
he had made up his mind that the publica.
ton was sedtiousi and constrained him to-
serve On the trial. 1t was also charged that
he had arbitrarily, and for merely political
purposes, ruled out important testimony
offered by the prisoner.
There was special charge Of indecent
partizanship in his charge to grand Jury
in Maryland.
These arc tho material points on which
the argument was made.
The trial was called up early in December,
but it was not until the 4th of February,
1905, that Judge Chase appeared at. the
bar, pleaded to the impeachment, and read
his defense which was extremely able. His
counsel were Nlcssrs. Martin, Harper and
Key, Of Maryland, and Hopkinsou, of
Pennsylvania.
The managers of the House Of Represcn.
tatives were John Randolph, Jr; C. A.
Rodney, Of Delaware Joseph II. Nichol.
son, of Maryland; P. Early, of Georgia;
George Boyle of Kentucky; G. W. Camp.
bell Of Tennessee, and Mr. Clark.
Vice President George Clinton, Of New
York, presided. 1t is only when the Presi-
dent is impeachcd that the Chief Justice
presides at the trial.
The examination Of witnesses occupied
the court to the Goth, on which day the tes.
timory was closed, and the argument began:
1t was opened for the managers by Mr.
Early, who was followed By Mr.. Campbell
and Mr.. Clarke. For the defense, Hopkin.
son, and was followed, in the following order
by Mr.. Key, Mr. Martin, and Mr.. Harper.
The closing of the case for the House Of
Representatives was reserved for Mr. Mich
olson and Mr.. Randolph.
The array Of forensic ability was very
great. Nearly every man on both sides had
national reputation for clcouence and
learning, and the questions they discussed
were of the highest importance. The whole
debate may be rro6tably Studied as aids to
the right understanding Of what is law and
duty in these times-when the same ques-
tions and principles are again brought into
monrentous Importance.
On the LIST Of March the Judgment of the
Senate was pronounced, each member of the
Senate being in his place, and answering
guilty or not guilty on each charge, when
called.
Thirty.four Senators were present.
A majority Of the Senators pronounced
him guilty on three of the eight articles
prepared.
Two of these relate TO the ruling in Cal.
lenders case, and the other, the eighth in
order, related to the charge Of departing
from the duties and properties Of his station
by delivering a political harrangue, in the
form of charge to the Grand Jury Of the
United States Circuit Court in Baltimore.
On the charges growing out Of the Fries
case he was acquitted. There was not
vote Of two.thirds or any Of the articles, and
he was accordingly pronounced to be acquit-
ted on all.
The time actually employed in the trisl
from the opening by Mr.. Randolph to the
rendering Of the judgment Of the Senate,
was from February 9th to March lst, twenty
days, Sundays included. Orleans Pc
ayun..
MANS GOT HoLp ON MY 'TLTERs.
The Smith6eld Times tells another story il.
t;yo rs tha oIJ oo,v fhot tttho oo.,rao oe