The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-03-24

N
( Com mIttee on the Whole.
The House having received the
message from the Senate, resolved it.
self into a Committee Of the Whole.
and proceeded TO the Senate Cham
Der, TO attend the impeachment trial.
sen WAsHNsT0N, March D.
After prayer a resolution was
adopted providing for the printing of
copies Of the proceedings on impeach-
ment for the use of the Senate, Chief
Justice and counsel. ..r
Bills were introduced making an
appropriation for the expenses Of the
impeachment trial; to reorganize the
State Department. and reduce the ex-
penses; donating captured ordnance
tor the monument to Gen Sedgewfe K
to reorganiZe the United States Cir
cult Court A referred.
AT halt-past Il o o'clock the Chair
announced that according to the rule
the legislative and executive had
ceased, and directing the Secretary
tC notify the House that the hour for
the impeachment trial had arrived
The storm prevented the receipt
of the Presidents answer. f-
The reading Of the ansWeT occupied
one hour aud . half.
Boutwell,, on behalf of the Man
ayers, requested a copy Of the answer.
and said hat it was their expectation
to present their reply tomorrow at
one o'clock
Evarts then addressed the Court in
relation to the period of time to be
al alIRxnraH hho y-ngr4nuAnr,A "a >
plicaGon is filed before the trial is to
proceed. He said the Presidents
counsel had been zoo fully occupied
with the preparation of his answer to
make any preparation whatever for
the trial, and they therefore requested
that the Court allow the President
and his counsel thirty. days from the
date Of the replication, to prepare for
the trial
A motion in writing to that effect
was presented and read by the Secre-
tary. tH#
Howard moved it lie on the table
until after the replication Is filed, but
withdrew it on Bingham's announce
ment that the Managers were ready
to express their opinion on the appli-
cation. ss
Logan, on behalf Of the Managers,
said they should oppose it, because
there was no reason offered for the
delay, except that the Presidents
counsel needed time. He said they
had as much time as the Managers,
and some other reasons should be
given, as there had been in the appli-
cations for delay made in former trials
for Impeachment, when 1t was always
stated on oath that time was
needed to produce distant wit
nesses, &c. No such cause
was alleged or shown, and the rules
adopted by the Senate required the
trial to proceed unless cause for
delay was shown The Managers in
sisted that no more time should be
taken up than was absolutely neces-
sary for the trial Of the case. No
more time should be granted TO the
President than to the meanest man.
At the expiration Of the thirty days,
application might be made for further
delay to send for witnesses, perhaps
TO Sitka. Material reasons for delay
should be assigned now.
Mr. Evarts called the attention of
the Court IN the fact that the Presi-
dents counsel had been allowed only
eight working days IN which to pre-
pare their answer, and said il was not
an answer TO their present applI
cation that eQua haste would
be necessary on the part of the
Managers as on the part OF
thems sci lves- Their positions were
similar. The managers had enjoyed
peculiar facilities for summonIng and
examining witnesses. The President
nad public duties which employed
much of LIS time. The counsel asked
no more IN this ease for the PresI-
dent than they would for the poorest
criminal 1t unforeseen circumstances
should arise requiring delay for the
I presence Of witnesses for either side, it
should be the duty Of the Court to
grant It. Mr.. Wilson announced the
{ determination of the Managers to re-
/ slst all unnecessary delay The first
( step taken by the counsel on the 18Th
( was 10 violation OF the pFecedents on
former impeachment trials In the
I case Of Judge Chase. the respond
/ ent had asked for eleven mouths
delay, supporting his application by
sworn statements. Only thirty days
we're granted, aud yet preparations
4 were 50 perfect as to secure ais ac-
quittal
/ In the elaborate answer to-day pre-
/ sented, he ( Wilson, found the strong-
\ est argument against the delay. for the
I respondent therein claimed his right
was the very thing on which this
trial is based. The respondents case
was not that of an ordinary criminal
: He asked time Ia which he may con
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