The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-03-20
THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

WASHINGTON, March l3.
THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL. .
The actual scene at the Senate to-
day was far less impressive than
when the Managers presented arti,
cles of impeachment, though the oc.
casion has excited more general in
terest. This arose in great measure
from the fact that while only thous-
and could gain admission into the
Senate wing,a great many thousand
in the District were anxious to be
present. A large force of policemen
we're on duty in and around the Cap
itel.-At an=eaEly he9r-the Senatt=
wing was closed, and all holes anc
corridors of the building were con.
sinualy Inspected The detective
force had information of character
which caused great caution. No
trouble, however, was anticipated, IS
such dispositions were made as would
meet any contingency which might
arise.
The galleries were opened at 10
o'clock, and at IL nearly all holders
of tickets were present. The only
change in the arrangement of the Sen
ate was placing two tables in the area
in front of the desk, the one on the
right for the Presidents counsel, and
the one on left for the House Mana
gers, and the distribution of chairs
,or members of tile House among the
tesks of Senators and around the out
row. More real representation from
The legations were present than OF
any previous occasion.
Precisely at / o'clock, Mr.. Wade
vacated the chair for the Chief Jus.
tice, who took 1t and directed the
Sergeant at Arms to make the proc
lamation, which, though now so ia
miliar to the country, still sounds
strange and solemn. Here its COM
mand to keep silence seemed to press
like weight upon all who heard, and
the quiet of the chamber was signifi-
cant of the authority which stood be-
hind it. The reading of the journal
attracted general attention of its for
NAL terms, rather than its matter.
Among them, for instance, the folio
wing: "The United States aeainet
Andrew johnson, President thereof"
While the reading of the journal was
in progress, the Managers appeared
at the outer door of the Senate, and
waited there until it was finished.
Back of them was about one fourth OF
the House, who did not wait for the
formal entrance of the House itself.
Mr.. Stevens was not able to walk in.
The formal announcement of the
Managers took place. The chiefJus
tice invited them forward to their
seats at the table, when such Sena.
tors present as were absent on last
setting, were severally sworn.
The Sergeantat-Arms then gave
notice that he had served the sum
mons heretofore issued by the Senate,
upon Andrew Johnson, at his usual
place of abode, and made oath to his
statement.
The statement that almost every
circumstances of the trial is without
precedent, has already become an old
story; and yet, as these successively
arise, they fix the attention of all.
The marked one to-day was made in
response to the order of the Chief
Justice, directing the Sergeant-at
Arms to cali the accused, when this
officer rose and went through the
usual legal form, as follows: ANDREW
johnson, President of the United
States, appear and answer to articles
of impeachment, exhibited against
you by the House of Representatives
of the United States.' -.
This was succeeded by a general
quiet, and all eyes were turned to
the dorwh, ieading towards the Pres
ident's rou.u a if Mr.. johnson would
possibly ap:,sar- Instead, after a
few moments delay, three of his coun
sci came in, walking slowly, and with
digrifed bearing. First Stanbery,
tall and slim, and bending forward !;
next Judge Curtis, short, in compar-
ison to the former, thick set, and with
none of the marks of age upon him !;
and, last, Judge Nelson, of Tennes
see. whom few knew anything about,
of medium weight and proportions,
and quite gray. Stanbery sat at the
head of the table as leader OF the
counsel, Curtis next and Nelson third
in order.
At the head of the table of the
House Managers sat Mr.. Bingham
facing the Presidents counsel: to his
left along the table were Boutwell,,
Wilson, and Stevens in the order
named, and on his right, Logan,
Williams, and Butler. The latter
had come in late, and at time and
in a manner, that had those witness
ing it been in q place of amusement,
there would have been o perfect roar
of laughter. just as the Sergeant
alarms had concluded the call of
Andrew johnson, President Of the
United States, Gen. Butler hastily
entered the front door of the Senate
Chamber and stood alone at the bar
while the Sergeant-at-Arms finished
Most failed to notice his entry till
their eyes turned from the desk to
see if the President would indeed an
swer in person, when the well known
form Of Butler met their gaze. The
transition from gravity to merriment
was sudden and extremely ludicrous.
At this point the Speaker of the
House, accompanied by his officers,
and followed by a majority of the
members, appeared at the bar There
was a moments hesitation in recog-
nizing the body, as so many had come
in advance. No one expected q for
NAL appearance. Mr.. Washburn, of
Illinois, however, advancing to the
bar, called out in an undertone heard
all over the Chamber: sWhere is the
Sergeant at-Arms2" OF course this
attracted official notice, as we'll as the
notice of all present, and the House
was formally received. The Chief
Justice then directed the counsel of
the President to put in their reply to
the articles, whereupon Mr.. Stanbery
exhibited authority for himself and
his associates to appear for the Presi-
dent, and in his name announced the
names of the counsel tn. wit. JJonry