Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-03-26
IMPEACHMENT.
Proceodip gs I'm the senate--rhe Presiden
Answers

@"-~ 80
Proceedings in tn. senate--rhe President
Answers M n
At balf-past twelve O'Clock the Chair
announced that according TO rule legis-
lative and executive business ceased, and
directing the Secretary to notify the
House that the Senate was ready to pro-
ceed with the trial of Impeachment
During the interregnum Mr.. Stevens
entered quietly at the sidc door and
took a seat at the managers table.
At one o'clock the President pro. TEN.
vacated the chair, and the Chief Justice
called the Senate to order. The Ser
geant-at-Arms made the usual procla-
nation, commanding silence, where
upon the managers appeared at the
door. The Arms announced
the managers of impeachment on the
partof the House of Representatives,
and the Chief Justice said: The mana
gers Will take the seats assigned. them
by the Senate. Messrs Bingham. and
Boutwell, led the way up the aisle and
took their seats Meantime, Messrs.
Stanbery, Curtis, Nelson, Evarts and
Grosebeck, counsel for the President,
entered and seated themselves at their
table in the order named, Mr.. Stanbery
occupying the extreme right. The
Sergeant-at-Arms then announced the
House of Representatives, and The
members of the House appeared, headed
by Mr.. Washburn on the arm of Nc
Pherson, Clerk of the House, and took
seats outside.
The Secretary of the Senate thon read
the minutes yf the proceedings on the
18th inst
Mr.. Doolittle was thcn sworn, and
when the journal had been read Mr..
Davis submitted a motion that the con-
4 tnYa rnn frir a. l.
composed of two Senators from each
State, and certain States being unrep-
resented, therefore that the trial of this
case be discontinued until all the States
are epresented.
Mr.. Conness moved that the motion
be not received, and called for the yeas
and nays.
Mr.. Howe moved to inquire whether
the motion was in order.
The Chief Justice read the rules and
said Mr.. Cone5s' motion was not In order,
and directed the Secretary to call the
yeas and nays on Mr.. Howe's motion,
with the folio wing result: 2 to 49, All
present voting in the negative except
Davis and McCreery. Nessers. Saulsbery
and Bayard did not vote.
Mr. Stanbery then rose and said he
and his fellow counsel had devoted
every hour since the last days proceed
ings to prepare the Presidents answer,
and regretted they had not had more
time, but submitted to 1t now.
Mr.Curtis read it, the address being to
the Senate OF the United States.
ANSWER OF THE PRESIDENT
In the Senate Of The United States sitting
asa Court Of Impeachment for the
trial Of AndreW johnson, President Of
the United States:
The answer of the said Andrew John
son, President of the United States, to
the articles of impeachment exhibited
against him by the House of Represen-
tatives of the United States.
Article First. Respondent recites the
facts that Secretary Station was appoint
ed by President Lincoln, not by him;
after becoming President, and becoming
satisfied that the said Stanton was doing
the public service great injury, lie re
moved him under the Constitution
He deneis that the said Stanton, when
he removed him, was in legal possession
of the war office he denies that he ever
contemplated an action contrary to the
laws he denies that this act of remov-
ing Stanton constitutes high crime and
nisdemeanor in office.
Mr.. Stanberry then took Mr.. Curtis
place.
In answer to the second article, he
denies that he violated the Constitution
in appointing Thomas; he denies that
there was no vacancy in said War OFF,
ce. t.
In the third article, he answers the
article by saying that the first and second
answers coverall the points in this.
In answer to the fourth article, that
he attempted to gain possession of said
War Office by force, he says that he
only authorized said Thomas to get pos
session In order to bring the question
into the Supreme Court of the United
States; he gave said Thomas no authori-
ty TO use the military
The answer to the fifth article denies
that he conspired with Thomas or any
person to prevent Stanton from retain
ing the position he held illegally.
In answer TO the sixth article he de-
nies having eonspired with Thomas to
get possession Of the War Office and
other public property. He denies that
he violated the laws or the Constitution,
or that the articles constitutes high
crime and misdemeanor
In answer to the eight article he de-
MES that he gave Gen, Thomas letter
OF appointment in order to control the
funds Of the War office. He admits Civ
ing the said letter, but denies the intent
to violate the law. lie denies that this is
high crime and mis,lemeanor.
In the ninth article he denies that In
conversation with General Emory he
endeavored to get him to dsobey any
law, or offered him any induce,nent 10
do 80. He denies all the allegations In
the ninth article and that it constitutes
high crime and misdemeanor
In answer TO the tenth article he does
not admit that the speech claimed to
have been made by him In response to