The New York herald., 1868-03-28
THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE or the HERALD.

SrtCNl CudheSFuNuehCe VI INC nehALu.
The Time the Trial VIII BE Likely to last
Reasons Why II Cannot BE Brief AS One
Month nor as Long ms Three-Featurcs Of the
Last Days Session Of the High Court, &c.
WASHINGTON, March 2s, 1858.
The probable length Of the impeachment trial Is a
subject OF much anxious speculation among folks
here in Washington. Those who are interested In
change Of occupancy at the White House say the
tickle month Of April will bring about the desired re-
suit, and May, the month .of flowers and sun
shine, viii dawn upon a new ruler OF these
States Others contend that the whole blessed
ummer and the ensuing fall will be consumed in ar
irving at the guilt innocence OF the accused, and
that points OF law and evidence will arise which are
not at present foreseen. There is however, much more
reason to believe that the trial will be speedy rather
than protracted but not to be disposed of In month";
even In two. Measured by its Importance and tine
range OF evidence which the President will furnish In
his defence against the eleventh article Of indict-
ment three months would seem to be about the most
reasonable term to suggest for the length OF the
trial. The court will very likely sit each day for an
average space Of four hours and everybody knows
four hours 20 but very little way in the discussion
OF such delicate constitutional questions as are in
volved in the about to be tried. First will arise
long controversy to Stanton's commission, If he
of his administration and could only hold his office
during the pleasure OF that President, what right
can he claim to hold 1t now without possessing any
commission whateverS The defence will make the
most OF this, and the prosecution will be compelled
to travel over great deal of ground in the work Of
demoshing it, Then, again, discussion Will
inevitably spring up ON the constitutonality
Of the Tenure OF ONCE bill and the
obligation Of the Executive to obey law which
palpaby infrlnges upon the privileges guaranteed
him by the constitution. The debate must neces-
sarily embrace extensive range Of constitutional
pleading and considering the ability Of the counsel
for the defence nothing will be neglected to be
brought forward which will tax the powers of the
Impeachment Managers to argue. Ben Buffers
article In reference to the reasonable uterances OF
the President will involve a good deal of testimony
which will have to be brought from remote sections
of the country and IT, as is stated over one hundred
witnesses will testify for the defence and that Few or
none have yet been summoned 1t Is easy to see that
some time will be consumed in this matter alone
1t cannot be concealed however, that the radicals
are intensely desrous Of making the trial as brief as
possible II for other reason than the TACT OF the
public business being compelled to languish, and
the consequent complaint which VIII arise through
out the country that vital national interests are
neglected in order that partisan END may be
accomplished. At the same time it will not suit to
show disposition to hurry up the cakes with I'M
seemly haste Some show of fairness will have to be
exhibited even though the public business may suffer
by the delay in doing So
1t was observed on the last high court day that the
Managers, especially Bingham and Logan, failed TO
realize that the trial should be purely legal one
and that debate should be confined to the discus
sion of legal points. The fault with the Managers Is
that they forget they In a court and acting as
prosecuting attorneys, and rather imagine they are
back on the floor OF the House engaged In po
day Bingham kept well within bounds and
so did Butler. The former altered the tone OF his
himself 1 to - putting forward digned ana argu
mentatve plea in answer to the defence. Butler
acted somewhat similarly, but the last day Bingham
drfted away from the legitimate scope OF his duty
and talked for party where he should have talked
for law and justice. Logan made similar mistake,
though he started out with marked effort to be dig
nied and dispassionate. When the trial really COM
mences may anticipate more enlarged exhibitions
OF party feeling and more OF the stump order OF e0
quence than OF that which becomes the atmosphere
OF judicial tribunal
There ought to be some rule adopted to give uni
formity to the mode OF address adopted towards the
Chief Justice. Senator Drake recently offered res0-
luton with that end In view but no action has yet
variabIy say sMr Chief Justcen while the Managers
get puzzled between .'Mr. Speaker and "Mr. Presi-
dent" but happily hit ON the latter In their confusion
Another noticeable feature is the uneasiness
at being doomed 10 silence which the bores in the
Senate such Garrett Davis Conness OF California,
and Howard, OF Michigan, manifest while all the talk
ing il being done by the Managers and the counsel
for the President. However, every time chance
Offers the above named rrepressibes sure to get
In word or two; but IL Garret Davis could only be
granted week to speak in the Presidents defence
ne couu easily occupy every HouI vi IL WIN quOth-
tions from the fathers and from his own
inexhaustible storehouse OF constitutional lore.
Howard seems TO restrain himself after painful ef
fort, from jumping up every few minutes to offer an
order a motion, and Conness would appear to be-
lieve that II he were only allowed TO conduct both
the prosecution and the defence all the ends OF justice
would be secured and the trial be disposed OF In
day. II s hard for the professional and everlasting
takers act jurors and exercise at the time
the virtues OF patience and peaceful silence but
more especially In this instance, where the matter In
controversy is darling theme for the politicians on
both sides.