The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-05-13

the question of intent, because no law
had been violated. He said he had no
sympathy with the Presidents Political
course, but could not decide the ques-
tiOn now in issue on party grounds. He
indicated that he would vote against all
the principal articles, but as he said
nothing particularly about the llth, his
Missouri friends try to flatter them
selves that he will at least vote for it.
Mr.. Dixon and Mr.. Johnson then spoke
10 the order named, both declaring that
there was no case against the President.
The latter had very long and elabor-
ate paper, going over all the points in
issue, but only part of it was read to-
day. 1t will all be printed in the re-
port of the trial.
Mr.. Trumbull next stated his opinion.
He had been counted by the outsiders
as sure to vote for two or three articles,
but this count it also appears was not
well founded, for the Senator made a
strong speech against the first and Sec
end articles, which are the basis of the
whole case. He said the act of 1859
creating the War Department, gave the
President power to remove its head, and
this power was in ne way affected till
the passage of the tenure of Office act.
He held that this act did not apply to
Mr.. Stanton, for he was not included IN
the general part of the first section OF
this act, because all Cabinet Ministers
are specially fixed by proviso thereto,
and Mr.. Stanton, though Secretary de
facto, is not covered by the proviso, be-
cause the term of his appointment ex-
pired with the end of Mr.. Lincoln's first
term. The law could not accommodate
itself to the circumstances of any indi-
vidual.
The Senator spoke chiefly on the first
two articles, reading his views on the
first at some length. He indicated gen
orally that he could not vote for any of
them, saying questions must be deter
mined from a judicial and not from q
personal standpoint.
Mr.. Fessenden was the last speaker Of
the afternoon. session, and spoke at
more length than any other Senator,
treating the whole question presented
by the House with much fuliness, and
declaring against every article. At
this time, viz: about half-past five, n
recess took place till half-past seven.
During this interim there was great ex-
citement in all political circles, and the
condition of affairs was discussed in
terms neither cool nor polite. Charges
were freely made against Republican
Senators who had declared for acquIt-
tai, and the Chief Justice was pretty
roundly berated for his course from the
beginning of the trial.
The evening session lasted till eleven
o'clock. 1t was not very fully attend
ed, several leading Senators being out
of their seats. 1t had been arranged, as
it seems, that the floor should not be
taken by any of the so-called doubtful
Senators, in order that they might have
an opportunity for further reflection be.
fore definitely committing themselves.
The speakers were Mr.. Buckalew
against, Messrs. Conness, Wilson, Harlan
and Morton for conviction. The argu-
ment of the latter gentlemen is worry
highly praised by all his associates, and
seems to have rather cheered the hearts
of the most respondent, though of
course it will not affect the vote of any
one who spoke this afternoon.
At the close of the discussion prop
osition was submitted to postpone the
taking of the vote, but it went over for
action tomorrow, when session begins
at half-past eleven. There is much
feeling among Republican members of
the House, particular among those from
Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, and it is re-
ported that Henderson and Trumbull
are to be visited by their COngressiOn
al associates in the morning. A consid-
erable number of Senators are in favor
of postponing the vote on the articles
for three or four weeks, but it does not
look tonight as if this proposition could
be carried.
Of the Senators who have not yet spo-
ken, Messrs. Anthony, Corbett, Freling-
huysen, Upton, Van Wrinkle and Wiley,
are regarded as more or less doubtful.
The first of the impeachment articles is
already gone by two votes. Everybody
gives it up. The second and third arti-
clcs are not yet lost, nor can anybody
exactly see that they are sure to be car
ried. The Democrats arc generally in
good spirits, and the extreme impeach-
ment men are quite respondent, while
cooler and more impartial observers
hold that there is some chance for con-
viction.