The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-04-04
TNe Triai OF fhe President.

MosDAY MARciI 80.
In The Senate, as the High Court Of lmpeach.
meat, Mr.. Butler opened the case for the prose
cuilon, 10 lengthy and exhaustive review Of
The law on the articles OF impeachment and Pres
ident Johnson's mal-admiulstralion Of the gov
eminent. lie considered each OF the articles Of
impeachment proposed by the House at great
length, showing what proof IL to be brought 10
sustain the statement OF fact and terrifying with
authorities those points which turn upon ques-
tons Of law or or the Constitution. lie defend
ed Mr. Wade's right TO sl on the trial stating nj
the same time that II challenges were rsoricd TO-
that MI. Rcverdy johnson might be objected 10,
on account OF letter he had very recently writ
ten 10 Democratic meeting In Baltimore, Pied
ging his support 10 the President. Mr.. Butler
/ commended the course Of Secretary Stanton, and
said that u being conceded that the appoint ment
Of Thomas was In direc. violation Of the Tenure
Of Office act, what was TO prevent Andrew john
son from being declared guilty Of high crimes
and misdemeanors7 The Managers claim that
any question Of the consiituiionality Of the Ten
ure-of-0fiice law Is totally irrelevant during the
course Of this trial. Johnson's right TO Judge Of
the eonsiituiionality Of any Law ceases the mo.
ment his objections 10 II are sent 10 Congress,
considered ard the bill passed over his veto. -
Then he is as rigidly bound by Il as any Que. II
may DO said that he can resist Il at his peril So
he can, and the peril Is Impeachment. In refer.
ence 10 any decision Of the Supreme Court that
Court had never but on three occasions given de-
eis0ns IN regard 10 acts Of Congress affecting the
general welfare, impugning their constitutional.
ny. lie asked Senators would they allow any
| question Of the consiilulionality Of this Law 10
enter into the trial Of an Executive officer who
wilfully violated II IN advance Of any decision by
any couu3 II may be contended that he sus-
pended Mr. Stanton TO test the eonsiitui ionaliiy
Of this law, but the Managers would show that
this Is a sabierfuge. For one year he made ma
attempt 10 test that law. he boldly announced
to the General OF the Army his purpose to violate
| II, aud he attempted 10 seducc the commander "
the Department Of Washington from his nllcgi.
ance 10 the laws. The attempts Of the President
10 bride Generals Sherman and Thomas, for the
purpose Of getting Grant out ~ the way. were
adveFied TO, and the acts Of Sherman and Thomas
approved. Concluding his address, Mr.. Butler
said =" The responsibility Is with you 1.-THE Sen
"aic.l The House of Representatives has
brought the criminal To your bar II Andrew
johnson goes frcc, never again AJAX the repre-
. seniaiivcs Of people TO attempt io stay the
usnTpalions Of ruler. On the conclusion ~
| Mr.. Butler argument Mr.. Wilson hied mass
Of documentary evidence sustaining the charges
against the President, which was read TO the
Senate.
TUESDAY, March u.
The trial was resumed. Additional documen.
iary evidence was filed by the Managers when
several witnesses were examined by the prosccn.
VI
the Presidents counsel Al went On harrnoni.
ously until Hon. Walter \ liurlcgh delegate
from Dacoiah. was placed upon the stand, and,
IN answer 10 AN inquiry. General Butler was
proceeding To state wha; the prosecution expert
cd tn prove by the witness, when Mr. Sianbcrry
raised an objection The presiding officer wa
proceeding To decide upon the Objection, when
senator Drake Ito test the maiirr) raised The
question that such DECISIONS should hc made los
the Senate. and not by the presiding officer =
Chief Justice Chase stated his position iu l.. ihai
II Was the duty Of the Chief Justice 20 decide
questions Of evidence in the first instance, and
that az appeal should BE- decided hy the Senate
Messrs bingham, Butler and Boutwell,. for the
Managers, On the part Of the HOUSE, all disseni,d
from The position assumed by the presiding Off.
Ger, claiming that under the Constitution hc was
/ IN the present case but u ministerial Oflicer--i0
preside preserve order, ric. ia the conclusion
OF the Discussion Senator Wilson moved that the
Senators retire for consideration Of the question.
and The vote being taken resulted in iie-2i To
- aud the Chief Justice giving his casting vote
/ IA the affirmative. the motion was carried This
is the first instance during the trial where the
presiding officer has voted. Aii'T an absence of
three houts, the Senate returned, aud ihc Chief
Justice reported that Il had been agreed To allow
him g. To rule all questions OF evidence and incl
dental questions, which ruling shall stand the
judgmcnt Of the Scuaic, unless some memer
g taken thereon, ia which case it shall .c sub
mii,ed To the Senate Tor decision or hr may,
" a, his option, in the first instance submit any
" such question To vote Of the mcuihcfs OF the
" Senate. 80 The Senate 10y this action reserves
To itself the right at all times ovcrfIir tn pre-
siding officers decision. On the announcement
of the result Of the deliberations vt the SENATE
the Managers for the House stated that they dcsi-
red time for consultation, and the SENATE adjouT-
ned. II Is understood that the counsel 81 the
President have caused n summons TO lie issued
for Gen. Rousseau. who is now in Alaska, and
Gen. Sieedmsn, who is at New Orleans.
"WEDNESDAY, April, !.
The question as to the admissibiiiy Of the ies-
timony OF Mr. Burleigh in regard TO conversa-
ton held with Gen. Thomas, In which he avoW ed
his intention TO use force 10 obtain possession 81
the war office, was taken up and argued a. leneth
The Senate by vote OF yeas ~. NAYS !. decided
| that the evidence was admissible. The testimony
| Of Mr.. Burcigh admitted WIS 10 the effect that
Gen. Thomas had avowcd 10 him his intention
TO take possession fihc War Department, even
10 the extent Of breaking down the doors II they
were barrel against him During his examine
ton another question as TO the Rdmissibili'y Of
| evidence arosc in which the Senate asserted its
supreme power TO decide the law for itself Mr.
Butler proposed question as 10 efforts made q,
previous time BY General Thomas TO reduce the
| clerks Of the War Department from their obedi-
objected, and Chief Justice Chase ruled the qucs-
ton inadmssible. Al the demand Of Senator
an appeal was taken, anu the Senate reversed the
desision, and declared the evidence admissible.
The Presidents counsel subsequently, attempted
10 keep out the evidence by ohjrctng IN surces-
sion 10 every form IN which the question was
put but the Chief Justice recognized aud cufoT-
ced the rule making the Senate the final Judge
upon all questions Of law and evidence, and d.
Tected the question 20 be put. The answer show
ell that General Thomas had promised the clerks
10 relax the stringent rules enforced by VI. STAN
ton, TO let them go on, when they wanted 10 go,
| etc, these inducements being ms the witness
thought 10 the light Of subsequent events, 10 in
nuence them 10 support his authority as Secretary
OF War. General Thomas also gave TO him sub
scqneuily, As his reason for not using force that
he had been arrested by the Marshal OF the Dis
trlci on Mr.. SiantOn's complaint. Mr.. Samuel
Wtlkeson gave very imp0rian, testimony to the
effect that General Thomas had avowed To him
his intention to use force ihat IL was his duty 10
obey the Presidents order. aud that he would
call upon t;eneral Grant for military aid in pla-
cling him In possession Of the War Department.
The last witness examined was "a Delaware Demo
GRAFT apparently Of the Deacon l'ogram order IT,
had met General Thomas at one Of the Presidents
eyees aud told him that he "usnst stand firm.
that Delaware was watching him, aud Delaware
expected II Of him. General Thomas avowed
thu, he was standing firm, that Delaware would
not be disappointed in him, aud that he would
shortly kick that fellow tStanion) out" The
witness was 50 much appalled, by this fcrocious
declaration tina, he only found breath To "rcnrw
the desire of Delaware Beside the amusing
character of this witness evidence, IL was only
marked by the Chief Justice checking the lrcsi-
dents counsel when ihcy prolonged his rriss.cx-
animation 10y trivial questions.
-~ss-
payment % lIouSTY An Act authorizing A
Bounty i.oan Of ,O0o, OOO) fur million dollars