New-York tribune., 1868-05-07
THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
MR. RNGHAms CONCLUSION.


The last word of the final argument IN the I'M
peachment trial of Andrew Johnson was pronounced
TODAY at q o'clock and the case passed to the SEN
ate for adjudication The Court opened with the
prescribed formulas the Managers and Representa-
tiyes were introduced as the preceding days. ana
fbe other matters of routine were all transacted
The thronged galleries the eager mutitudes choking
the dOorways of every entrance and the disappointed
thousands who had tickets, and for whom
admission not, but who, nevertheless
fingered around the Capitol gave evidence of the IN
tense interest felt in the events of the day within the
Senate Chamber. The atmosphere in the morning
had been full of rumors. The Presidents friends
were blatant in their utterances, and loudmouthed
IN their bOastings, that impeachment was dead and
that the President would be acquitted and the popu-
lar mind became, in consequence, nervous and eX-
cited Mr. Johnson's admirers and paid supporters,
who have been for the last week making desperate
effort to manufacture public opinion favorable to
him, circulated in all directions pocketbooks IN
hand, offering large odds on the Presidents side.
The loyal people, anxious that a bad man should be
removed and the laws vindcated, drOoped with dis
oonEagement and secretly feared that they were
about TO be betrayed. The names Of Republican
Senators were freely mentioned as having committed
themselves to verdict of acquittal, and everywhere
doubt and distrust prevailed The people instinct
lively drew near the Capitol There prospect
remote, indeed-that Mr.. Bingham would close early,
and that verdict might be rendered, and the masses
were eager to hear the decree of their Represen-
tatves.
Inside the Senate Chamber the silence was almost
breathess The only careless or Indifferent spectator
was fussy little foreigner in the diplomatic gallery
who jumped from seat to seat, and chatted with his
feminine friends and masculine acquaintance. The
reporters gallery invaded by of farmers
from various parts of the Union, and Department
clerks most of whom had seen the inside of a
newspaper office, but who through some hOcus-
pocus had contrved to borrow steal press tickets
The floor Of the Chamber presented about the same
appearance the previous days of the trial Only
four of the Managers-Messrs. Bingham, Boutwell,
Wilson, and Wilhams-were in the Chamber, But
three of the Presidents counsel-Messrs. Evarts,
GToesbeck, and NesOn-attended
Mr.. Bingham resumed his argument shortly after
10 o'clock Throughout the two hours and a half of
his speech his auditors hung upon his words, and
how profound was the impression which he made
was afterward exhibited in the applause which fol-
lowed his closing sentence His manner was earnest
Impressive and impassioned his delivery was splen-
did, and his gesture good He began by reference
70 the laws of 1889 and 1895, under which the
President through his counsel, had sought to
justify his action and he held that they
gave him no such power as he claimed
The act of 1867 swept away all that legislation, and
IN violating that the President guilty of high
crime and msdemeanOr and not only he but every
one who aided, abetted OF advised him to disregard
It, Mr. Bingham rapidly reviewed the other points
that had been made by the Presidents counsel, par
tcularly the concerning the 1lth article and the
distinction between Andrew johnson as President,
and Andrew johnson as citizen Then came the pero-
ration which was very effective, thoroughly classi-
cal, and very strong.
Mr. Bingham travelled over ancient and modern
history recapitulated the usurpations of James H.,
and the action of Parliament holding that the
OF James and that Of Andrew johnson were similar,
and closed by demanding in the name Of the House
Of Representatives, and of free people, the convic
ton of this accused President who stands guilty be-
fore God and man of the high crimes and misde-
neanOrs of which he stands impeached.
Then followed a scene such as has rarely been wit
messed in Congress- and never before in the Senate
sitting as a Court of impeachment few claps in
khe western end of the galleries sweled in second
into a wild tumult Of appreciation, which ran along
the galleries gathering force and volume as it went
Gentlewornen waved their handkerchiefs gentlemen
stood erect in their seats: the ChiefJustice
vainly raped for order, and Senators, whose
solemn gravity was disturbed looked aghast at what
they regarded as an indignity and outrage. 1t was
the popular verdict at the close of the testimony and
arguments There was nothing particularly eloquent
OF brilliant in the words Of Mr.. Bingham. He had
uttered far more brilliant passages during his speech
but the sentiment and not the words in which 1t
was clothed appealed to the great majority and they
gave the evidence of their concurrence and approval
The Cbief-Justice was so nervous that he after
ward said he did not know what order he made
When the order went out to clear the galleries, the
whole mass Of people in their seats and did not
at first show the slightest disposition to obey. The
impression seemed to be general that its enforcement
would not be required. But Senator Grimes OF Ohio,
apparently more indignant and vindictive than any
one else rose and insisted that the order should be
executed Then came Kisses from all quarters OF the
galleries; whereat he covered into his seat. They
probably came from the same lips that aftorward
ehaunted through the corridors: odd Grimes is
dead, the poor old man." Reverdy Johnson in
towering passion, renewed the motion. Senator
Trumbull painfully conscious of little brief author
fly suggested the arrest of disOrderly persons and
the immediate clearing of the galleries SentOr Cam
eron interpOsed a word for the audience, and hoped
that they might not be excluded Messrs Fessenden
and Reverdy johnson mperiousy called him TO
order. The people now began to leave very
slowly, owing TO the difficulty of egress'
The exit Of the people from their own chamber was
not quick enough for little Garrett Davis of Ken
tucky who renewed the motion to clear the galleries
In abOut three minutes nearly all had departed ex-
cept the occupants of the diplomatic gallery and the
reporters gallery directly opposite They appeared
TO consider themselves in some measure privileged
persons and to hold that the order did not apply to
them. The dOorkeepers of the diplomatic
gallery appeared among the foreign representa-
tives Mr.. Thornton, the British Minister, and
Mr. Rangabee the Greek Minister, entered into dis
cusson with them, and doubtless strove TO convince