The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-03-14
CONGRESS.
THE TRIAL OF THE PRESIDENT
Galleries Thronged and Brilliant
The House Attend in a Body.
The President Appears by Counsel.
His Counsel Ask for Forty Days
Delay.
They Get But Ten Days.
The President Required to Answer
on the 23d lust.
The Trial then to Proceed.
Adjournment of the Court
They Get But Ten Days.
The President Required to Answer
on the 23d lust.
The Trial then to Proceed.
Adjournment of the Court.
WAsHINdToN, March 13.
SENATE

was packed by as brilliant an audience
as upon full dress opera night. The
Senator'S seats are arranged as before.
In the open space in front of the Presi-
dents chair are two long tables, each
furnished with seven chairs. One of
the tables is intended for the managers
and the other lOr the counsel. Back of
the Senators seats, and filling the en-
tire lobby, are about 200 chairs, in
tended for the accommodation of the
members of the House. The Judiciary
and others are entitled to be present on
the floor.
By half-past eleven half the Senators
had ranged themselves in little knots,
discussing the mOmentOus business OF
the day.
1t isn noticeable fact that not n sim
gle negro is i'll the galleries. Every
thing is conducted with perfect order
and decorun.
The Chaplain invoked blessing
upon those now entering upon high
and important duty.
a number of petitions were present
ed, including one by MIR. Morton, of
workingmen of Ohio, for the passage
of the eight hour law. Referred 10 the
Committee on Commerce..
The bill to amend the judiciary act
of l7S6. came over from the House
signed and received the signature of
the President pro tenn.
The Sennte insisted on it's amend
ments TO the consular appropriation
bill and appointed Committee of Con-
ference.
IMPEACHMENT COUTr.
AT one o'clock the morning hour
having expired the Chief Justice took
the chair.
The Sergeant-at-Arms made procla-
nation i'll the usual form.
The Secretary read the journal of the
last meeting OF the Court.
A large number of Representatives
headed by the Managers OF Impeach-
ment, were meanwhile standing in lille
outside the open door.
On motion of Mr.. Howard, the order
was made that the Sergeant-at-Arnls
notify the House that the Senate Is or
gauiZed as Court of Impeachment
and ready to proceed with the trial OF
Andrew Johnson. Immediately there
after the managers and members OF
the House took the seats provided for
them, Mr.. Butler being absent. The
Senators who had not already done so,
took the oath.
The return of the Scrgennt-Ht-Arms
OF his service of summons on the Presi-
dent was read, when on motion of Mr..
Johnson, the counsel of the President
were notified of the commencement of
proceedings, and Messrs. Stanberry,
Curtis aui Nelson, took their seats al
the table on the right of the Chief JUS
seated ON the left. Mr.. Butler, the re-
manning manager, came in, and shortly
after another deputation of the House
entered, headed by the Speaker, Mr..
Washburne OflllinOis, and Mr.. McPher-
son, Clerk OF the House, and ranged
themselves behind the bar.
Mr.. Stanberry rose and addressing
the Chief Justice, read the answer Ofthe
| President, entering his appearance and
naming as his counsel Messrs. Stan
berry, Curtis, Nelson, Black and
Evarts, and asked as "a reasonable time
period of forty days, citing various
cases in which period as long, in pro-
portion to the magnitude of the case,
had been granted.
Mr.. Bingham, on behalf of the man
ayers, cOntended that the eighth
rule provided that on the ap-
pearance of the President he was re-
quired to file his answer, and in case
his answer WIS not filed the trial
should proceed as on plea of not
guilty. He claimed, therefore, that the
trial should proceed forthwith.
Mr.. Curtis, in reply, referred to the
case of Judge Humphreys and others,
and argued that the rule was suscepti-
BILE of no such construction AS that put
on it by Bingham.
Mr., Nelson followed enlarging on the
same views as his colleague.
Mr.. Butler asked TO be heard on be-
half of the managers, and asked why
railroad speed should not be used
on this trial. He contended that the
rules aud proceedings OF ordinary
courts were not applicable 10 this trial,
In an ordinary trial no dangers result
ed from delay. In this case the neces.
sity for prompt action was pressing.
The respondent at the bar controlled
the power of the nation and might in u
moment of passion, prejudice or wrong
use 1t for the injury and ruin OF the
country. The business of the War
Department would stop until the re-
suit of this trial was reached, The
pulse of the Nation beats in perturba-
ton while the trial goes on. He claim.
ed that an early day should be fixed
for the defendants appearance, and if
then he can show that he has not had
time to prepare, grant him the indul-
gence OF further time. We, on the part
OF the House of Representatives, which
we arc here representing, ask that the
rule adopted by the Senate for the
government ofthis case, may be en- fore
ed. II is for the Senate to say whether
the rule shall be sustained as rule to
govern the case or whether it shall be
changed, but standing as ii rule at this
time we ask for its enforcement,
Mr.. StAnbery expressed greater sur.
prise than he had before felt at this
claim put forward by the managers,
and saying that II seemed to be the dis
position to hurry through this momec-
tous trial as ii it were IA case before n
police court. He argued from the
the wording of other rules that the an.
pearance day was not intended to be, a
day for answering and trial day. He
said that two of the Presidents counsel
were not present; that no opportunity
had been offered for preparation of the
defense or calling of witnesses, and
that in the worst days of the Star
Chamber, such an attempt to hurry
through a trial had never been made.
He spoke very warmly, saying that
there seemed to be trap set fol the
President and his counsel.
AT the conclusion of his remarks, the
Chief Justice said the motion would
be argued tor an hour in accordance
with the rules, when Mr.. Bingham
rose and said he had been greatly sur.
prised at hearing the hasty words
which had been dropped from the lips
of his learned friend, Mr.. Stanbery,
and asserted the only object of the rules
which the Senate had made, was to
prevent dilatory lineof defense.
The Chief Justice was about to put
the question on Mr.. Stanbery's motion,
when Mr.. Edmund's offered an order
that April first be the day appointed
for the filing of the Presidents an
lswer. that within three DAYS tbaraaftar