Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-05
LATEST TELEGRAMS.
MIDNIGHT DISPATCHES.
THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.


senate.
WASHINGTON, April 4.-On motion of
Mr.. Howard, the Senate went into Execu-
tive session 10 order to give the impeach-
ment managers an opportunity to obtain
certain Executive documents.
After the Executive session, Mr.. Ed
munds offered two amendments to the bill
regulating court claims, which were re-
ferred.
Mr.. Sherman's order relative to the
ticket system for galleries was debated un-
I'll noon, when the Chief Justice took the
chair.
Mr.. L. l.. Woodbridge, reporter, testified
TO the correctness of his report of the
Presidents speech delivered at st. Louis,
September s, 1866, and Mr.. Butler put the
speech in evidence.
After the speech had been read by the
Secretary, James A. Dean, stenographer,
was called and testified as to the correct
ness of the Presidents speech at the South
ern Hotel, st. Louis.
Robert S. Chew, Chief Clerk of State
Department, gave evidence as 10 the man
per of issuing commissions for certain
offices in the State and Treasury Depart
ments, which are prepared in the State De-
partment. Shortly after the passage of the
tenure of office act, change was made IN
the form of commissions; witness pro-
duced the blank form, showing in what the
change consisted. Since the passage Of
the act, no commission has been made
except in the old form.
Cross.examined: The words, ito hold
until removed by the President, with the
consent of the Senate" have not been in
serted. No commission has since been
issued TO head of department which
did not contain the words, ITO hold during
the pleasure of the Senate"
Mr.. Butler then offered a list prepared
at tie Department, at which all the re-
movals and appointments of Heads of De
partments were made since the beginning
of the government, specifying whether the
Senate vas in session at the various dates,
and redirect that during the past thirty
four years the appointments of Assistant
Secretary of State have always been made
in consequence Of the absence of the Secre-
tary.
A question, from whom came the letters
of authority? was objected by Mr.. Evarts,
maintaining that in proof Of the authority
by which the appointments were made,
must be in writing.
After considerable parley Mr.. Butler
said the gentleman on the opposite seemed
disposed to make him talk. An hour
before he closed the question being mOdi-
fed was answered, that the letter OF
authority came from the President.
Re-cross-examined- Witness did not
know whether the one Head of Department
specifed as removed while the Senate was
in session in 1900, had previously refused
to resign.
Mr.. Butler then offered extracts from
the published works of John Adams, pur-
porting TO be official letters which passed
between Timothy Pickering and Secretary
of State and President Adams. No objec-
ton.
The managers then put in evidence the
Executive journal of the Senate for May
18th, 1900.
Mr.. Crevy, Chief Clerk of the Treasury
Department, was sworn: Authenticated
letter from the President to the Secretary
of the Treasury, notifying him OF the sus-
pension of Stanton and the appointment OF
Grant as Secretary of War ad interim,
August Sth, 1866, under the tenure OF office
act.
On receipt of this communication ii was
transmitted by copies TO the counsellors and
Auditor of the Department.
Recess of fifteen minutes.
Mr.. Boutwell, called the attention of the
counsel to various statutes explaining the
appointment to the office of Postmaster
General in 1894, which is specified in the
schedule az made when the Senate was In
| session.
Mr.. Wilson called attention to several
| entries in the journal of 1900, showing
that the Senate met before noon.
Mr.. Bingham offered in evidence the
| Executive messages to the Senate, of March
10th and December 18th, 1867, and Janu-
airy 18th, 1868, in which the President
gives his reasons for the suspension from
office Of several officers; also a commune
| cation from the Secretary of State accom-
panying one of the messages, in which he
reports action under the tenure of office
law.
Mr.. Butler informed the Senate that the
case on the part of the House of Repre-
| sentatiyes was substantially closed, although
| they might call on a few more witnesses
A
Mr.. Curtis, on behalf of the Presidents
counsel made motion, that when the court
adjourn to-day, it shall be to Thursday next
| in order to afford them three working days
| in which to prepare their testimony. lie
stated that they would have much oral tes-
timony to offer, but required time to ar
range their documentary evidence.
Mr.. CONFESS moved that the court adj
| iourn till Wednesday.
Mr., johnson offered an amendment
making it Thursday.
Messrs. Sumner and Cameron endeav'
ored to interpose remarks, but were ruled
ont of order, and the yeas and nays being
taken, resulted 81 to 10. So the cour
stands adjourned Immediately thereafter
at 81 o'clock till Monday.
House of Representatives.
The House, after some minor business
attended the Senate in Committee of thu
! Whole.
Adjourned till Wednesday.