Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-05-22
The Impeachm ent Trial.
SCENES IN TIE SENATE CHAMBER DURING HE

ident of the United States opened uuu anu
cloudy. All the morning the sun seemed TO be |
engaged in a continual struggle with the densely |
rolling clouds, each contending for the mastery
The galleries of the Senate chamber at eleven
O'Clock were about half full but from that hour
there was steady stream of both sexes, flowing |
into them from every door, until they were quite
full. The rotunda also was occupied with per-
sons who hoped to get tickets OF admission, but
in case of failure in that direction they wanted
TO be as near as possible to the scene sof interest
in the Senate Chamber.
Precisely as II O'Clock rings out from the city
bells the Chief Justice, in his robes of office, as
sumes the chair Senator Wade takes his seat,
with the air of man who has made up his mind
TO vote regardless Of consequences. The sick
Senators begin to arrive Mr.. Howard comes in
leaning on the arms OF friends, walking very
feebly, and lettering into his chair with a heavy
shawl thrown around him. Mr.. Grimes is
brought in by four men in an invalid's chair
and allowed to recline on his side without taking
his seat. Mr. Fessenden had just begun to be
nervous about him, and had moved half-hour
postponement, when he came in.
Thad. Stevens was brought to the Senate wing
in a chair by two attendants, being no longer
able TO walk across a room without assistance
lie was the first Of the Managers present, and
took his seat at the head of the table. Sicliles
entered soon after, limping upon his crutches,
and sat beside Anthony Trollope in rear Of Sum
ner's desk.
At l2-l5 the House Of Representatives is an
nounced, and every member who is in the city
is present The galleries, the chamber, the
Senate. and the court are now all full The
Managers sit at their table, and Mr. Eyarts,
Mr.. Groesbeck and Mr.. Nelson at theirs. All
eagerly and anxiously await the calling of the
roll. 1t hadEbeen resolved in consultation on
the evening before, that the eleventh article, being
the strongest, should be voted on first, and this
necessitates little preliminary business for 1t
has to be taken up, and then agreed to, which
necessitates two roll-cals. The result on these
motions is thirty-four to nineteen, Mr.. Grimes
not voting. This is Immediately conceded TO he
a test vote, and to indicate acqulttal, Messrs-
Ross and Wiley voting against the change.
Mr. Edmunds moved that the Senate proceed
at once TO vote on the articles Of Impeachment.
| This was about twenty minutes after twelve
| O'Clock. The floor at this time was almos! ell
tirely occupied Behind the triple semi-circu-
| lar rows Of Senators sat the members of the
House Of Representatives and good many priv
LEGGED strangers.
Trumbull, Fessendcn. and Hendricks had one
more brief consultation, and Mr.. Ross was still
busy tearing paper into tiny bits. His hands
went like spinner 5.
The Chief Justice arose and in an audible. but
trembling voice adrnonisbed citizens and strane.
ors IN the Galleries that nerf-t order must l.,
maintained and an persons .,ililtv ofany iiso-
der would he Immediately arrested. At thu
time there was the most impressive silence
Fyerv face was red with the heat and excite
ment.
The galleries bow in silent assent. and are re
minded that the Injunction Is unnecessary, fol
in Zach aisle stand three muscular pol;cemeI
with drawn batons ready 10 prevent any viola
tion of nublic decorum Even the reporter
gallery IS not exemnt. 4 policeman. with clul
in hand and revolver in hell stands at each eu.
# the rows Of desks The Serreil,t-at-Arm
disclaims the resnonsit ilitv f,, this exhibition
and SAYS senators demand If
Tho Eleventh Article VS. now read tv the t.erk
After tbo rca,Iin,, If tbe article tbe Chief Ju.
- so;J :. Ti7o c,orl viii coll tho roll - Tin
LII itT road :. Mr. Aptbanv ;. The SENATE
80 from, his .,,t hi. 1ire f'-r, t,l-T, "a Grace
fnl attituJe and a, I'M ewes were bent on hin
the Chief Jnstice road the Question e. Mr.
senator Anthony hon, sa, Won Is ia. Presi
dent Andrew Johnson. President AZ -he Unite
states entity or NOT entity Of 4 biob mis,le
,neonor ss ci,sr,sJ in tIis article
NJ ,,,,scie - IL f,oo Neil and Iis b,l,
,ros II, co1,rloto re,,se a. senator Apthon,
81 tho MI of IN e}.es ono ban1 r,..+,d Il;
~ III +I,-+l,. - '-b-,,,,-n 1911. ;,,+, bi
--a,tola,',s -,,o.lo+ A. tho Chief J,,.t;, ,..,,,
I'LL tI i,,.,o emo r,,ll orJ Je.ij.l frlir,
tbo oLo,,bor ,ritb ,o,flar,a whore bof,, ,,,1,.l
I,al -, .. C,,;It,- ;, Ue tool M. son
ii, - ,o,,,,.,,, o,,1 H.. a,,,l;.,., ,.,
,,,,oasil,, II, H.. soa+s
al a,d p,,ol,olo,- f,1lo,ro5 s,j holm,
1a-,,Io,.ats ,.otod ,,ot e,r1l+,. Tbor came ,I.'
80 - 81 rai;,ais Oh IN tho ,,niIt,. L.
ID ~, Ca,,a, a,,J ,,;;r, ,rtI,e o.,
-, -, l -, ,I,,1,,.,, i, liza linn,
y, - e - cnnT;ction The r5ii il Iro.ee Ia
Ir;,I d., 5o,,,o.,.,+s ora st,cl. ,e pdvis nv
~, an5 nooIit+Io arI tho ,dvorstes If o,a,,;tfa
are INST begirriny to roll mn them score
Drake was next called1yotlnr. Of course
sscDiI+v >, Flmupds and Ferry newt vo,od sn,.
cessivclv for conviction.
| Tho Secratarr tba,, called Mr. Fasss-,der TIL.
sanator. rise ami stretched his tall form 70 il.
fulI lengtb and stood erect. He placeI his
thumbs in his nants nocl,ets and Tins listened +,
tho reading IF the o,estions nv tho Chief Jus.
tice senator Sumner. who sits behind him
leaned over tn catch a glimnse of Fessenden- ,
face Tho latter was nerfectiv comnosed and II
n clear voice voted 8. not guilty
The Clerk then called Mr.. Fowler The latter
RISE from his scat 10 the left Of the Chief Justce
He placed his hands upon his desk. and listened
o the readinr of the Question. An ewes we,e
directed towards him. for he was known IN he
doubtful and tremendous pressure had baor
brought to bear upon him by the Democrats
The Question HAVING beqn read he made 81 ras.
ponse which was not distinctly heard. and h,
was requested 70 reneat if. when in \ tremuIou.
voice he answered. ssNot guilty. 1t was the
opinion throughout the gallery, and it i asserted
with much positiveness by Senators that his frs;
vote was guilty. and believe it with great as-
surance. but certain it is that no Senator WAS s.
frightened before. lie fell back into his chair as
soon as he voted, and his face became as pale and
rigid as death. Everybody expected him ID
| faint, but he steadied himself by his desk and
maintained his place.
| The vote now stood twelve for conviction and
seven for acouittal. and both parties became ner-
| vous.
| Senator Frelinrhuvsen is next on the roll To
Fowler and he voted guilty
When Mr.. Grimes's turn came. he rose with
| much difficulty. Senator Grimes need not
rise said the Chief-J ustice, quickly: but he
remained standing and voted for acquittal Mr..
Chase also desired Senator Howard to remain
seated but that gentleman rose and leaned
heavily on his desk very weak, and voted for
conviction, and was followed by Senator Howe
on the same side.
Before these two, in order, Senator Harlan
rave vote for conviction Senator Henderson
was next called, and he rose nervously in his
place under battery of eyes from the Radical