Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-03-14
ALEXANDRIA.
SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH H.
THE IMPEACHMENT.

L. : T.;
: The Court of Impeachment was again in ses
ion yesterday, for the purpose of receiving the
return to the summons issued to the President
to appear and answer the impeachment prefer.
red against him. At - O clock, the Chief JUS
:. tice took the Chair, and the Court directed
that the Managers Of the impeachment be no
tilted of the opening of the Court; and the re-.
turn of the Marshal, on the writ Of summons
was read. The Managers then appeared; also
large number of the members of the House
of Representatives .aa. 70.
; The Chief Justice. The Sergeant alarms
will call the accused
The Sergeantat-arms. I'm loud voice.
Andrew Johnson, President of the United
States Andrew Johnson President OF the
United States appear and answer the ar
ticles OF impeachment exhibited against you by
the House of Representatives the United
States.
The President counsel, Messrs Stanbery,
Curtis, and Nelson, were usnered in at the side
door, and took seats at the table to the right OF
the Chair-Mr. Stanbery on the right; the
others in the order named. ...
Mr. Stanbery then rose and said: Mr. Chief
Justice my brothers. Messrs. Curtis, Nelson,
and myself, are here this morning as counsel
for. the President I have his authority to on
ter his plea. BY your leave, [ will proceed to
read ~
Mr.. Stanbery read as follows
Mr.. Chief Justice: [, Andrew johnson,
President of the United States, having been
served with a summons to appear before this
honorable Court, sitting as court OF lmpeach-
ment, to answer certain articles OF lmpeach-
ment found and presented against me by the
Honorable the House of Representatives of the
United States, do hereby enter my appearance
by my counsel, Henry Stanbery, Benz amin 4.
Curtis, jeremiah S. Black, William NJ. Evarts,
and Thomas A. r. Nelson, who have my war
rant and authority therefor, and who are in
structed by me to ask of this honorable Cour t
for reasonable time for the preparation of my
answer to said articles.
Alter careful examination of the articles of
impeachment, and consultation with my coun.
sci, / am satisfied that at least forty days will
be necessary for the preparation of my answer,
md respectfully ask that it be allowed.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Mr.. Staubery. [ have also professional
statement in support Of the application.
Whether it il in order to offer it now, the
CHAIR will decide. .......-.
The Chief Justice. The appearance will be
onsidered as entered. You can proceed.
Mr.. Stanbery again read as follows:
Henry Stanbery, Benjamin R. Curtis, Jere-
miah S. Black, Vim. M. Evarts, and Thomas
A. R. Nelson, of counsel for the respondent,
move the Court for the allowance of forty days
for the preparation Of the answer to the AZ
ticles of Impeachment, and, in support of the
motion, make the following professional state
ment aH: a...f.E. .@
Tie articles are eleven in number, involving
many questions Of law and fact. We have,
during the limited time an opportunity afforded
u.s. considered, as far as possible, the field OF
investigation which must be explored in the
preparation Of the answer, and the conclusion
at which we have arrived is, that with the ut
most diligence the time we have asked IS rea-
sonable and necessary.
The precedents as to time for answer upon
impeachment before the Senate, to which we
lave had opportunity to REFER are those OF
Judge Chase and Judge Peck. ...--
In the case Of Judge Chase, time was allowed
from the third Of january until the eleventh OF
February next succeeding to put in his answer
"a period of thirty two days. But In this
case there were only eight articles, and Judge
Chase had been for year cognizant Of most Of
the articles, and had been himself engaged in
preparing to meet them.
In the case of Judge Peck there was but a
single article. Judge Peck asked for time
from the 10th to the 25th of May to put in his
answer, and it was granted. 1t appears that
Judge Peck had been long cognizant OF the
ground laid for his impeachment, and had been
present before the committee Of the House
upon the examination of witnesses, and had
49, ,,o,,,,t+ol h,, n Qo,co of
tives to present to that body an elaborate ans
wer to the charges.
It is apparent that the President is fairly
entitled to more time than was allowed in eth
er of the foregoing cases. 1t is proper to add
that the respondents in these cases were law
yers fully capable Of preparing their own ans
Wers, aud that no pressing official duties inter
tered with their attention to that business
whereas the President, not being lawyer,
must rely on his counsel. The charges involve
his acts, declarations, and intentions, as to all
which, his counsel must be fully advised upon
consultation with him, step by step, In the
preparation of his defence. 1t is seldom that
case requires such constant communication
between client and counsel as this, and yet
such communication can only be had at such
intervals as are allowed to the President from
the usual hours that must be devoted to his
high official duties
We further beg leave to suggest, for the
consideration Of this honorable Court, that as
counsel, careful as well of their own reputation
az of the interests of their client, in case OF
such magnitude as this-so out. of the ordinary
range Of professional experience-where SC
much responsibility is telt, they submit to the
candid consideration of the Court that they
have right to ask for themselves such oppor
tunity to discharge their duty as seems to them
to be absolutely necessary.
H.. HENRY STANBERRY.
BENZ R. CURTIS
&o Us. BLACK.
VIM. M. EvARTs.
THos A. r. NELSON. "
~ on. Counsel for respondent
MARCH Is, 1852 - 49," .