The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-03-18
Inpeachrent Trials.

Cured in the history OF this government
to the present time:
In the trial before the Senate of Justice
Chase, of the Supreme Court, in 1898,
perhaps tue most remarkable impeach-
mcpt case in our history hitherto,) the
House of Representatives did not attend
in the Senate chamber at the preliminary
proceedings. According to the cotcm-
pory records, the Judge was brought in,
escorted by the Sergeant-at-arms of the
Senate, (who had served the process upon
him) and stood at the bar, whero he was
add essed by Aaron Burr, tho President
of the Senate, who said that the Senate
was ready to hear any answer he had TO
make to the articles of impeachment ex-
hibited against him by the House of Rep
rcscntatives. Judge Chase, who was ola,
and rather feeble, requested the indu-
gence of chair, which, in correspondence
with the parliamentary practice in Eng
land, had not been provided for the cul-
p.it. This accommodation being furnished
him, he arose, aud commenced reading a
plea for continuance of tho case until
the next session (nearly one year) The
Senate refused this, but voted to give
him ono month in which to prepare his
answer to the articles of impeachment.
During this interval the Senate cham
bcr was fitted up for prolonged and SOL
enn trial, in style OF appropriate ele-
gance. Benches, covered with crimson
Cloth, were arranged on either sdo for
the iudres, or members Of the Senate. A
long desk in front of tho Vice Presidents
chair was assigned to the managers OF the
impeachment on the part of the House,
while similar box was assigned to Judge
Chase and hia counsel. The remainder of
tho floor was occupied with chairs for the
accommodation of the members OF the
House of Representatives. The gallery
of the Senate was opened for the india-
criminate admission of spectators; but
below this gallery, and above the floor of
the Senate, now gallery was Temporal.
rilv erected, under the special orders of
Vice President Burr for the exclusive ac-
commodation of ladies. This arrange
ment, however, was abandoned at an
early period Of the trial, it being found
quite impracticable Gas naively reported
BY the newspapers of the day to separ-
ate the sexes. Boxes at either end OF the
gallery were set apart for ladies attached
to the families OF distinguished public
characters.
The House OF Representative attended
throughout the whole trial in body,
and Judge Chase was attended by the
most eminent counsel, including Luther
Martin and r. Goodloe Harper Against
than, wero pitled John Randolph, tho
able and acrimonious Leader Of the Re-
publican party IN the House, and the
primo manager in the impeachment, to-
gcthcr with Nicholson, Rodney, and other
LAWYERS 1t was historic and memora-
BILE scene. The venerable Associate ust-
ice had borne distinguished part in carry
ing tho Declaration of Independence in
his native State of Maryland, and had oc-
cupicd, for sixteen years, high judicial
stations in the Federal courts. The pre-
siding officer of tho tribunal at whose bar
Chase appeared was just returned from
his la>ty flight southward, after his fatal
duel with Hamilton, and, Notwithstanding
the indictments for murder hanging over
his head in New York and New Jersey,
lie presided with all his accustomed dig
nifty, urbanity, and distinguished grace of
manner. The cause was an important
ono, involving the conduct OF an eminent
Judge of the United States, in administer
ing the law, but especially pointed by it's
political bearing upon the party changes
of the day. Chase was a high toned, DOM
ineering Federalst, on trial before ajury Of
Republicans, for judicial acts Cor rather
speeches) performed five years before He
was himself an able and profound jurist,
and was, moreover, defended By the mass
i've logic and eloQucnce of tile best orna'
ments of the American bar of that day
The managers of tho impeachment, led
bv the brilliant and impctuous, but cratic
and pctulant Randolph. werc no match
for these long-hcaded lawyers. Chasc's
counsel adro1y admitted that he might
have been chargcable with some extrava-
gancc of language in dealing with lbelers
and offenders on trial; but they utterly
denied that any offence which could justify
an impeachment had been or could Ie
proven.
The result Of the trial, after multltudcs
of witnesses examined on both sides, and
three weeks of solemn forensic eloquence.
was total failure of the impeachers to
secure a two thirds majority or any one
of tho charges. On five Of the eight ho
was even acquitted by majority of votes.
This was !. great triumph for the Fcder
alists, and deep modification for the
more Jealous of the Republican ilnpeach
ers, who, with John Randolph at their
head wero powerfully disgusted with the
faiare of party discipline. Randolph in
bitter speech rejecting upon Judge
Chase as an "acquittcd felon," moved to
amend the Constitution so as to render
the Judges of the United States Courts
removable at tho pleasure Of both Houses