Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1868-03-27


Journal of the last meeting Of Court. large
| number Of Representatives headed BY the
managers of impeachment in the meanwhile
we're standing in file outside Of the open door.
On motion Of Mr. Howard an order was made
that the Sergeant alarms notify the House
that the Senate is organized as Court of Inn.
peachment and ready to proceed with the trial
of Andrew Johnson. Immediately thereafter
| the managers and members Of the Hsuse took
the seats provided for thcm, Mr. Butler being
| absent The Senators who had not done 50
took the oath.
The return Of the Sergeant at arms and OF
his service Of Summons on the President was
read when on motion of Mr. johnson the conn
sui of the President were notified Of the COM
mencement Of proceedings, and Messrs Stans-
berry, Curtis and Nelson took their seats on
the right of the Chief Justice and opposite to
the managers who were seated on the left.
! Mr. Butler the remaining manager came
| in, and shortly after another deputation Of the
House entered, headed by the Speaker.
Mr. Washburne Of Illinois, and Mr. McPher-
son, the Clerk Of the House, arranged them>
selves behind the bar.
| Mr. Stansberry arose and addressing ths
Chief Justice read the answer Of the Presi-
dent, entering his appearance nnd naming -
his counsel Messrs Stansocrry, Curtis, Nelson
Blair and Evarts, and asking as . reasonable
time for preparation Of his defence the period
Of forty days, citing various cases in which
locr - tla mn unt.
tude Of the case had been granted.
Mr. Bingham on behalf of the managers cor
TENDED that the rule provided that on the ap-
pearance Of the President he was required To
file his answer, and in case his answer was
not found the trial should proceed on .
IA plea of not guilty. lie claimed therefore
that the trial should proceed forthwith.
Mr. Curtis in reply referred to the cases Of
Judge Humphreys and others and argued that
the rule was susceptiblc Of no such construe-
ton as that put on by Bingham.
Mr. Nelson followed, cnlarging on the same
views rs his colleague.
Mr. stansberry expressed a greater surprise
than he had before felt at this claim pat for-
ward by the managers, and saying it sesmest
to be the disposition to hurry through this
momentus trial, as if it were ease before u
police court lie argued from the working Of
T other rules that the appearance day was not
. intended to be the day for answering and
trial. lie said two Of the Presidents counsel
were not present and that no opportunity had
been offered for the preparation of the defence
or the calling Of witnesses, and that in the
| worst days of the Star Chamber, such an at-
I tempt to hurry through trial had never been
. made.
I Mr. Butler asked to be heard on behalf Of
h the managers, and asked why railroad speed
c should not be used in this trial. lie contend
y ed that the rules and precedents of ordinary
d courts were not applicable to this trial. In
8 ordinary trials no dangers resulted from de-
= lay. In this case necessity from prompt ac-
= ton was pressing the respondent at the bar
r who controlled the power of the nation and
II ght in any moment from prejudice or wrong
: use it for injury, and ruin the country. Tise
If business Of the War Department would stop
1t until the result of this trial was reached
!, The pulse of the nation beats in pertuheratioa
!, while the trial goes on. lie claimed an early
n day should be fixed for the defendants appear =
Il ance. and iftlen he can show tha. he has not
n had time to prepare, grant him indulgence OF
o further time. We on part of the House Of
d Representatives, which we are here
y representing ask that the rule; adopted
d by the Senate for the good of this case may be
i enforced 1t is for the Senate to say whether
Ie the rule be sustained as rule to govern the
case, or whether it shall be changed or stand
e as rule at this time. We ask its enforce
1t ment.
Y Mr. Bingham said he had been greatly sur
? prised at hearing the hasty words which Lad
n been dropped from the lips Of his learned
I friend. Stansberry, and asserted tina. the only
j. motive of the managers was to enforce the
;. rule which the Senate had made and prevent
|; a dilatory line of defense.
h The Chief Justice was about to put the
e question on Stanbcrry's motion, when Mr. Ed
e mumds offered an order that April lst be { .
o day appointed FIR the fling Of the Presidents
0 answer. That within three days thereafter
!: the managers file the replication, and that on
: the 9th Of April the trial proceed.
! On motion, at ? o'clock the Senate retired
: for consultation, and at 4:10 the Senate, re-
9 turned to the Chamber and the Court reas-
q semblcd.
G The ChicfJustice announced that the motion
under consideration had been ovcrrulei, and
J tha. an order was entered that the President
5 be required to file his answer on Monday the
y a3d Of March.
: Mr. bingham offered resolution that on
the fling Of the application by the managers
8 the trial proceed forthwith.
$ The Chief Justice submitted the order to the
l Senate. aud on the question Of adoption the
yeas and nays we're taken, and resulted in %
yeas and 2s nays so the order was denied.
Mr. Nelson, Of the counsel said he had como
here expectins to have no political discussion
and under the impression that the forms Of the
proceeding would be purely Judicial in tas'r
character but like the honorable managers
he did not expect they would be strictly l"i>
ted by the formal prcccdents Of ordinary tri-