Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-03
THE EVENING STAR
CONGREGATIONAL.


SENArR-Yesterday after our report closed
The discussion the impeachment rules
was continued At some length, the question be-
ing on the adoption Of the 2oth rule.
MIR. Frelinghuysen thought while there
should be some l,mN, the time fixed was to-
counsel. He moved to amend by making it two
hours Tor each SIDE, the extension Of time TO be
applied tor beforehand.
The hrst part Of the amendment, allowing
TWO persons to argue each side, was adopted.
ihe question was on the second part Of the
amendment. allowing two hours to each, and il
Was iost-yeas, 20; nays, -.
Ihe question was put on the last branch of
,ne amendment, req uiring application before
hand for an Aeasion Of time; which, after de-
bate, was lost-l6 TO %
The 21st rule wss read.
Mr. Summer called attention 20 the TACT that
no provision was made for opening the case.
Inc case shall be opened by not more than two
persons on each side"
At the suggestion OF Senators be modified his
amendment 10 read: ssThe case on each side
shall be- opened by one person"
After discussion, Mr.. Summers amendment
as modified was agreed to.
The twenty-second article having been read,
MIR. frehnghuysen offered the following
amendment, to come in at the beginning: sOn
the final question, whether the impeachment is
sustained. the yeas and nays shall be taken
ON each article Of Impeachment separately
Agreed TO.
Mr.. Morrill,, OF Maine, moved to strike out
insert the word Senators" but snbseq uently
modified his amendment by moving Ia strike
ont the words eand voting" after the word
spresent" )referring TO the number Of members
OF the court necessary 70 conyictl II was
agreed to.
Mr.. Edmunds moved, and Mr. Van Wrinkle
accepted. an amendment TO strike out the words
s'of such courts" and the words ssby its pre-
siding officer" Agreed TO.
MI. Williams offered an amendment providing
for conviction upon any one article.
suggested. a n.
sert after the word ssnot," IN the first line. the
words 'sunder any OF the articles presented"
with other verbal amendments to the same
effect.
Mr.: Williams accepted the amend ment,
which was agreed to.
The twenty third article having been read,
MIR. Edmunds moved to strike out the words
"by unanimous CONSENT" and to insert ''by
consent of the Senate, TO be had without de-
bate" Agreed TO.
The twenty fourth article was read.
Mr.. Conklng moved To strike out the words,
''sitting as a High Court of Impeachment"
wherever they occur, ON the ground that they
were not usual and might seem to import that
the Court Of Impeachment is not the Senate.
After debate the amendment was agreed to
% to IL.
On motion of Mr. Buckalew. the word, ..or
any person authorized thereto were added at
the end Of the section.
On motion Of Mr.. Howe, the words sat II
o'clock. noon,n were inserted in the form OF
summons.
The twenty fifth article having been read.
Mr.. Conkling offered verbal amendment
making IL conform to the preceding section
striking out the words ssas such court" IN both
places where they occur, aud inserting the
words "for the consideration of Impeachment"
in the first instance, and at the end of the Sec
ton the words "to resume the consideration Of
such impeachment"
The amendment was agreed 10 after further
discussion.
Mr.. Hendricks moved to Axnend the second
article by striking on, the whrds ..grand in
guest of the nation" and insert House OF
Representative" Agreed TO.
Mr.. Drake moved to strike out the provision
IN the seventh section, authorizing the presiding
officer TO decide incidental questions, unless Il
formal v.te of the court be called for.
Mr.. Howard said the committee had inserted
the provision to save trouble aud delay; but he
now saw that difficulties migh arise from IL,
at some time in the future, that would antag-
onize them TO the chief judicial officer OF the
Government. He offered an amendment (which
Mr.. Drake accepted,) providing for submission
by the presiding officer OF all incidental ques-
tions to the Senate, 20 be decided, if demanded
by one-siXth OF the members, by yeas and nays.
The amendment WAS adopted-yeas 81, nays Z.
Dir. Ferry moved to amend by striking out in
various sections the words ssHigh Court Of I'm
peachment' and other language conveying the
implication that the Senate changed its charac-
ter in the trial.
The amendment was agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Drake, the provision in the
twenty fourth article for administering the
same oath TO the presiding officer as to the Sen
The rules Were then passed finally. and, at
l:f5 the Senate adjourned.
HoUsE.-Yesterday. after our report closed
The discussion on the Impeachment articles
continued, Messrs. Ferriss, Miller, koontz,
Perham, Raum, Kelly and Ashley of Nevada
advocating Impeachment and Messrs. Axtell
and Hubbard of Connecticut opposing il.
Mr.. Stevens, PAL sitting at the Clerks
desk, then proceeded to address the committee.
the members having collected in the area in
front of him. He said: Never was a great
malefactor so gently treated a. Andrew John
ha "a tSauKa m rxxrsll Lin ~
the records of this country by weighing his
crimes with their shame-shame for an endur-
ance for so long time of his great crimes and
misdemeanors. The committee have omitted
entirely his wicked abuse of the patronage of
the Government, his corruption of the voters
OF the nation by seducing them with the Offers
OF offices, and intmidating them by threats OF
expulsion. and for the purpose of making them
abandon their honest principles and adopt the
bastard policy which he had just conceiyed-a
crime more heinous than that which brought
many ancients TO the block. To this he was
prompted by the same motive which made the
angels fall
Mr. Stevens proceeded TO review the various
acts of the President since the death of Mr.
Lincoln, saying that Impeachment can reach
only to the removal from office. and an With ne
beyond what will effect that purpose being un-
nj cessary, may be looked upon As wanton cru
city. Hence the tender mercies OF this commit
tee have rested only on the most trif1ing crimes
and misdemeanors which they could selec. from
the official life Of Andrew Johnson" Mr.. Ste
vens then discussed the articles of impeach-
inen;, aiI ee:. SO BY some apaceountable mis-
understanding, the article which ! hold in my
hand, and which We may call one and salf
has been dropped out, for do not find il in the
articles IN distinct language. propose to offer
II as an amendment. 1t is that on the 18th of
August, during The recess OF Congress, Andrew
johnson, President of the United States, did sus-
pend from office Edw. M Stanton. and that while
the Senate was considering the suficiency OF
the reasons reported, Andrew johnson formed
deliberate design and determination to pre-
vent the said Stanton from s.forthwith resu-
ming the duties OF his Office" thereby commit
ting high misdemeanor in office; and that when
he was defeated in accomplishing his design by
the integrity and fidelity OF the Secretary az
interim, he sought to arrive at the same end by
giving q letter Of authority TO one Lorenzo
Thomas. AdIutant General of the army. to act
AS Secretary of War ad INTERIM. and severely
censured the former Secretary od interim for
not yielding to his efforts to make him betray
his trusts.
This charge, said Mr.. Stevens, is nowhere
contained in the articles reported by the COM
mittee, and unless II be inserted there can be
no Il ial on it, If there be shrewd LAWYERS. as
know there will be, and caviling ridges, and
If. without that article, they do not acquit
him, they are gTeener than ever i when 4
commenced TO practice at the Court OF q uarter
Sessions. Ii that article be inserted the Presi-
dents own letters show both the removal and
the attempt to defeat the reinsatemnnt: and
although the Senate should decide the other
charges in his favor, how could he or has coun-
sci hope to escape from this one-and NJ AZ