New-York tribune., 1868-03-03
WASHINGTON.


n,1s sTRvENs-MR. BUTLERS REMARKABLE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF FIMPEACHMENI-
THE COURT TO SET on WkDNESDAl-IllL
PRESIDENTS QUO wARRANTo-IlIE WAR or
kICE-ALABAMA-NEw-Yo Posr-oFIICE-
WHISKY AND ORDNANCE FRAUDs-TOBACCO
TAX-NINTH KENTUCKY DISTRlCF-lHE fhi'9-
IDENTs VISITORS.
~ rELEeRAPs TRiBVSE
WASHINGTON Monday, March q 1888
The Senate spent the entire day in discussing the
rples N govern the High Court Of impeachment
Five hours we're consumed upon the 2Oth rule when
restricts all arguments or preliminary OF lhterlocu
tory questions 10 one person and speech oi ono
hour. Attempts were made TO stllke out TINS l'no
altogether also to amend It. by extending the time
10 two hours but majority of the Senate kept II
as reported In the course of speech on the subject
Senator Dixon said il should be remembered lhaC
This would he the greatest and most important trla
in HISTORY. Upon which he was interrupted by Sen
ator Howard and several other Senators, VINO
said "Oh. not at all not at ALL senator
Dixon wished to amend the 2lst rule so
"a to allow the defcuse TO close the
argument but the Senate voted him down. senator
Sherman raised the point on the 22d rule that inc
Chief Justice as President of the Court, "ould nave
n vote on the final verdict but this view was hot
conquered in by any other Senator Senator IloN"Iu
vary earnestly repelled IT, lie cited pceedents III
position showing that the Lord Chancellor or Loiu
iiob steward presiding oyer impeachment ulal
An tho IIouse of Lords had no vote By virtue ol hs
or,sidency The question raised by Senator sherman
was not settled it being thought best to let 1t be de-
termincd by the Court while in session. The rules
were finally adopted, and the Senate adjourned at
IL o'clock.
On Wednesday the Senate will resolve itself into
High Court of Impeachment, and Immediately sum
mon Mr. johnson to appear and answer The chaIgeS
preferred against him. There is some speculation
nnon the time that the Court will allow Mr.. Johnson
10 prepare for the trial The general impression IS
that he will get from ten to twenty days to arrange
his defense. Meantime the two Houses VIII proceed
with their regular legislative business
The House was IN session to-day eight Successive
hours and finally finished the preparations for the
Impeachment of Mr. johnson. From 10 o'clock IN
the morning until in the afternoon was consumed
in debate, or rather in speeehmakng. Each speaker
was limited TO 10 inmates, but several not wishing
to persecute the galleries. sought leave TO print their
speeches, without being compelled 10 deliver them
Cen Garfield opened the proceedings IN strong ar
gument in denunciation of Mr. JOhnsons usurpa-
lions Mr. Lawrence Of Pennsylvania followed, argu-
ing in favor of immediate impeachment. lle is one
of the most conservative OF the Republican members
and his speech to-day is held to be indicative OF the
result Of impeachment Mr.. Niblack was the next
speaker He is strong among his Democratic broth
rem but his speech to-day was simply charging that
the Tenure-of Office bill is unconstitutional and that
everything that Mr. johnson had done was cOnstitu-
tOnal Able aud pointed speeches were made by
Hamilton Ward, Gen. Paine Messrs. Pike, Lough-
ridge, CullOm Lynch, Mccarthy and Others. all
taking strong ground for the immediate impeach-
nent of the President. Mr.. Stevens at p o'clock
rose to speak. He sat at the clerks desk and read
his speech; but he was feeble that scarcely word
could be heard IN the galleries. Having been gwen
Ahalf hour he closed the debate. When hehad finished
Mr.. Jenckes proposed a article against MI
johnson, which was adopted without trouble. Mr.
Butler then made an attempt TO introduce an sdd
tionAl article but failed His article was objected
TO. principally the statement Of Mr. Wilson OF the
Judiciary Committee who opposed it because II pro-
posed to 90 outside the direct issue and would tend
to open up the whole case Of the FIRST attempt at i'm
peachment Of Mr. johnson. Several OF the Democrats
voted with Afr. Butler on his amendment. few
verbal amendments were made and when
the the time for vote came the Democrats
tried to delay matters, but failed and consOled
themselves by calling for the yeas and nays the
adoption of each article. This was very tiresome;
but before the sun went down the whole 10 articles
had been adopted Although Mr.. Jenckes's addi
tional article was agreed to, the number is still 10
s the original seventh article stricken out The
seven managers agreed upon in caucus were then
balloted for and elected. Tomorrow these manager:
viii present the articles Of Impeachment to the Sen
ate, and then organize themselves for the work be-
fore them.
The Senate Military Committee considered thC
nomination of Mr.. Ewing, to-day, as Secretary OF
War, but determined to take no action on it until
after the impeachment question is settled. No nomi
nations of any kind to be considered until after
that event.
The Committee Of Ways and Means meet daily,
and are endeayoring to devise some means whereby
the tax on spirits can be collected. A vast number
of plans have been presented but all that have been
examined so far are found defective. The probabili-
ties are that further investigation will yet induce
che Committee to reverse the vote Of last week and
Gx the tax at IS cents per gallon. The continued
steady decrease in revenue from spirits, which is
now over one-hah less than in the corresponding
months of last year, necessitates some prompt
remedy
The WAYS and Means Committee to-day decided to
retain the present tax on tobacco They determined.
however, to recommend change in the system Of
collection substituting stamps for branding. The
Income Tax was also talked over and the general
sentiment of the Committee seems opposed 20 any
alteration.
The admission Of Alabama was under discussion
to-day in the Reconstruction Committee but no con-
eluson was reached. The delegation from that State
presented some statements ON that subject but they
not sufficiently important 70 influence the ma
SOrity of the Committee, who are opposed to any
special legislation for the restoration of the State
The question is to be resumed al the next meeting Of
the Committee.
The Hoose Committee of Post-O Offices and Post
Roads viii hold q special meeting tomorrow to con-
slider the project for new Post-Ohce buildinQ in