Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-03-14
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, March 13.
SENATE.

/
The Senator'S seats are arranged as be-
fore. In the open space in front of the
Presidents chair are two long tables, each
furnished with seven chairs. One OF the
tables is intended for the managers, and
the other for counsel. Back of the Sena-
tors seats, and filling the entire lobby, are
ABOUT two hundred chairs, intended Tor the
accommodation of members OF the House,
Judiciary, and others entitled to be present
on the floor.
! BY half-past eleven half of the Senators
had ranged themselves in little knots. dis
cussing the momentous business of the
day. 1t is noticeable that not single ne
gro is in the galleries. Everything is con-
Quoted with perfect order and decorum.
The CHAPLAIN invoked blessing
upon those now entering upon the high and
Important duty. s!ff3
A number of petitions were presented,
including one by Mr.. Morton, Of the work
ing men of Ohio, for the passage. of the
Eight Hour law. Referred to the commit
| tee on Commerce. ~ z.fstG g
| The bill to amend the Judiciary act of
| 'S9 came over from the House. signed, and
received the signature of the President pro
/ ten,. csuass4 ---- -..s.r - p.
The Senate insisted on its amendments to
| the consular appropriation bill, and ap-
pointed a a'committee of Conference.
/ At one O'clock. the morning hour having
/ expired, the Chief Justice took the chair
and the Sergeant-at-Arms made procla-
nation in the usual form. =
1.-The Secretary read the journal of the
last meeting of the court; large number
gers of impeachment, meanwhile standing
/ in file outside the open doors. G @G
| On motion of Mr.. HOWARD, an order
was made that the Sergeant-at- Arms notify
the. House that the Senate is organized as a
| Court of Impeachment, and ready to pro-
/ .-.stt y, 81 Of AID Toh
Immediately thereafter the managers and
members of the House took the seats pro-
vided for them, Mr.. Butler being absent.
The Senators who had not already done
so took the oath.
The return of the Sergeant-at-Arms OF
his service of summons on the President
On motion of Mr.. JOHNSON, the coun-
sci of the President were notified of the
commencement of proceedings, and MeSsrs.
Stanbery, Curtiss and Nelson took their
seats at the table on the right of the Chief
Justice and opposite the Managers, who
were seated on the left. Mr.. Butler, the
remaining Manager, came in, and shortly
after another ,deputation of the House en-
tered, headed by the Speaker, Washburne,
of Illinois, and McP Pherson, the Clerk of the
House, and ranged themselves behind the
/ bar. ft sc hs-Z.1f 7iTt
Mr.. STANBERY rose, and. addressing
the Chief Justice, read the answer of the
President, entering his appearance and
naming as his counsel Messrs. Stanbery,
/ Curtiss, Nelson, Black and Evarts, and
asking as a reasonable time for the prepa-
ration of his defence the period OF forty
days, citing various cases in which periods
as long in proportion to the magnitude of
the case had been granted. 4-c
| Mr.. BINGHAM, of the managers, con-
| tended that the Sth rule provided that on
the appearance of the Presidenthe was re-
quired to file his answer, and in case his
answer was moi filed the trial should pro-
ceed as on a plea of mot guilty" He
claimed, therefore, that the trial should
proceed forthwith. .s2 -saic iusi'A,5l
Mr.. CURTISS. in reply, referred to the
case of Judge Humphreys ard others, and
argued that the rule was susceptible of no
such construction as that put on it by Mr..
Bingham. = --T .sl fsia2-
| Mr.. WILSON followed, enlarging on the
same views as his colleague.
| Mr.. BUTLER asked to be heard on be-
half Of the managers, and asked why rail-
road speed should not be used on this trial.
He contended that the rules and precedents
OF ordinary courts were not applicable to
the trial. In ordinary trials no dan
gers resulted from delay. In this case
1 the necessity for pronpt action was
pressing. The respondent at the bar
controlled the power of the nation, and
/ might in any moment of passion and pre-
jjudice wrong use it for the injury and ruin
| Department would stop until the result
of this trial was reached. The pulse o. the
nation beats in perturbation while the trial
/ goes on. He claimed an early day should
be fixed for the defendants appearance, and
if then he can show that he had not had
time to prepare, grant him the indulgence
0t further time. We, on the part OF the
House OF Representatives, which we are
here representing. ask that the
rule adopted by the Senate for the
government of this case may be
enforced. 1t is for the Senate to say
whether the rule shall be sustained as rule
to govern the case, or whether it shall be
4 changed, but standing as rule at this time
/ we ask for its enforcement.
| Mr.. STANBERY expressed greater sur
Iprise than he before felt at this claim put
forward by the managers, and saying il
seemed to be the. disposition to hurry
4 Through this momentOus trial, as if it were
a case before a police court. He argued
from the wording of other rules, that the
appearance day was mot Intended to be the
dav for answering and trial He said
two of the Presidents counsel were
not present that no opportunity had been
offered for preparation of the defense ol
calling of witnesses, and that in the worst
days of the Star Chamber such an attemp
to hurry through trial had never beer
made. He spoke very warmly, saying
there seemedt . have been trap set for the
President and mis- counsel.
At the conclusion of his remarks, g
| The CHIEF. JUSTICE said the motion
would be argued for an hour, in accord
ance with the rules, when
Mr.. BINGHAM rose and said he hai
been greatly surprised at hearing the hasty
words which had been dropped from the
lips of his learned friend (Stanbery), ant
asserted the only rule which the Senate hat
made was to prevent a dilatory line OF de
tense. -l1 tn ao 5s,e5t
The CHIEF JUSTICE was about to pu
the question on Mr.. Stanbery's motion,
jwhen
1 Mr.. EDMUNDS offered an order tha
!, April 1st be the day appointed for the fill
ling of the Presidents answer; that within
three days thereafter the managers file th
,replication; and that on the 9Th of Apri
1.-THE trial proceed. :
On motion of Mr. MORTON, at o'clocl
/ the Senate retired for consultation
At 4:l0 the Senate returned to their cham
ber and the Court reassembled.
! The CHIEF FJUST1CEannounced that tn
1motion under consideration had been over
ruled, and an order was entered that tn
President be required to file his answer OF
Monday, the 23d of March. ,r,aL
Mr.. BINGHAM offered an order that Of
! the filing OF the replication of the Man
ayers, the trial proceed forthwith.
! The CHIEF JUSTICE submitted tn
order to the Senate, and on the question o
adoption the yeas and nays were taken, re
sulting in % in the affirmative and '26 in tn
negative So the order was denied.
| Mr. NELSON, of counsel, said he ha
. icome here expecting to hear no politics
/ discussion, and under the impression tina
/ the forms OF proceeding would be, purel
judicial in their character. but like the hon
lorable managers, he did not expect the
would be strictly limited by formal pre-
cedencee e. of ordinary tribunals. Fl