The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-03-19
The People Excluded from the Forum Of
Trial---The President to be Preoipitated
into his Defence, and to be Judged Behind
his Rack

Trial---The President to be Preoipitated
into his Defence, and to be Judged Behind
his Back.
Under the name of consultation of
Judges, the trial of President Johnson is be-
gun by a secret debate of over two hours.
Various imposing ceremonies and high pro-
fessional ceremonies are to be observed. and
then the senate are to retire to secret cham
ber-i. G., then the sovereign people are to
be expelled from the scene, and the real
business is to be opened. There, in con-
clave, senators are to array evidence, quote
law, expound principles. argue, and decide
in word, there, in the absence Of the ac-
cused or his counsel; beyond the eye or
ear of the people, the real trial is to go on.
Was it thus that Verres himself was tried
in turbulent Rome? Was Cicero permitted
to declaim against him in secret? Was ever
any man so tried since the Star Chamber
blackened the fame of England or even
before that time?
This is odious. It is unprecedented. 1t
contradicts all American education. 1t in
suits the people in point on which, of all
others in the world, they are jealous. This
trial must be public, open, free, and plain in
all its substance. 1t is personal acknowl-
edgment Of guilty motive in the bosom of
every senator who favors this clandestine
prosecution, whether his motive be guilty or
not. Secrecy in case of petty larcency
would astonish and alarm the community,
should it occur in our ordinary courts. But
secrecy in a trial more transcendent IN Its
public significance than any ever held, a
trial in which every citizen, however remote
from the capital, has On immediate personal
interest, and al indefeasible and sacred right
to see and hear for himself, is intolerably
novel, and must be abandoned, if senator:
hope TO escape everlasting disgrace. The
guiltiest and bloodiest tyrant ever deposed
| might claim and be allowed by this people
public trial.
1t is in vain to say that such clandestine
, proceedings are to be considered as the act
Of Judges comforting together. 1t was moi
thus that courts of multitude have ever con
ferred. The Ephori, the Archons of the
| Arcopagus, the Amphyctionic council did no
| consult in secret. They would not have
dared to insult even an Athenian rabble by
presuming, with all their wisdom and learn
ing, to effect their objects out of sight of the
people. The House of Lords, not only IL
| Impeachment, but in miscellaneous cases a
law, is the highest court in the kingdom
Do they retire to dingy chamber, loch
l tuelE OOtFS, piaSf poiiSc oAo
then proceed to review evidence, cite auth
critics, engage in forensic discussion, and
| prepare Judgment, all in the absence of the
parties or their counsel?
But is it not sufficiently monstrous TO cut
down the time within which to make answer
in such case from forty days to one-fourth
that period A ehaneery suit to wind up a
partnership candy store conld not be thus
hurried. Let the motive for this haste be
given. What is it? Why hurry so? The
President, on the professional honor of sew
eral of the ablest lawyers and most exalted
gentlemen Of the country, publicly pledged
the need of forty days to make answer. Will
the accusers judge for the accused how long
| time he needs This they could not pretend
What then? The alternative is, that his
counsel - Henry Stanbery, William NJ
Eyarts, jeremiah S. Black, Benjamin r
Curtis, Thomas A r. Nelson-are incom-
petent or dishonest. Which of the impeach
ers will say that? But they must say that
or say that they are to take the place Of
these counsel. and judge for them what time
is requisite for their pleadings.
This is the true spirit of it. The trial is
not to be a fair one, The counsel are to be
hampered. hurried, and snubbed in public,
and the real discussions are to be in secret,
out of their presence, and hidden as dark
ness from the people.
So much for the first day of the impeach
ment moekery.-Natio,aalI Intelligence, 4th