Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-03-25
The Impeachment Trial.

From various sources we compile the fol-
lowing in the resumption of impeachment pro-
ceedings yesterday At O'clock the House
repaired to the Senate chamber, and the Pres
idcnts counsel (Stanbcry, Curtis, Evarts, and
Grosbeck,) appeared and took their seats.
Judge Black was not present After the
reading of the Journal, Senator Davis, Of Ken
lucky. offered resolution that, as part of the
States were not represented, q court for the
trial Of impeachment could not be legally or
gained. Mr. Howard thought the resolution
not in order, aud Senator CONFESS moved that
it be not received Senator Howe thought it
strictly in order. The resolution was not re-
cciycd--yeas ,, nays 49-Mcs.rs Davis and
] McCrcery, of kentucky alone voting for It's
reception Mr., Stanbcry ;hon proceeded to
say that the Presidents counsel was ready to
make such answer as the best possible use of
their limited time enabled them to make. Ma
Curtis then read from q yolumnous manu-
script, substantially as follows f.
In answer to the first article respondent
says that Secretary Stanton was appointed by
Abraham Lincoln and was permitted Ivy til,
law Of the United States to hold Office at
pleasure of the President BY act of l7S9
it was enacted that said Secretary shall per.
form such duties as shall be assigned him by
the President and that he shall conduct hi,
business in such manner as the President
from time to time may direct
Respondent further answers that in accord
ancc with the practice of each and every
President of the United States said Stanton
became his adviser and subordinate, and thai
he succeeded to the office of President by rea
son of death Of Mr. Lincoln, and the said
Stanton held his commission under President
Lincoln and at no time received any appoint
ment or commission from respondent, save
in mere matters of detail He further an
swers that ON or about August ;, 1867, h,
became convinced that he could not suffer Mr.
Stanton to hold office without detrimcnt t,
the public interest, and thereupon by the force
of the Constitution and laws of the Unite,
States and by virtue of the power and author
laws, did send him y letter asking him to re
sign.
The answer then recites the correspondence,
: which followed and that the President locke,
up authorities form the First to the Thirty
Ninth Congress, and found that he had tn
= power to remove any Of his Executive officers
7 His Cabinet officers also agreed that he ha,
the power of removal, and he therefore de
termined to relieve Mr.. Stanton, sending hi
t reasons to the Senate in accordance with tn
= tenure of office law.
The history of the War Department i'm
: brogio was then rehcarsed together with tn
= action of the Senate and Gen. Grants cor
y nection at considerable length. He also state
5 that he had desired to get Judicial decisio
on the constitutionality of the Civil Tenur
t law.
The reading occupied one hour and hal
: At the conclusion, Mr.. Boutwell, announce
!. that the managers would have the replicatio
5 ready tomorrow at one O'Clock Mr. Evas
gave some reasons why more time should
granted the Presidents counsel, and ask
o. that they be allowed thirty days after the f
:" ing of the replication Gen. Logan and NJ
IF Wilson earnestly opposed the leave asked, d
e clarng it was the intention of the manage
a. to resist all applications for delay.