Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-04-16
THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
Conclusion of Yesterdays Proceedings

In the Senate yesterday
After recess, Mr.. Butler said at the time the /
recess was taken he was about directing to GER.
tam papers from the Navy Deparmene pro-
After some debate. Mr.. Manager Boutwell,
said the papers, he had hastily read them, re-
lated TO the names of officers and navy agents
whose terms of Office were provided for IN the
act of 1921 making them removable at pleas ure.
The facts in reference to these officers did not
affect the issue in this in the least and il Is
but a waste of time to admit such papers.
Mr.. Curtis said this objection was to the merit
Of the case. The counsel had understood that
the managers maintained that even If Mr..
stanton did not come under the tenure of office
law, the President had no right to remove him
while the Senate was in session; and counsel
therefore produced this evidence TO show IT was
the practice TO make removals while the Senate
vas in session. II the managers conceded this
point, then counsel would not seek to offer this
in evidence.
The Senate then agreed to receive the evil
dence-yeas sc. nays Is. %
Mr.. Curtis said there was another document
from the Navy department. giving a list of
civil officers appointed under the statute of
May, 1870, removable at pleasure, and who
were removed before their four years terms
had expired.
No objection being made this document was
Mr.. Curtis next submitted documents from
the Department of State, giving the heads of
departments who have been removed both
during the sessions of the Senate and during
the recess, as the exigencies of the government
required. 1t differed from that submitted by
the Managers. which only gave the removals
during the session.
The Chief Justice decided that the evidence
was admissible.
Mr.. Curtis then asked to submit papers from
the Post Office Department, showing the re-
mOyal of postmasters during the session of the
Senate and adj interim appointments which had
been made.
Mr.. Curtis next submitted the message of
President Buchanan to the Senate in answer
to the resolution of inquiry from that body
to the appointment of a Secretary of War in the
of Mr.. Floyd, citing precedents for his action.
After debate, the Chief Justice put the ques-
ton to the Senate, and il was decided to receive
the message IN evidence.
The message was then read by the clerk.
DIR. Curtis said they now desired to put in an
order TO the proper officer TO procure the record
of the beginning and end of each session of the
Senate, so that il could be seen whether these
appolntn e Its came within or without the ses-
sion of the Senate
Mr. Curtis further sta ed that, as they under
stood it, the counsel had now completed their
documentary evidence.
On motion Of Senator Johnson, the court then
adjourned.
The Senate was then called to order for legs-
On motion of Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine, the bill
to defray the expenses of the Impeachment trial
was taken up. 1t appropriates as follows: For
expenses attending the trial of Andrew John
son, $1,000; for miscellaneous items, S50,0O0;
for deficiency IN pay of Capitol police, SI, 900;
for additional messengers, Sl50OO; for hydra
ton OF the Senate chamber. -S}.GUO; Tor station
cry, $1,000 for furniture and repairs, 5000;
clerks TO committees, horses and carryalls,
/ S15,UCO. Total, Sl22, Op.
Mr.. Hendricks was opposed to putting the
immense sum of S5O,01O in the hands of the
SECRETARY of the Senate for miscellaneous
items.
Mr.. Cragin said this sum was not under the
control of the Secretary. This item of miscel-
ianeous expenditure was very large one; it
! covered a multitude of items, including per-
/ sonal expenses, and out of this head came all
! The expenses of witnesses, &c, in the case of
/ Thomas, of Maryland.
Mr.. BUckalew moved to reduce the item for
/ miscellaneous" to Si00OJ.
Mr.. Cameron said there had been considera-
! BILE talk of defalcation in the accounts of the
Secretary of the Senate, to the amount of
/ $4,000, and the defaulter was said to be the
clerk ha 4 been dismissed and he (Mr. Came
ROM understood that this clerk complained
l that he had been treated unJustly. He also I'M
| derstood that there was a difficulty between the
/ Secretary and the Srrgeant-at-Arms, and he
wanted this thing settled. He was disposed to
! believe every man honest, out he wanted to be
assured of it. He wanted to See the books of
| the Senate for the last ten years balanced, to
! see how the accounts did stand.
Mr.. Cragin said the Secretary of the Senate
! had No control, as he understood it, over the
/ money of the Senate. and no power to commit
/ fraud The Sergeant-at-Arms was the dsburs-
ing officer of the Senate.
Mr. Hendricks asked for an explanation of
the alleged defalcation of the finan cial clerk,
/ (Mr. Wagner
MI Cragin said last fall it was discovered
| that defalcation of S40O00 existed in the ac-
| counts by MIR. Eorney. Mr.. Forney called in
| Mr.. Wagner and after a short time Mr.. Wagner
| confessed he had used il for his own purposes
| He then surrendered all the property he had,
| and MIR. Forney went on to Philadelphia and
raised the $1,000 and deposited il in the treas
ury, so that the Government should lose moth.
I ing by II.
After further debate, the question was taken
| on the amendment of Mr.. Buckalew, when
| it was disagreed TO, and the bill then
| passed.
! Mr.. Cameron then moved that the committee
| on the contingent expenses be directed to in
! quire into and report upon the condition of the
/ accounts of the secretary.
Mr.. Buckalew said that while the accounts
I and conduct of their secretary were being in
quired into, he would suggest TO his colleague
/ also TO include in his motion an inquiry into
the conduct OF the secretary clerk of the
court of impeachment in daily preludgiug tina
case in the journals under his control, anc
whether such conduct is becoming.
Mr. Cameron said he must stick TO his orig
nal N otiOn now, but after awhile he would u
with his colleague on the other point.
The motion of Mr.. Cameron was then adopt
ed.
The Senate then adjourned.