The Portland daily press., 1868-05-12
XLth CONGRESSES Second Sess; on.
The Impeachment Trial.
SENATE.


WASHINGTON, May lin secret session this
morning the Chief Justice arose and addressed
the Senate, as follows:
Senators In conformity with what seemed
to be the general wish of the Senate when it
adjourned last Thurs lay, the Chief Justice, in
taking the vote on the articles of impeach-
ment will adopt the rules sanctioned in the case
of Chase, Peck and Humphrey. He will d.
rect the Secretary to read the several articles
successfully, and after the reading OF each ar
tcle will put the question of guilty or not
guilty." each Senator rising in his place in
the form used in the case of Judge Chase
"Senator -, how say you, is the respondent
Andrew johnson, President of the United
States, guilty or not guilty OF nigh msde-
meanor as charged in this article?" In put
ting the question on articles four and six, each
of which charges a crime, the word crime"
will be substituted for the word "misdemean-
or" The Chief Justice has carefully consld-
cred the suggestion of the Senator from Ind-
ana Mr. Hendricks) which appeared to meet
the approval of the Senate. that in taking the
vote on the eleventh article the question should
be put on each clause and found himself una
ble 10 divide the article as suggested. The ar
ticle charges several facts, but they are so con-
nected that they make but one allegation, and
they are charges as making one misdemeanor
The first fact charged is in subs lance that the
President publicly declared in August, 1866
that the 18th Congress was a Congress OF only
part of the States. and not constitutional
Congress, intending thereby to DENY its con-
stituional competency to enact laws or pro-
pose amendments to the Constitution, and this
charge seems to have been made as introduce
tory and as qualifying that which follows,
namely, that the President, in pursuance of
this declaration, attempted to prevent the ex-
ecution of the tenure of Office act by contriv-
ing, and attempting to contrive, means to pre-
vent Mr.. Stanton from resuming the functions
of Secretary of War after the refusal of the
Senate to concur in his suspension, and also
bv coDtriving and attempting to contrive
means to prevent the execution of the appro-
priation act of March 2, 1867, and also to pre-
vent the execution of the rebel State Govern
ment act of the same date The grammar of
the article seems to be that the President at
tempted to defeat Ike execution OF the tenure
of Office act and that he did this in pursuance
of a declaration which was intended to deny
the constitutional competency OF Congress 10
enact laws or propose constitutional dliend
ments, and by contriving means to prevent MT.
stanton from resuming his office OF Secretary,
and also to prevent the execution OF the appro-
prlauon act and the rebel States GoVernmenG
act. Inc single SUBSTANTIVE matter charged IS
the attempt to prevent the execution OF the
tenure OF once act and the other facts alleged
as Introductory, and exhibiting this general
purpose, to wit, showing the means cont ived
in furtherance of that attempt. This single
matter, connected with other matters as sub
sequently alleged, is charged as the high mis-
demeanor of which the President is aIleoed Ia
have been guilty. The general question aouiltv
or not guilty of high misdemeaDorsS as
charged seems fully to cover the charge and
will be put to this article as well as 10 the
Others to the Senate direct.
The mode of division in the tenth article
the division suggested by the Senator from
New York (NIr Conkline), may be more ex
plicity made. 1t contains a more general al
legation, to the effect that on the 23th day o
August the President with the intention t,
set aside the rightful authority of Congress
and bring it into contempt, delivered certain
scandalous harangues, and therein uttere'
threats and bitter menace against Congress
and the laws of the United States enacted b.
Congress, by bringing the Office of Presiden
into disgrace to the great scandal of all goo,
citizens, and sets forth in three distinct speci