The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-27
THE IMPEACHMENTTRIAL.
FULL AND INTERESTING DETAILS OF THE
PROCEEDINGS ON MONDAY.
THE PRESIDENTS ANSWER.
THE DISCUSSION OF THE QUESTION OF GRANT
ING THE PRESIDENT TINE.

Monday was the day appointed for the Presi
dent to make his formal answer to the clever
articles of impeachment. During the hou
preceding the assemblage Of the Senate th
galleries we're filled up by the holders of tick
cts of admission. There was the same pre-
ponderance of ladies as on former occasion,
fact speaking volumes for the gallantry o
members and the pertinacity of the sex. Th'
brilliancy Of the costumes lent an uuusua
charm to the scene, and so keen was the inter
est felt that very few brought books and maga
zines to while away the time, and thus for five
hours they sat, attentive, decorous and pleased
with the show.
At 1890 the President, Mr.. Wade, proposed
to begin making ready for the Impeachment
trial. Mr.. Trumbull and MIR. Edmunds, moi
having the same personal stimulus in the mat
ter, we're disposed to make haste more slowly
the latter sensibly remarking that the Chiei
Jsstice would not be present before one o'clock
and until then the trial could not proceed. Mr.
Wade, however, after getting the Senate into
some confusion, was allowed to have his OWL
way. and notice was sent to the House that
the Senate was ready. In the meantime the
Senate had filled up, and nearly every one
seemed to be in his place. Three or four mem
bers of the House came in early and picked
out good seats. MIR. Stevens came in and took
his usual place at the managers table. Finally,
Mr. Wade gracefully vanishes from the chair,
and the Chief Justice-not $50 called" by the Re-
publican managers-takes the place. The
sergeant-at-arms goes through his customary
formula of ordering silence, and then enter,
duly and grandly announced, the managers, in
the same elaborate style Of procession as be-
fore.
The House of Representatives are next an
pounced, and come in with volume and effect,
filing off right and left to find seats. MIR. Col
fax comes up the main aisle to prominent
position, but his modesty is carefully cared for
by Messrs. Washburne and Schenck, who
thrust themselves forward into the most con-
spicuous positions. The Presidents counsel
are not formally announced. Usage does not
make it proper, and their great reputation
renders such step wholly unnecessary.
Messrs. Stanbery and Curtis are in place as
usual, and so is Mr.. Nelson, of Tennessee; but
to-day we see two new faces among Mr.. John
sons counsel. That slight figure, with the
pale, intellectual line of face, is Mr.. William
NJ. Evarts, of New York, one Of the foremost
legal minds Of the country. Near him is very
striking face indeed, that Of MIR. Groesbeck,
of Ohio, just added to the Presidents list Of
counsel. Judge Black is absent.
The serious business Of the day was opened
up by an order offered by Mr.. Davis to the ef-
feet that all the States we're not represented,
and that, there fore, the Senate could not sit
to try this cause. This led to good deal Of
feeling on the part OF MIR. Howard and others,
who wanted to exclude it's reception. This
last was overruled as dlsorderly, and then the
order rejected, only two voting afirmatively.
And now Judge Curtis rises, and, after
stating the very brief time that has been al
lowed the Presidents counsel in which to pre-
pare their answer, proceeds to read the formal
answer of the President to the arraignment Of
the House managers. The document was
necessarily long, but it was weighty, compact,
omitting all defamation and unnecessary
phraseology; and marching squarely up to the
points made by the eleven articles, and it WAS
clear throughout as sunbeam. The Senate,
generally, gave it very close attention, es-
pecially those who rank among the ablest of
the body.
TEE PRESIDENTS ANSWER.
The following is, in substance, the answer OF
the President to the articles Of impeachment
exhibited against him by the House Of Repre-
sentatives:
For answer to the first article he says that
Edwin NJ. Stanton vas appointed secretary for
the Department OF War on the 10TH DAY OF
President Of the United States, during the first
term Of his Presidency, and was commissioned
according to the Constitution and laws OF the
United States to hold the said Office during the
pleasure of the President; that the law Of 1883,
passed by the first Congress OF the United
States. creating the office Of Secretary OF War,
provides that he shall perform his duties ac-
cording to the second section of the second
article Of the constitution, in such manner as
the President shall, from time to time, order
and instruct, acting, according to uniform
practice, as one Of the Presidents advisers;
acting also for the President IN matters per-
tanning to the department, subordinate to the
President, who is made responsible by the
constitution and laws tor the conduct OF the
Secretary Of War. Further, that when by the
death OF Mr. Lincoln, April 10, lS5, the res
holding Office under the appointment
above mentioned, and not having been re-
moved from Office by the respondent, MIR: Stan
ton continued on at the pleasure OF the Prcsi-
dent, and at no time received any other ap-
pointment except as before stated. Further,
that on and prior to the 9TH OF August, 1861,
the respondent, President OF the United states,
responsible for Mr.. Stantons acts, BECAME sat
is6.d that he could not allow the said Stanton
to continue to hold the Office of Secretary of
the Department Of War without hazard OF the
public interests; that the relations between the
said Stanton and the President no longer per-
mitted the President to resort to hlm Tor ad-
vice, or to be in the judgment OF the President,
safely responsible for his conduct of the affairs
of the Department Of War, as by law required,
in accordance with the orders and instructions
of the President, that the respondent then
considered and determined that the said STAN
ton oucht no longer to hold the Office, and
nnotes the note to the Secretary, dated Aug
,ist 5th, 1867, requesting him to resign. also
the answer of Mr.. Stanton refusing to 40 SO,
ssfor public considerations Of high charac-
bis responsibility, then held that it was impos-
sible. consistent with public interests, to allow
MIR. Stanton to continue to hold the Office, and
Forthwith set alb ut to decide what acts we're
necessary to cause him to surrender the Office.
The respondent believes it to have been
practically settled by the first Congress, and
acted on in many cases by each Congress and
President from the first, that the power at any
and ali times of removing from Office all execu-
five officers for cause is to be judged OF by the
prasident alone. This RESPONDENT had, IN pur-