Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-03-25
Progress of Impeachment.

Chamber, so far as the Court and specta tors
were concerned, was much as on the last as
sembling Of the Court There was great
rush for tickets, and the ladies made gay
exhibition Of silks, laces, diamonds, fans and
parasols. At 2.45, P NJ, the Secretary OF
the Senate was directed to notify the mana
gers that the Court was ready to proceed with
the case, and thereupon the managers APP
peared at1the bar of the Senate. A majority
OF the House were also present The account,
which we take from the Boston Journal con-
tinues as follows
Messrs Stanbery, Evarts, Nelson and
Curtis, of the Presidents counsel, came in
and took seats around the table ut the right
OF the Chief Justice, Mr.. Stanberry occupy
ing the head Mr.. Grosbcck takes the place
of MIR. Black, who is not present. Mr. Doc
little, who had not heretofore been present
10 take the oath, was called to the bar. and
the oath was administered to him by the
Chief Justice. Secretary Forney then read
the journal of the last court.
The galleries by this time were fully occu-
pied 1t was noticed that a few colorcd peo-
pie of both sexes were sprinkled here and
there throughout the audience. The diplo-
matte gallery was also full. The reading OF
the journal occupied fifteen minutes, during
which the managers and the President S
counsel paid the most studied attention.
When the reading finished Mr.. Davis
arose and offered a resolution in writing tc
the effect that part of the states were
not represented, a court for the trial of i'm
parchment could not be legally organized
until all the states were represented.
Mr.. Howard thought the resolution not in
order.
Mr.. CONFESS moved that the paper be not
received, upon which he called for the yeas
and navs
Mr.. Howe thought the resolution of Mr.
Davis purely in order.
y vote by yeas and nays was then taken or
receiving Mr.. Davis resolution, resulting
yeas ,, nays 40. The yeas being Messrs
McCreery and Davis himself.
STATEMENT BY MR.. sTANBERY.
Mr.. Stanbery then arose, and addressing
the presiding officer as g Mr. Chief Justice, >
proceeded to say that the Presidents counse
was ready to answer that every moment oil
time had been occupied, but they had not
had sufficient time, but such as their answer
was they would present it.
Mr.. Curtis then rose and read from a volu-
minous manuscript substantially as follows
THE ANSWER OF ANDREW JOHNSON TO THE ARTI
Giles OF IMPEACHMENT.
In answer to the first article respondent
says that Secretary Stanton was appointed
by Abraham Lincoln and was permitted by
the law of the United States To hold office al
pleasure of the President. By act of 1888
it enacted that said Secretary shall per
form such duties as shall be assigned him by
the President, and that he shall conduct his
business in such manner as the President
from time to time may direct.
Respondent further answers that in accord
ance with the practice of each and every
President of the United States said Stanton
became his adviser and snhnrdinata and thai
he succeeded to the Office Of President BY
reason Of the death of Mr.. Lincoln. and sale
Stanton held his commission under President
Lincoln and at no time received any appoint
ment or comm ission from respondent, save
in mere matters of detail. He further an
swers that on or about August 9Th, 1867. he
became convinced that he could not suffer
Mr.. Stanton to hold Office without detriment
to the public interest, and thereupon by the
force of the constitution and laws of th'
United States and by virtue of the power anC
authority vested in him by the constitution
and laws, did send him letter asking hin
to res ign.
The answer then recites the correspond
ence ich followed. and that the Presidcn
| looked up authorities from the first to tn,
Thirty-N Ninth Congress, and found that h
had the power to remove any of his Execu
tive officers.
His Cabinet officers also agreed that Ia
had the power of removal and he therefor
| determined to relieve Mr.. Stanton, sendin!
| his reasons to the Senate in accordance will
| the tenure of Office law.
| The history of the War Department i'm
! J., !,
action of the Senate and Gen. Grants con
nsction at considerable length. He ais
stated that he had desired to get judicia
decision on the constitutionality of tn
Civil Tenure law.
As to the ninth article the President de
MES that he said anything TO Gen. Emor,
Indicating an intention Of disobeying TIL
law requiring the President to transmit OF
ders through the General of the armies. III
denies, also, as to the tenth article, that an,
correct report of his speeches While yisitin
the grave of Douglas would show sal
speeches to be unbecOming his Office, or
high crime and misdemeanor and hi
answer to the eleventh article also dene
that his speech to the delegation from tn
Philadelphia, arm-in arm convention consti
! tutes any valid ground for impeachment.
After the answer had been read, Mr. Evart
asked more time, and in the debate betwee
the lawyers, which ensued, he the cham
pion of the President, and a powerful chan
pion he was. His pale, earnest student-lik
face lit up as his arguments were presented
and he made some of his points with grea
force. although some of his sentences wer
too complicated, and were weakened by owe
explanation and qualification.
General Logan opposed delay in behalf {
the Managers, with less impetuosity than
used to display in action, and than he gene
ally displays in debate, but he soon tire
off his reserve and poured in a few rounds
rhetorical shot among Johuson's counse
which did execution
Ex-Attorney General Stanbery did his bet
for his client, but leaden weight appeare
to keep his spirits down, and he spoke as OF
seeking delay merely to avert the sentence
guilty which he knows must be pronount
sooner or later.
The remarks of Mr.. Wilson the part
the Manage were much to the point an
well expressed and Mr.. Bingham showere
forth flood of solid patriotic eloquence whic
, carried conviction with it as he urged tn;
the great criminal be made to answer for tt
wrongs which he had committed against 8
, outrag ed and betrayed people.
Mr.. Howard attempted to have the Pres
: dents counsel's application for thirty day
DELAY laid on the table, but a vote was take
: on it and it was defeated by II ayes and !
nays.
Mr.. Evarts then threw himself and his a
sociates on the mercy of the Senate for mo-
time, and Reverdy johnson moved to graz
| them ten days. Before a vote could be take
: on this proposition the Senate adjourned as
e Court until tomorrow at one o'clock.
t 1t is thought the Senate will not give tt
President more than weel e delay. Jud,
. Black has notified the President that he wit
D draws as his counsel in the impeaohmel
z trial. The reason for this is we'll understot
to be that he cannot agree with Mr.. Johnse