Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-04-30
THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL,

THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
WASHINGTON, April 2o.-The House proceeded
10 the Court of impeachment The managers m
troduced documentary evidence. Biodgetfs N m
answer. Evarts objected, as Blodgett Was not ON
trial here. Butler proceeded to state orally what
be intended to prove Chase ordered it reduced
to writing. Butler protested, Chase persisted,
and Butler is now writing. ----------------
The Senate refused to admit Blodgett's papers.
Butler, appealing for Blodgett, said he had never
been able to get his case before the Senate. Jus,
tice should be done him now. Blodgett was only
captain of rebel militia company, and an unwil-
ling captain, Blodgett would swear. Blodgett was
known in Augusta he was elected by his neigh
bors to make constitution for Georgia He was
made Mayor Of Augusta by Pope Butler did not
doubt that when Georgia was admitted, Blodgett
would take his seat here with the proudest Of Us.
Butler then offered the nomination of Sherman
and Thomas for the brevet general-ship, claiming
that it was admissible under the tenth article The
Senate refused by vote of fourteen to thirty-fve
Both parties announced the evidence closed. -
Chase ordered the prosecution to proceed with the
Boutwell,, not being ready, asked an
to Tuesday. The defence asked UNI
til Wednesday, in view of Stanberrys sickness.
Boutwell, seconded the request, and after hearing
and rejecting an appeal from Logan to PRINT his
argument the court adjourned to Wednesday,
WAsHrNeroN, April 2l.-The pressure upon
uncommitted senators to induce them to convict
the President is tremendous, and comes from all
quarters. The apprehensions Of the Pesidents
friends are increasing. 4.,r -..5cs-...-,. :.
WASHINGTON, April 22.-In the High Court Of
Impeachment this morning resolutions were passed
allowing unlimited speeches, oral and written, by
the managers and counsel for the defence These
speeches will probably prolong the trial Ten days.
The gallery is crammed, and Boutwell, is about
commencing. ....-,-,, -
full whether Stanberry will be able to take any fur
ther part in the trial Groesbeck will follow Bout
we'll -J @ aa .,a lri.Er. tu ...&aa1.i,',
When the Senate adjourned, Boutwell, was on
the thirty-second page Of his ffty-page speech. "a
The resolution adopted by the Senate this morn,
ing provides that as many of the managers and
counsel for the President as desire to do 30 be per-
mitted to file arguments or to address the Senate
orally. : .1T5'E, 5 o. s,...l - Z. I'D.
Mr.. Boutwell,, in opening, said that the Chief
Magistrate of the principal, republic Of the world
was on trial, not for the purpose of punishment,
but for the safety of the State The issue between
the President and the representatives were tech
nical and imited-namely, whether the former
had violated the constitution and the laws in re-
moving Stanton and appointing Thomas; H.
maintained that the sovereignty rested with the
people who vested it IN Congress; whereas the
executive and judiciary are denied oil discretionare
or implied power. Congress can adapt the ady
ministraton to the condition Of the national life!
whereas the President must administer the law q;
he finds it, without questioning the legislative wss
ha
ing the constitutionality of the law, and ne can
neither plead nor prove good motives for nulhfyng
it. The President having violated the law, the
Senate can enter into no inquiry as to its constu
tionality. He denied that the President desired
to bring the question before the courts His real
object was to seize the Offices of the government,
and by their influence to reconstruct the Union In
the interest of the rebellious States No criminal
had ever been arraigned who offered q more un.
satisfactory excuse for his crime. Stanton's sus-
pension and Grants appointment, was an acknow.
Judgement of the legality of the Tenure-ofoflce
law, behind which the President could not 90. The
subsequent effort to remove Stanton was unau.
thorized by the Constitution and yioatve OF the
the Presidents oath of Office. This required q
verdict of guilty under the first article The Cabi,
net advice was no excuse. 1t was the advice 0l
servants to their masters. yjf.ns.@ @.,&n : =
Boutwell, then discussed the constitution and the
practice of removals, closing his argument with
the assertion that none of the predecessors of Mr.
johnson, from General Washington to Mr.. Lin
coin, had ever claimed the power to remove eiyi
officer during session of the Senate, without it,
consent. He also argued that the Tenure-o Office
act was constitutional, and covered Stantons case
He said the President seems to have been undel
the influence of criminal purpose to destroy Gran
as well as remove Stanton, and attempted to carry
out his purpose by various and traitorous methods
attempting to seduce Generals Thomas and Sher
man. There is no reason, he said, to suppose thai
the present Secretary of the Treasury. would moi
yield to any scheme johnson might undertake.
He then reviewed the President 8 reconstruction
policy, and said: 'The House has brought thu
criminal to your bar upon the conviction that the
country was in peril, and with equal confidence in
his guilt and it is in your disposition to administer
exact justice between him and the people of the
United States. His conviction is the triumph oi
law, of order and of justice. | do not, for mo
ment, contemplate an acquittal. 1t is impossible.
Therefore, do not look beyond. But, senator's,
the people of America will never permit an usurp-
ing executive to break down the securities for lib
erty provided by the constitution. The cause OF
the country is in your hands. Your verdict Of
guilty is peace to our beloved land
WASHINGTON, April 23-The high Court re-
at eleven A. NJ, and Mr.. Boutwell, con-
cluded his speech. Thomas A.. R. Nelson, Of
counsel for the President then made an extempore
He alluded to the magnitude of the
occasion, and feared lack of ability on his part
properly to treat it. The managers charged john
son with an evil nature and wickedness, have char
acterized him as everything, from political Grim
inaI to a common scoid.. Nelson gave the Presi-
dent biography in refutation of these aspersions.
He felt that he was not addressing senator's as
politicians, but as judges who would rise above
prejudice OF party, and was confident that outside
pressure would be Indignantly repelled. Ii he be-
lieved conviction foregone conclusion, humble as
he was, he would scorn to address them. Nelson
cited the resolutions offered by the President and
adopted by Congress Immediately after the Bull
Run disaster, declaring the purposes of the war,
which ordinance was still unrepealed. To these
resolutions johnson was faithful. Lincoln policy
after Lees surrender was based upon those resolu-
tions, which johnson had faithfully carried out
Congress claimed power in the reconstruction acts
by implication. The President had right to his
own opinion, and honesty and integrity of motive
must be presumed in such case Nelson claimed
that Congress had justified the President policy
in the primary recognition of Virginia. He also
argued the judicial character of the Senate and de-
nounced the claims of the managers that the Sen
ate was law unto itself and could convict on COM
mon fame, as dangerous to the country. In clos
ing, he denounced, as grossly improper, the mana:
gers cry that the people demanded conviction, and
that the public pulse beat 6tfully while it was de-
layed. ,.....
The court then adjourned.
WASHINGTON, April 24.-The court meets here
after at noon. Mr.. Edmunds moved that the SEN
atorial speeches on the final vote be published by
the official reporters. Sumner objected and the
motion goes over. Mr.. Nelson resumed his arQu-