Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-12

10 meet tne approval OF the Seuatel
that in taking the vote on the eleventh
article the question should be put on each
clause. He found himself unSble to di-
vide the articles as suggested as the article
charges several facts, but they are so con-
nected that they make but one allegation
and they are charged as making one mis-
demeanor. The first fact charged is, in
substance, that the President publicly de-
clared in August, 1866, that the thirty
ninth Congress was Congress of only
part of the States, and not constitutional
Congress; intending thereby to deny its
constitutional competency to enact laws or
propose amendments to the Constitution, and
his charge seems to have been made as
Introductory, and as qualifying that which
follows, namely: That the President In
pursuance of this declaration attempted to
prevent the execution of the tenure of
Office act by contriving and attempting to
Contrive means to prevent NJ. Stanton
from assuming the functions of Secretary
of War after the refusal of the Senate TO
concur in his suspension, and also by con-
irving and attempting to contrive means
to prevent the execution of the appropria-
ton act Of March ID, 1867, and also to
prevent the execution of the Rebel State
government all of the same date. The
gravemen Of the article seems TO be that
the President attempted to defeat the exc
cution Of the tenure of office act, and that
he did this in pursuance of a declaration
which was intended TO invade the consti-
tutiOnal competency of Congress to enact
laws or proposed constitutional amend
ments, and by continuing means to prevent
Mr.. Stanton from resuming his Office OF
Secretary, and also to prevent the execu.
tion of the appropriation act and the
Rebel State government act. TIE
single substantial matter charged is the
attempt to prevent the execution of the
tenure of office act, and do other acts al
legged either as Introductory and exhibit
ing this general purpose, or showing the
means cOntriVed to Illustrate that attempt.
This single matter connected with the
other matters previously and subsequently,
alleged, is charged az high misdemeanor,
of which the President is alleged to have
been guilty. The general question, guilty
or not guilty of high misdemeanor az
charged, seems fully to cover the charge,
and will be put on this article as well as
others, to the Senate direct, in the same
mode OF division as in the tenth article.
The division suggested by the Senator
from New York, CIR. Conkling,) may be
more easily made, for it contains 4 more
general allegation, TO the effect that
on theillth day of August the President
with the intention to set aside the rightful
authority of COngress and bring it in con
tempt; delivered certain scandalous ha-
rangues, and therein uttered loud threats
and bitter names against Congress and the
laws Of the United States enacted by Con-
gress, thereby bringing the office Of Presi-
dent into disgrace to the great scandal of
all good citizens, and sets forth in three
distinct specifications the meAaces COM
planned of in respect to the three specifca-
tions, and then the question of guilty or
not guilty of 4 high misdemeanor, AZ
charged in the article, can also be taken.
The Chief Justice, however, sees the in
justice in putting the general question on
this article in the same manner as on the
others, for whether this particular question
be put on the specifications or not, the an
swers to the final question must be deter
termined by the judgment of the Senate,
whether the facts alleged in the speciti-
cations have been sufficiently proved,
and whether if sufficiently proved they
amount to a high misdemeanor within the
meaning of the Constitution. On the
whole, therefore, the Chief Justice thinks
the better practice would be to put the
general question on each article, without
attempting TO make any subdivision, and
will pursue this course if no objections are
made. He will, however, be pleased to con-
form to such directions as the Senate may
see titin this matter whereupon Mr.. Sum-
ner submitted the following order, con
sidered by unanimous consent and agreed
upon:
Ordered that the question be put as pro-
posed by the presiding officer Of the SEN
ate, and each Senator shall rise in his
place and answer guilty or not guilty.
On motion of Mr.. Sumner the Senate
proceeded to consider the following reso-
luton submitted on the 25th Of April
Resolved, That the following be added to
the rules af impeachment and practice in
the Senate when sitting on trial of i'm
parchment:
On conviction by the Senate it shall be
the duty of the presiding officer fort hwith
to pronounce the removal from Office of
the convicted person according to the re-
quirements of the Constitution. Any
further judgment shall be on the order Of
the Senate.
After debate the Chief Justice announced
that the hour Of IL o'clock A. NJ, fixed by
order Of the Senate for deliberation and
debate had arrived, and that Senators
could now submit their views on the
several articles of impeachment subject to
the limits of debate fixed by two-third
rule, and after deliberation, at ten minutes
before o'clock the Senate took a recess of
twenty minutes.
After further deliberation another re-
cess was taken at half past five until seven.
House Of Representatives.
Mr.. Mnngen offered resolution to ex-
tend the power and duties of the select COM
mttee on treatment of Union prisoners, to
inquire into the treatment of prisoners
in Northern prisons, and into the conduct
of Union officers in reference to the ex-
change of prisoners, and into propositions
of Confederate authorities to obtain medi-
cines and provisions, to be sent by Federal
surgeons to Andersonville and other camps,
for the exclusive use and benefit of Union
prisoners in those camps and prisons.
On motion of Mr.. Benjamin the resolu-
ton was tabled by vote of IS 10 Al.
Mr.. Eckley offered concurrent resolu-
ton for recess from Saturday next till the
25th, which was adopted by vote of 6S to
81.
The select committee on the Washburne-
Donnelly and the Brooks-Buter investiga-
tons was authorized to employ clerk and
to set during the session Of the House.
Mr. Walker asked consent to have taken
from the Speakers table the Senate bill
passed April It'll, to extend the charter Of
Washington City and to regulate the &C
ton of its officers. Agreed to.
Mr.. Walker offered several amendments,
among them a new section amending the
act of January, 1867 so as TO require cleo
tors to reside 10 the ward or election pre-
cinct fifteen days, instead Of three months,
and naturalized citizens to produce their
naturalization papers, or certifi ed copies
thereof, and providing that no property
4 r