Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-04-23
WASHINGTON. April Is.

Unexpected progress was made in
the impeachment trial, to-day. The
Senate, at its opening, after a few min
utes' debate, and one preliminary vote,
again refused to extend the rules al
lowing more than two to speak on
side. in closing.
This being disposed of, Evarts an
nounced that Mr.. Stanbery was better
and would be present tomorrow
Judge Curtis then began the presenta-
ton of documentary evidence, leaving
the real testimony to be completed
when Mr.. Stanbery should return to
manage it. The first paper, it appears,
was the nomination of Thomas Ewing
as Secretary of War. This was re-
ceived without objection, but at the
second step counsel met with strong
opposition.
Judge Curtis presented the message
of the President, sent to the Senate in
response to the notification of that body
that it did not consent to the removal
of Stanton. To this objection was
made by the Managers, that it was
simply a declaration of the President,
made after the act, and even after the
House Committee had reported in favor
of impeachment. Manager Bingham
challenged counsel to produce any
legal authority for the introduction of
such testimony. The debate on the
part of the Managers was full of life
and force. Counsel didn't seem in
clined to debate the question, but were
evidently relying upon the rulings
made on Monday by the Senate, and
sure to be so construed as to cover the
present case. But apparently, much
to their disappointment, the Chief JUS
tice ruled against them, holding that
the resolution of the Senate, TO which
the message was an answer, required
no answer, and the message was there
fore communication in ordinary form.
The Chief Justice, however, said that
if any Senator desired it, he would sub
NIT the question to the Senate. This
only made the matter worse for the
counsel, as no member of the Court
desired vote. So the message was
ruled out.
The balance of the session was con-
sumed in presenting great mass of
documentary evidence, collected from
the records of the various departments,
for the purpose of showing the custom
of making removals and appointments
under all previous administrations
To some of this the Managers object
ed, and in one case they were overrul-
ed by a vote of 36 to Is, though not on
a point which they deemed very impor-
tant, but which was made more for the
purpose of calling the attention of the
Senate to the real character of the doc
uments under discussion. Few of
those presented were read.
To the surprise of the Managers, at
a o'clock, Judge Curtis announced that,
so far as now advised, counsel had ne
more documentary evidence to produce.
Before the defense had opened their
case they expected to consume two full
days with this class of evidence. From
this it is inferred that they have deem
ed it best not to offer quite portion OF
that prepared.
The Managers and Republicans gen
orally are better satisfied with the sit
uation tonight than at any time this
week. So far as the character of the
documentary evidence could be deter
mined by the Managers after the hasty
inspection they were able to give it,
they regard very little of it as having
any direct bearing on the case.