The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-27
Our Washington Dispatches.


TIE NEW NOMINEE FOR SECRETARY OF WAR
THE IMPEACHMENT TRuL-R. GRoEsBEcKs s
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. NEWS AND GOSSIP.
WASHINGTON, April 25-Noon.-It is General
j. ". Schofeld, commanding First Military
District, whom the President has nominated
as Secretary of War. General Schofe!d's
nomination causes various speculatons-frst,
that the olive branch is held out to Conserva-
tive senator's; second a compromise between
johnson and Grant. But the affair is still
State secret. johnson appears not 10 have con-
suited even the members of his Cabinet about
the nomination.
In the impeachment Court, Sumner propos-
ed two additional rules-frst, that Chase shall
ask each senator Chow do you vote 2" and he
shall reply "Guilty" or 'Not Guilty. and
second, that upon conviction it shall be the
duty Of the presiding officer to order the con-
yict's removal forthwith. Objection was rais-
ed, and the matter goes over to Monday.
, Mr.. Groesbeck then opened his argument
for the defence. He held that the body he was
addressing was court, arguing from the con-
sdtution, which permitted neither bills OF at
tainder nor irresponsible tribunals, especially
such as were laws unto themselves. Lincoh's
plain violation Of the constitution had been ra.-
fed by Congress because his motives we're
good. He then proceeded to argue that the
first and eighth articles rested on whether the
President had right to remove Stanton and
give Thomas an ad Interim appointment. He
argued that he had. Had Lincoln lived, and
had the Tenure-of. Office bill been passed in
hostility to Lincoln, lincoln, under it's provis-
ions, during his second term, could have legal
ly removed Cabinet officer appointed by him.
selfduring his first term, and that Stanton had
infinitely less claim to the tenure under Mr..
Johnsons term.
Mr.. Groesbeck was suffering from bronchitis;
an adjournment was proposed, but Mr.. Groes-
beck feared few days. delay would not help
him, and asked to be allowed to proceed, though
the circumstance compelled him to make i'm
portant omissions in his argument.
The President, having consulted advisors in
dicated by the constitution, was guiltless OF
crime. It was comparatively useless to urge
the unconstitutionaity of the act with those
who framed it, but granting its constitution
ality, he denied the Presidents criminality.
The Presidents oath of Office required him to
main tain the constitution. Minor officers
swore only to support it. Answering Mr.. Bout
well, thatthe President was bound to execute
all laws, Mr.. Groesbeck inquired about the
Presidents duty when the Supreme Court had
declared law unconstitutional.
Groesbeck asked whether the President was
to be convicted and deposed because he had
acted on the Interpretation sanctioned by his
constitutional advisers, by the thirty-eighth
Congress, by the Supreme Court, and the uni
form practice Of the government. The evi-
dence showed the President acted in the pub
lie interest in removing Stanton. Groeabeck
contended that the Presidents acquiescence III
the Tenure-of-ofice bill as long as possible,
was point in the Presidents favor. As Groes-
beck proceeded he recovered his voice and held
the floor and galleries spell-bound. Conclud-
ing, he expressed his confidence in the final
result, and characterized the precedents OF
convictions referred to by the managers as IA
ther beacon lights of warning than examples
for guidance. In conclusion, he pronounced
glowing eulogism upon Johnsons life, charac-
ter aud services.
General l. ovell ". Rosseau has arrived from
Alaska, under summons as witness for the de-
fence in the impeachment trial.
Regular pools have been opened at the fash
ionable gambling houses, where bets are made
on all impeachment questions, involving the
final result, votes on interlocutory questions,
md final result as to termination Of the trial.
Nelson's speech is universally read and ap-
plauded it is admirable.
Senator Yates writes letter to citizens OF
Illinois refusing to resign, but promising here
after to do his duty, free from his besessns