Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-05-12
THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
Proceedings in secret session Ye.,erda


IL SENATE, yesterday, the doors having been
The Chief Justice stated that in compliance
with the desire of the Senate, he had prepared
the questions to be addressed to Senator'S upon
the articles of impeachment, and that he had
reduced his views TO Whiting; which he read.
Mr.. Buckalew submitted the following mo-
ton; which was considered by unanimous con-
sent, and agreed to:
ordered, That the views of the Chief Justice
be entered upon the journal of proceedings Of
the Senate for the trial of impeachment
The Chief Justice arose and addressed the
Senate, and said that in conformity with VIII at
seemed TO be the general wish of the Senate
when it adjourned last Thursday, the Chief
Justice, in taking the vote the articles OF I'M
parchment would adopt the mode sanctioned
by the practice IN the cases OF Chase,
Peck and Humphreys. He would direct the
Secretary 10 read the several articles sue
cessively, and after the reading Of each article
will put the question of guilty or not guilty
to each Senator, rising in his place, in the
form used in the case of Judge Chase
Mr.. Senator -, how say you, is the re-
spondent, Andrew johnson, President of the
United States, guilty or not guilty of high
mIsdemeanor in this article2"
In putting the questions on articles four and
SIX, Zach of which charges a crime, the word
'.erime" will be substituted for the word ''mis-
He said he had carefully considered the sug-
gesion OF the Senator from Indiana, Mr.. Hen
bricks which appeared to meet the approval
OF the Senate, that IN taking the vote on the
eleventh article the question should be put on
each clause. and had found himself unable to
divide the article as suggested. The general
question, guilty or not guilty of high misde
meanor as charged, seemed fully TO cover the
whole charge. would be put as to this article as
well as TO the others. unless the Senate directed
some mode of division. In the tenth article the
division suggested by the Senator from New
York Mr.. Conkling might be more easily made.
but ne saw no objection to putting the gener n |
question on this article in the same manner as
on the others, for, whether particular questions
De put on the specifications or not the ans wer
10 the final question must be determined by the
judgment of the Senate, whether or not the facts
alleged in the specifications have been suffi-
GENTLY proved, and whether, if sufficiently
proved, they amount TO a high misdemeanor
within the meaning of the Constitution. On
the whole he thought that the better practice
would be 10 put the general question on each
article, without attempting to make any subdi-
vision, and would pursue this course if no OBJ
lection was made. He would however, be
pleased TO conform 10 such directions as the
Senate might see f1t TO give in this matter.
Mr.. Sumner submitted the following order,
which was considered by unanimous consent,
and agreed to:
posed by the presiding officer of the Senate. and
each Senator shall rise IN his place, and answer
guilty" or ssnot guilty. only.
On motion, by Mr.. Sumner, the Senate pro-
ceeded TO consider the following resolution
submitted on the 25th of April last:
ResoIrsd. That the following be added to the
rules of procedure and pracuce in the Senate
when sitting at the trial of Impeachment:
'On convection by the Senate, ii shall be
the duty of the presiding officer forthwith TO
pronounce removal from offic of the convicted
person. according TO the requirements OF the
Constitution. Any further judgment shall be
on the order of the Senate"
After debate, the Chief Justice announced
that the hour. II o'clock a m, fixed by the
order of the Senate for elaboration and debate
had arrived, and that Senators could now SUBJ
nit their views upon the several articles of
impeac hment. subject to the limits of debate
fixed by the twenty-third rule and, after DELHI
Grafton. on motion of Mr.. Con mess, at ten min
utes before O'Clock, the Senate took a recess of
twenty minutes. At the expiration of which
time, after further elaboration, on motion of
Mr.. COnness, Al half past 5 o'clock, the Senate
took a recess until half past o'clock p. m.
The Senate reassembled at half past o'clock.
After debate, Mr. Edmunds submitted the
following:
Ordered, That the order of the Senate, that it
will proceed at - o'clock noon tomorrow to
vote on the articles Of Impeachment, be re-
scinded.
This was not acted on.
Mr.. Williams offered the following:
Order|d, That the Chief Justice, in directing
the Secretary 10 read the several articles OF i'm
parchment shall direct him to read the elev-
enth article first, and the question shall be then
taken upon that article. and thereafter the
other ten successfully, as they stand.
This lies over.
A motion that the Senate meet at half-past IL
o'clock tomorrow morning, t. sit with open
doors, was agreed to.
The Senate at III O'Clock adjourned.