The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-03-14
SCENES AND INCIDENTS OF THE
FIRST DAYS TRIAL OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
ATATEa.

The Senate Chamber was the centre OF at
traction yesterday, 1t being the occasion when
Mr.. johnson was expected to answer to the
summons issued by the High Court, requiring
him to appear before that tribunal, now organ.
izcd for the purpose OF examining into the al.
legged causes and charges preferred against the
President by the House of Representatives.
At an early hour the Senate galleries began to
I'LL up, but as only such as had tickets could get
In the crowd was not large. The Capitol
grounds and the corridors of the House, how
ever, were at one time quite alive with men and
women who hoped, by some means, to effect
an entrance, but the thing could not be done.
The only open sesame was the indispens sable
pasteboard provided by the committee on the
part of the Senate.
A considerable crowd outside expected that
the President would appear in person, and kept
4 sharp lookout for him, and could not be per-
suadcd that he was not coming. We met several
anxious people who asked US to tell them what
door ofthe Capitol His ExcelleEcy would enter
They said as they could not get in they would
like to take fair look at the President,
The Senate did not come to order until l2
o'clock and during the interim, those upon whom
the fate OF the President depends gathered
in their seats at carly hour and at their desks
or in small conversing groups, evidenced by their
dcmeanOr their appreciation OF the solemn and
-, ~ ,o,.,o a. 49,. VI. s"'
,,as, ~, o.I, an, 49, ..,- ~
p'''!' n., my n.'ns '"a' poi''on Oh the Sea's
tS'su.u 'ne"' ou, ".so occupying those seieeted
,'' 'a,.s sone'h'nB less thah
court, and as equally persevering remained until
the close OF the proceedings of the day.
On the floor OF the Senate chairs were placed
for the convenience of the members of the House
Of Representatives, and which were but moder-
:, ~ ''e :" sanery "~e
" ~ iI,-.! ,," n''n's'ei, u hahgaoe,
S,N., D''' iuA"h minis
,,I, Va no Get'u'', i'aiiah ministers baron
''Ci', i'ussihh ihns'erj secretaries OF the
r"B''sn heB"'ioh' anu re" iaaies VINO accom-
P'N''H 'ne" .hs. "en''or opfague ana other
'''hsuisheu 'auies were III 'he galleries, and
among 'he seh''emeh were many prominent
parties, local anu hatiohai' me gehtiemen's
gamer! was not completely nieui mere being
room Tor al least one hundred more, and among
All those VINO were present we did not observe
one colorcd person. male or female
The hour OF twelve having arrived, the legis-
l'tivc session OF the Senate was opened with
prayer by the Rev Dr. Gray, in which he in
Noked the Almighty to grant wisdom prudence,
anu Judgment upon those who were about to sit
IN ulh'' DURING the morning hour, Hon. Ira
Harris ex-senator OF New York, appeared upon
Ntors who throngedsrouhd him.
for the general routine OF business we refe
the reader TO our Congressional columns.
AT precisely O'CLOCK the President OF tn
senate vacated the chair and the Chief Justic
called the court to order and the business pre-
ccedcd In due form, It only remains for us I
note and to give our Impressions OF what W
saw. We think all foreigners present must hsv
been Impressed with the lack of pomp and sho
then and there manifested. Though the scene
and the circumstances were novelty In TIL
country they were characterized by that wal
Of formal and imposing demonstration which u
companies all such proceedings in Europe.
The managers of the House made their appcn
anee at the door OF the Senate Chamber, fC
lowed By few Of the members of the Hous
Some time afterwards came the bulk OF mel
bers, led by the Speaker and the Doorkeeper al
the Clerk, and all took their seats quietly abo
the hall. Everything was orderly, but the