The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-10
THE ORESOENT'S DISPATCHES.
FROM WASHING TON.
THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
Opening Of the Presidents Defense
BY Judge Curtis.
SKETCH OF HIS ARGUMENT
NORTH CAROLINA POLITICS.
Grant Shows a Colored Politician the Door
IMPEACHMENT STOCK DEPRESSED.
Senator Wade's Alleged IneligibiIity.
Southern Railroad Memorial.
Grant Shows Colored Politician the Door
IMPEACHMENT STOCK DEPRESSED
Senator Wads's Alleged InelisibiIity
Southern Railroad Memorial.

WASHINGTON, April 9--House.-A resolution
having in view the reconciliation of the South
American difficulties referred to the Judiciary
committee. when the House went to impeachment
and adjourned.
Sendte.--On assembling, the impeachment court
was opened. After reading the journal, Butler
called other Witnesses among them Blodgett who
testified regarding his removal from the postmas-
tership at Augusta, Ga. He knew nothing beyond
the fact that he had been suspended. Butler
asked for certificate that no reason had been given
for Blodgett's suspension. The defense made the
point that Bodgett's case was outside of the
charges made against the president. AT quarter
to o'clock Judge Curtis commenced his argu-
ment.
No business before impeachment. The reading
Of the journals dispensed with.
M. II. Wood, of Alabama, who had been in the
Unicn army, testified arding Johnsou's refusing
him Office becaase be favored Congress.
Foster Blodgett had both his commissions as
postmaster at Augusta, Georgia with him. Blod-
gett cannot learn that the reasons for his suspen-
sion were sent to the Senate.
Defense in the impeachment case was opened
by Mr.. Curtis. He spoke until nearly 4 O'Clock,
when, at his request, Finding it difficult to con-
tinue, the hall being lenger than those he is ac-
customed to speak in) the court adjourned with
out division.
The Senate then went into executive session
and adjourned.
Mr.. Curtis was listened to throughout with
marked attention, especially by the members Of
the court Some of his points were startling.
He left it with senators whether they were acting
in legislative or judicial capacity.
The substance of the first on which the eight
charges were based was the removal of Stanton
and the appointment of Thomas, and was an In
tended violation of the tenure of Office act and
the Constitution. He denied both propositions,
and. among other authorities, quoted statements
OF members of the conference committee.
schenck in making bis report to the House, used
the words, /" term of service" II might as well
be said that king completed the term of his pre-
decessor who had died, as to say that Mr.. john
son was serving out Lincoln's term. Mr.. Curtis
proceeded. showing that the heads of depart.
nents were the voice and hands Of the president.
BE argued that the heads Of Departments did not,
in fact could not, constitutionalfy come within
the tenure of Office bill; that their exception
well understood by senators, and noticed the abb
surdity of charging the president with high crimes
and misdemeanors for acting in accordance with
publicly expressed views of senators. His argu.
Inent that the presidents action was In accord
ance with the precedents and the Constitution was
too compact in its elaboration for condensation.
Arguing the necessity Of the power claimed by
the president, he instanced Floyd's displacement
by President Buchanan, where delay would have
lead to deplorable results. Arguing the presi-
dents duty TO maintain these prerogatives, he
said trustee would combat unconstitutional law
which worked injury to those whose rights he
had in trust, and it was much more the
presidents duty to guard the trusts placed in his
hands by all the people. Such was the duty nobly
fulfilled by Hampden when he opposed payments
Of ship money. Recapitulating bis argument to
prove that the president could not be impeached
for an act designed 10 procure judicial decision,
he quoted Butler, TO show that the managers ad-
mitted this view, who sod the removal in itself
was perhaps not an impeachsble ofense, II made
with that motive and not accompanied with de-
dant message to the Senate. he said it was q
matter of taste how they should be notified. He
argued to adjournment that the rules of estoppe,