The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-13

Mondays Debate in the senate.
The Senate Chamber on Monday was the
centre of a whirlpool of excitement. 1t was at
first supposed that the day would be consumed
in debate upon the form of the final question
suggested by the Chief Justice. Soon after
eleven however it became. known that the
recommendation of the Chief Justice had been
adopted, and that Senators were discussing
the main question in a succession Oh nl'eeh
minute speeches. From that time uhth an
hour before midnight, when the oehate ad-
iourned, the Hobbies of the Senate chamber
were tbropged with excited men, agitated
every minute by the visible shock of some new
rumor The substance of the debate is now
known by hearsay. The reports are some
what conflicting, but we must make what we
can of them.
1t appears that Mr.. Sherman, still adhering
to the opinion which he expressed while the
tenure-ot-office act was under discussion, does
not believe Mr. Stanton's case is covered by its
provisions He announced, however, in the
course of his remarks, that the President had
grossly and wilfully violated the law and far
transcribed his powers in appointing General
L ECLldo hoSSACtllJ VI w al ub GttCf Ht, anu udu
thereby rendered himself liable to impeach-
ment by the House and punishment by the
Senate. He spoke briefly on the other arti-
cles, and on the whole indicated that while he
should certainly vote against the first article,
he would vote for the second and third, and
perhaps for the others.
Mr.. Stewart was the second speaker and
took strong ground in favor of conviction on
all the principal articles.
Mr.. Grimes thought the appointment of
Thomas justified by the act of 1895 which, he
held, is not repealed by that of 1863 He fur
thermore thought the President had a right
to make up case Tor the courts, and was not
prepared to declare Congress supreme over
other branches OF the government He could
not for the sake Of Furnishing a particular
President consent to degrade the Office of
President.
Senator Edmunds was the next speaker
He drew up the tenure of office act, had en-
tire charge of it before the Senate, and was
thoroughly conversant with its intent and
meaning. There was consequently great en-
riosity to hear his opinion on the case now
presented. He said at once that the charges
specified in the first, second and third articles
were clearly proved, and the only question to
consider was whether they constituted high
crimes and miSdemeanors. He found that the
Presidents duties were all defined in the
Constitution, and the chief of these is that he
shall see that the laws are faithfully executed,
and shall execute them by such means and
such means only as are provided in the laws
Tba DraSi1anf oo,,16 riuht-
fully violate the law in order to enforce it and
could only use the power of appointment in
he manner fixed by the legi slative depart
ment of the government, and could not accom-
plish legal purposes by illegal means. From
these premises Mr.. Edmund argued that the
Presidents course in removing M. Stanton
and appointing General Thomas was not only
illegal, but so grossly illegal as to constitute
high crime. He could not support any of
the conspiracy articles, but shonld vote for
the first three.
Mr. Williams was the fifth speaker. He
reached about the same conclusions as Mr.
Edmunds had expressed He would vote for
the. first and second and eighth articles, and
he leftsthe impression on the minds of his as
sociates that he might also vote for some
others.
Mr. Howe followed with brief statement
from which it was found that his conclusions
did not materially differ from those of Mr..
Sherman. He could not vote for the first ar
ticle, but would support the second and third
and part of the eleventh If it was divided.
Mr.. Pomeroy and Mr. Morrill, of Maine fol-
lowed and indicated that they would vote for
all the principal articles except that against the
Presidents speeches, and that resting on the
evidence OF General Emory.
Hendricks, Doolittle and Davis of course
took ground against the whole affair.
Mr.. Henderson votes either guilty or not
not guilty on all but the eleventh article. Re-
ports are conflicting, but the probability is
that he will vote for acquittal.
Messrs. Dixon and johnson declared that
there was 10 case against the President
Mr.. Trumbull agreed with Mr.. Sherman re-
speeding the first article, and took ground also
against the second, indicating pretty clearly
an inten ton to vote against the whole.
Mr.. Fessenden, it is said expressed his pur-
pose to vote against every one OF the articles.
Another dispatch, however, says that he adj
mitted that the appointment of Gen. Thomas
was not warranted by law. If this is true, he
will vote for conviction under the third article.
The speakers in the evening we're Mr.. Buck
alew against and Messrs, Conness, Wilson,
Harlan and Morton for conviction. Of the
Senators who have not yet spoken Anthony,
Corbett, Frelinghuysen, Upton, Van Wrinkle
and Wiley are regarded as more or less
doubtful
The result, according to the best judges, is
that the first article may be set down as lost.
The second and third may yet he carried and
there is some hope also for the eighth and
eleventh. The second, third and eighGh, all
refer to the appointment of Thomas, and the
eleventh charges also wlful obstruction of the
reconstruction laws.