The Van Buren press., 1868-05-22
The National Honor and Disgrace-Chief
Justice Chase Kissed.
Especial 10 the Cincinnati Commsciall

SiHNc llit Naihi In
there been more excitement at the Capt.
tol than TO-DAY. What, from the desir
to hear the close ofMr, Bingham speech
which, it was expected, would be grea
effort, and the anxiety to be present a
the proceedings following the argument
the crowd seeking admission to the Sen
ate wing was unusually large. Their,
were hundreds in the rotunda who had M
tickets, and yet had 4 vague idea that the,
could, some how or other, manage to ge
in They sent for members and Senator's
and asked them for tickets, apparently in
different to the assurance that none were
to be had. All the approaches TO th,
Senate Chamber were thronged and chok
ed up, and it was with great difficulty
that those having tickets could get ~
opportunity to present them.
Long before twelve o'clock the gale.
rics were packed rs full as they would
hold, and hundreds who entered the
building with tickets could find neither
sitting nor standing room.
Mr.. Bingham commenced his speech
shortly after twelve O'clock He was in
good voice and health, apparently better
than on the two preceding days He
first summed up his argument of yester.
day in reply to the Presidents counsel
on the power Of removal, and then re.
piled to some points of Mr.. Curtis
speech, az to the construction ofthe Ten.
ure of. office Bill
After an hour on this and kindred TOP.
les, he commenced what may be called his
peroration, which was strong, bitter and
brilliant. Speaking Of what he called the
Presidents threat TO disperse Congress.
or to disregard the verdict Of the Court
as an unconstitutional Senate, he used
such warmth of language and manner as
to create q great sensation in the Senate
Chamber, and more than ever to tempt
demonstrations of applause. His clos.
ing sentence was TO thank the Senate for
their attention to his remarks, and to de
mand, in the name Of q free people, the
conviction OF the accused President,
whom he believed before God and man,
to be guilty of the crimes whereof he is
charged.
MIR. Bingham then took his seat. Sen.
ator Wilson roseto submit q motion that
uau pvaIUviy urifu ~ ",,,ssVt1
when, to the right Of the Chair, in the
gentlemen's gallery, a few spectators
commenced to stamp their feet and slap
their hands in approval Of Mr. Bingham's
speecV. 1t was promptly suppressed by
the Chief Justice, but it very quickly
spread through the entire galleries, in.
crcasing in violence as it went around,
until it amounted to q disordeyly uproar.
Even the ladies were quick to catch the
contagion, and gave vent to their enthu.
siasm as earnestly as those of the other
sex.
The Chief Justice raped when it was
too late. He might as well have tried to
extinguish prairie fire with syringe
when he rose from his seat and cried
"Order" with all the voice he could
put into the word, he was only laughed
at; and for very spite hundreds who had
remained silent till then, joined in the
demonstration, aud made the Senate
Chamber bedlam Some stood up while
they clapped their hands, and others kept
their seats that they might be enabled tc
use both hands and feet in the uproar.
While the noise was at its loudest, thu
Chief Justice, in an angry tone, ordered
the Sergeant alarms to clear the galleries
but it was manifest that without the con
sent Of the offenders the order could no
be executed. He can't do it; he hasn'
men enough; we won't 60 out" anC
there were indications for time that they
meant what they said, and were deter
mined not to be put out. The door
keepers attempted to enforce the orde
by announcing it, but they found th'
crowd very slow to move. The SENATOR
began to get alarmed for really the seen,
began to smack of the French revolution
when the crowd used TO overawc the Ma
tional Assembly.
Mr. Grimes angrily asked, after survey
ing the scene, why the order was not en-
forced forthwith, to which the Chief Jus
tice, who seemed to be getting quite nerv
Gus, replied that it certainly would be en-
forced. A volley of Kisses for Crime
came next, and that, too, from the mos
respectable part Of the galleries, Man
IL fnely.dressed lady contributed to then
An attempt was made to get up NOR
violent insult in the way Of loud "bah,
and some hootings were heard such a
the rabblc sometimes deal out TO stump
speakers they don't like.
Mr. Trumbull quickly came to the rC
lief of Mr. Grimes, with motion thg
the offenders be arrested, as well as tn
galleries cleared
81 woul like to see you do IT, shout
cd several Of the retiring offenders in rC
ply
The galleries were by this time abol
bali cleared, but not because OF the ordt
Of the Chief Justice. 1t got out that th
Court was about to retire or adjourn, an
/, those who had left had done so undt
this impression Suddenly a few me
cried out Hold on They amt goin
TO adjourn! Let us sec this thing out !
Then came n halt, and hundreds too
their seats again, with the utmost uncol
II i. lt.f. 4 sl,A i.