Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-03-19
IMPEACHMENT.
Scene az the Capitol.


an early hour on Friday. All the police force
belonging to the building were on duty, and
in addition thereto, q detachment of fifty mel
of the Metropolitan Police force were also on
hand for the purpose of assisting In the preser-
walton of order. Thirty additional DOorkeep-
ers under the Sergeant-atArmS OF the Senate
were placed on dnty at the different doors lead
ing to that wing of the building, and the ar
raugements for the preservation OF order SEEM
cd to be most complete, the ticket system pre-
venting the great rush to the Senate galleries
which would otherwise have occurred. The
reporters gallery mas been enlarged by extend
ing the wire rail on the right-hand side. so as
to accommodate sixty persons, all Of whom are
supposed al least TO be representatives, OF the
press Seats were arranged on the floor of the
Senate, Just behind the Senators desks, for the
accommodation Of members of the House, and
other persons having the privilege Of the floor.
Chairs and tables were placed in the area in
front Of the Secretary's desk TOR the acc0mmO-
dation of the managers on the part Of the House
and the counsel of the President. At the hour
of meeting the galleries were well filed, though
by no means crowded, nearly three-fourths of
the audience being ladies' After prayer by
the Chaplain, REV. Dr. Gray the ordinary
business of the Senate went on until one O'Clock,
when Mr.. Wade announced that the chair
would be vacated for the Chief Justice OF the
United States, who soon after appeared, when
the Sergeant-at-arms lMr Brown opened the
High Court with the usual proclamation.
Mr. Howard moved that the counsel for the
President be notified of the session of the court.
s-EI IL. r ,cf Erf-
day would be read, which was done 10y the
Secretary of the Senate, IMr. Forney After
wards, on motion of Mr. Howard it was order
cd that the Secretary inform the House that
the Senate is now stating as High Court OF
Impeachment Immediately thereafter the
Serceaut-at-Arms announced the presence Of
the managers on tile part Of the House, and
they were escorted 10 seats at the table on the
left of the Secretarys desk, NcsSrs Stevens
and Butler being absent. Mr.. Grimes then
stated that there were several Senators present
/ who had not been sworn, and accordingly Mes
srS. EdmundS, Patterson Of New Hpmpshire
and VickerS, advanced to the Presidents desk
! and took the usual oath.
! The Secretary then read the return of thC
summons made by the Sergeant-at-Arms of tho
Senate. which was subsequently sworn TO hy
that Otlicerin thcpresence Of the High Court.
| The Sergeant-at-A Arms then called Andrew
| johnson, President of the Emitted States, to APP
| pear and answer the articles of Impeachment
| exhibited against him. Senator johnson an
nounced that the President bad retained coun-
/ sci 10 appear for him, and the Chief JaStce di
rected the Sergeant-at-Arins 50 notify the
| counsel. which was done, and Hon Henry Stan
/ berry. Judge b. r. Curtis, Of Massachusetts
and Hon Thomas 4. r. Nelson, of Tennessee
of counsel, appeared and took seats at the to
/ bic on the right.
At this point, Messrs Stevens and Butler
! of the House managers, entered the Chambe
| and Joined their associates At one O'Clock
and twenty minutes the members of the IIouS'
of Representatives, accompanied by theil
Speaker, Clerk, and Doorkeeper, were announ.
ced and entered the Chamber, taking the seat
provided for them.
| Mr. Stanbery then rose and announced that
his brothers Curtis, Nelson. and himself ap
pcared for the President, and read his the
Presidents response to the summons, asking
forty days for the preparation of his answer
Mr.. Stanhery then moved the Court to ALLOW
that period for the preparation of said answer
as requested by the President, the application
being made and signed by all the counsel, viz
McsSrs. Stanberry, Curtis, Black, Nelson, an'
Evarts.
After the reading Of the paper had been con
Guided, Mr.. Bingham rose aud stated that un
der the eighth rule a motion for continuance
to answer was not allowable.
Judge Curtis replied that if the construction
Al 81.
for the President had been entirely misled, an,
argued that by analogy with similar rule II
courts Of law and equity, the President shoul'
be allowed time for the preparation OF his an
Swer.
Mr.. Wilson, Of the HouSe managers, coul'
not see how the rule could be misconstrued
and proceeded to quote the language of th
rule, which he contended required the Presi
dent to put IN his answer to-day, and aske'
! for the enforcement Of the rule
Mr.. Stanbery responded to the remarks o.
Mr.. Wilson, and argued that the In!e quotec
was similar to a subpoena in chancery, anC
! only required an appearance to-day. not ful
answer to-day This Is the first instance OF
record where defendant was required 10 pu
in his appearance aud answer on the same day
Mr.. Bingham rose, but the Chief Justice re-
! queSted him 10 give way while he read tn,
| rule in regard to the limitation Of discussion
on interlocutory questions, or motions, which
he desired the Senate, as the High Court. tC
construe without taking any action thereon.
Mr. Bingham proceeded TO reply to Mr.
Stanbery, and opposed the allowance Of the
| time requested by the counsel Of the President
! The Chief Justice then stated the motion o.
! the counsel, and put the question tnthe Senate
Mr. Edmunds then submitted an order re-
curing the President to file his answer on OF
before the lst of April next, and that the cast
stand for trial on Monday, the 9th Of Apri
next
Mr.. Bingham raised a point of order. that
under the eighth rule, this could not be done
without amending this rule.
The Chief Justice decided that the proposed
order was in the nature of an amendment to
the rule.
Mr.. Morton then moved that the Senate re-
tire for the purpose of consultation on the
question before them which was agreed to,
and thereupon the Chief Justice and the SEN
ators retired to one of the ante-rooms in the
rear Of the chamber for the purpose aforesaid.
At four o'clock the Senators re-entered the
Senate chamber, and the Chief Justice resumed
his chair
The Chief Justice then addressed the conn
sci for the President and notified them that the
Senate had declined to grant the request for
forty days time in which to prepare to an
swer the articles Of impeachment, and then
directed the Secretary to read the order agreed
upon by the Senate.