Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-05-07
THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

SENATE After our report closed yesterday,
the galleries having been cleared and the doors
closed
The Senate, sitting as the Court, remained IN
secret session until 4;i5 p. m; when, on motion
OF Senator Johnson 1t adjourned.
When the doors were closed, the Chief Jus
motion of Senator Edmunds, that when the
Senate retire for consultation, the official re-
porteTs be admitted TO take down the debates
to be published with the proceedings.
Senator Williams offered an amendment that
no member shall speak more than once or
longer than fifteen minutes.
Senator Frelnghuysen moved to lay the whole
subject on the table; which was agreed to
Senator Drake moved az an amendment to
the 23d rule, that the fifteen minutes therein
allowed shall be for the whole elaboration on
the final question, and not TO the final question
on each article; which was laid over under the
rule.
The Chief Justice stated the next question to
be on the motion Of Senator Sumner, that the
Senate Will proceed to vote on the articles of
impeachment at ~ O'Clock the day after the ar
gument shall have been concluded; but the ad-
journment took place without action it.
HoUsK--Yesterday afternoon
Inc members of the House returned to their
Hall at $40.
Mr.. Stevens (Pa.) asked leave to make a per-
sonal explanation, which was granted.
Mr.. Stevens said he proposed to make an ex-
planatlon In regard to the Alta Vela matter
Personal explanations were not Of his style,
but the case somewhat demanded one. Early
In the session some one The could not recollect
whom called upon HIM and asked him to give
his opinion under the law of nations of a case
similar TO that OF Alta Fela. He gave his opln-
ion verbally, but not being then IN practice as
a lawyer, he did not give a verbal opinion. He
heard no more of the matter until about two
months ago, when a gentleman came to him
with paper and stated it was his (Stevens')
opinion of the Alta Vela matter written out
At the time the paper referred to was handed to
him (Stevens) he was requested to sign il, and
without reading the paper, or taking any great
thought ABOUT il, put his name to it. and never
heard any more about the matter until ID was
produced by Mr.. Nelson, of the Presidents
counsel, on the impeachment trial, He had no
idea that the paper was to be laid before the
President or that II was TO be put into the hands
OF Judge Black or of his son. Had he known
that fact, however, it would not have altered
his opinion, nor would he have hesitated TO
sign it. IL was not addressed to the President
nor was il put in evidence, and II had nothing
TO do with the subject of impeachment, and no
honorable man, acting as counsel in the case,
would have used il to assail the motives of an.
other counsel. 1t was brought before the i'm.
PARCHMENT court Irrelevantly and illegally.
He (Nelson) had for several days wandered
over the whole history of the country, and over
the whole career of Andrew John son. and how
could he neglect bedaubing Us all over in his
greasy career.
The Speaker interrupted the reading with the
remark that the latter expression was not in
order.
Mr. Stevens said he withdrew an ything that
was supplementary.
After considerable debate. the subject was
dropped.
Mr.. Banks Mass was, at his own request,
excused from service upon the committee of
Investigation raised yesterday.
The resolutio offered by MIR. Cary, relative
to the tenth article of impeachment. was then
taken up, and the House, by a strict party vote
OF % TO lO1, refused TO consider it. Adjourned.