The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-03-13


ticular, suggested this course; but
Howard, Sumner, and others, insisted
that he (Wade) should be sworn as
Other. Senators, and in regular order.
1t being manifest ut half-past 4 o'clock
that no conclusion could be reached to.
day, and the Chief Justice having left
the Supreme Court with the under
standing that he would shortly return
Mr.. Grimes moved that the "High
Court of Impeachment" adjourn which
was agreed to, whereupon Judge Chase
left the chair. Mr.. Wade being out of
the Senate at the time, war Immediate
ly sent for, and on taking the chair,
motion was made that the Senate ad-
jo 'rn, which was likewise agreed to.
And thus the question of Wade's right |
to sit on the trial was left undecided. |
During the proceedings to-day, nearly |
all the Radical members of the House |
Including the Speaker) were upon the
floor of the Senate. Seats were provi- |
ded for them in the the rear of the SEN
ators' desks. The "original Jacobs" of
the impeachment conspiracy, Ashley,
of Ohio, sat between Sumner and How
ard, and evidently considered himselfa
parsonage of very great Importance.
The managers of the trial, On the part
of the House, were also present, but not
| in their official capacity. They seemed
very much surprised at the turn affairs
had taken, and 1t is said expressed ap-
prehensions that such questions would
prolong the trial indefinitely. The feel
ing among certain Radical Senators in
| favor of impeachment cropped out un-
mistakably during the debate to-day.
| Nearly all on that side VINO spoke on
the question at issue displayed their
hostility to everything like fairness in
the approaching trial. Their minds
| are evidently made up, and it appeared
almost ridiculous to 90 through the for
| mality administering an oath to some
| of them-not that they would wifully
violate it, but that their political pre-
judices are so strong as to 6iiad them to
everything except what they consider
| to the interest of their party. 1t is
| therefore morally certain that when the
| question Is put to them as to whether
| Mr.. Wade shall be sworn and sit on the
trial or not, they will decide in the af-
iirmative. The temper of the debate
to-day indicates this result, beyond the
possibility of a doubt.
WAsuISGros, March O.
HIGH COURT OF IMPEACHMENT.
| AT O'Clock to-day the Senate sus-
pended its ordinary business and Chief
l
siding officer of the Court of Impeach-
ment." Mr.. Dixon who had the floor
upon the adjournment yesterday, rose
to speak on the question of permitting
Mr.. Wade to be sworn as a trier in the
| Impeachment against the President.
The JacObins, by preconcert, had ar
| ranged that Howard should make a
| point OF order upon further debate,
under the twenty-thlrd rule adopted by
| the Senate, ant insist that the question
should be decided by the Chief Justice
| without discussion, which he Howard
did. The Chief Justice required the
point of order To be reduced to writing,
and after that had been done, and the
same read by the Secretary, he (the
| Chief JusticeJ decided that the rules
| adopted by the Senate, for the govern
| ment of the "High Court OF Impeach-
ment' were not then in force, inasmuch
| as the court had not been organized. De-
bate was, s,therefore, allowable. From this
decision Messrs. Drake and Howard APP
pealed, and the Chief Justice submitted
the question to the Senate. His deci-
sion was sustained on call of the yeas
and nays, by "a to 20. Atthis point the
impeachers became almost furious. Mr..
Dixon attempted to proceed with his
remarks, but was again called to order
by Conness, Stewart and others. The
Chief Justice decided that he might
speak on the question-contining him
self to the point OF forder raised by How
| ard. This increased the wrath OF the
Jacobins, and while Sumner, Drake,
| and Howard were consulting with re-
gard to the situation, Mr.. Hendricks
obtained the floor, and after speaking Il
few minutes in opposition to Wade's
In
nave the question decided hereafter,
Withdrew his objection to allowing
Wade to take the oath; accordingly
that gentleman presented himself at
| the Presidents desk and was sworn.
The oath was then administered to the
remaining Senators present, and the
Chief Justice formally announced the
| organization of the "IIigh Court of I'M
peachment." On motion of Howard,
the House was notified thereof, and
soon after Messrs. Bingham, Boutwell,,
Butler, Williams, Wilson, and Logan,
| managers on the part of that body,
appeared at the bar of the Senate and
were escorted to seats Immediately in
front of the Secretary's desk. Mr..
Bingham, on behalf of the managers,
demanded that the President be called
to answer the impeachment preferred
Howard, Il summons, returnable on
Friday next, the 18th instant, was or
dered to be issued to the President of
the United States, to appear at the bar
Of the Senate, or High Court of I'm
peachment, at | o'clock on that day.
The Court then adjourned until the 18th
inst, the Senate resuming its ordinary
legislative character.
The galleries were even more densely
crowded than on yesterday. The pre-
dominant sentiment therein may be in.
ferred from the fact that when the de-
cision of the Chief Justice, as stated
above, was sustained by the Senate, a
pretty loud round ofapplause was given
IN the gentlemen's gallery. 1t was,
however, soon checked by the officers
in attendance. The impeacher, are
evidently dissatisfied with the course
of Chief Justice Chase, thus far. His
| announcement, to-day, that he did not
consider the rules adopted by the SEN
ate proper for the government of the
Court of impeachment was very un-
palatable to them. They, however, re-
adopted them as "COurt," thus re-
moving the objection. The question
Will arise hereafter, as to whether or
not the Chief Justice shall decide points
OF law, and evidence that may come up
during the trial. Under the rules
already adopted, such decisions are re-
served to the majority of the members
of the { ourt, but propositions may and
probably will, be made, to amend those
rules, SO as to give the presiding officer
the same right to rule ON the law and
evidence as is now allowed the presid-
ing officers ofthe two houses, in regard
to motions, questions of order, etc., etc.
1t is thought that the Presidents coun-
sci VIII they appear on his behalf, ON
Friday next, will ask for at least two
weeks to prepare the defense. This
II granted, will postpone the trial until
the 29th of the present month. The
Supreme Court will adjourn about the
LIST of April, and then the Chief Justice
will be relieved from attendance on
that tribunal. The probability, there
fore, is, that he will not be disposed to
enter upon tire trial of the pending i'm