The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-05-01

The Last Stages of the InnpeGCE,
salent Trial.

In the order Of things, we are now ap-
preaching the last stages of the impeach-
ment trial. We have come to the con.
clusion of the testimony for both Sides
In closing on Saturday, the Presidents
counsel said they might possibly have a
few more items to submit; and similar
statement was made by the managers at
the time they dismissed their last witness.
But neither side has anything further to
offer of any consequence.
We have heard everything in the nature
of evidence that the prosecution has been
able to bring together to sustain the
charges. We have heard nearly every
thing that the defence has been able to
collect that would exculpate the accused.
The Senate, at the instance of the prose-
cution, declined to receive considerable
proportion of the evidence submitted by
the Presidents counsel We think this
was unwise. We agree with Senator
Sumner that the best way would have
been to admit everything offered by both
sides, and trust in the Senate to judge
Of ita relevancy, weight and value. In
other respects the Senate departed far
enough from the rules of courts to per.
nit this. 1t claimed, to great extent,
the right which Butler asserted for it, to
be "law unto ITSELF and disregarded
the rigid forms which, though necessary
elsewhere, are impediments to the dsvel-
opment Of the truth In a trial of this
nature, carried on before such body
1t was almost by accident that the Presi.
dents counsel, after long struggle, final.
ly succeeded in introducing the testimony
of Gen. Sherman and yet, after its
production, everybody was able to see
that it had most important bearing upon
the charges in the first eight articles Of
impeachment. Everybody was able to
see that its exclusion would have been q
very great wrong to the defence. And
so of good deal Of the other evidence
that was objected to, and got in only after
the greatest difficulty.
We cannot find fault with the House
Managers, as lawyers, for attempting to
exclude everything favorable to the de-
fence According to the immoral advice
Of Lord Brougham to lawyers, they
should be ready to resort to every expe
deut to wiz their case. They had un.
dertakcu to convict they were determined
to convict they doubtless believed the
accused ought to be couvicted-upon
general principles" if not upon each
particular charge brought against him
And if they saw that, to secure this end
great part of the testimony for the de.
fence must be kept from the Court, il
was to be supposed they would do every
thing in their power to have it excluded
But the position of the Senate was diff.
ferent. AS High Court Of Impeaoh.
ment its duty was, not to secure convic-
ton at all hazards, but to administer JUS
tice, and that, only after adopting every
means of obtaining light upon the various
features of the case. 10 theory at least
Senators entered upon the trial without
prejudice or prejudgment, as ready to &C.
quit as to condemn, ana in each case tc
act strictly according to the law and the
facts that might be developed while the
case was undergoing examination. This
being their idea, they should permit moth
ing whatever to be excluded that wa