The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-04-25
xLth CONGREs---Second Session
WASHINGTON, April %.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, April %.
SENATE.
Atthe opsning Of the Court, Chief Justice
Chase stated that the frst business was the
order Offered for considsntion yesterday By
Mr.. Grimes, that the honr for the meeting Of
the Dsnaae shall bs II o'clock. The order
was adopted, 2l against 13.
Mr. EmaA1s e0ese1 n sr1er to admit
official reporters TO report speeches on the
tinsl deliaeration Of the Senate. 1t was OBJ
jectsd 10 b5 Mr.. Sumner, and went over mn
der the rule. ass.
: Nj. Nelson resumed his speech and con
'cluded his augment Of yesterday in support
of the proposition that no oHenses are inn
peachable, except those which were deemed
crimes and misdemeanors by the common
lay q. the tine the Constitution was framed.
Afterwards Mr. Nelson resumed his apeech.
Referring to the portion Of Mr.. Boutwell, .
epeech which illustrates the Presidents per
verse nature, BY his treatment OF gentleman
who was to have been one Of his counsel,
Nj, Nelson made statement that Judge
Black withdrew from the cause simply be-
cause the President refused TO send vessels TO
seize on the Island Of Alto fetts.
Mr.. Nelson proceeded to consider The As-
ticles Of impeachment separately. He would
maintain three positions. viz: That the Ten
ure>of~ Office law Is void; Il Ills not, Nj.
Stanton's cass Is not covered BY il and that
even If i. is legal and applicable, the Presi-
dent 10 not gniity of crime, because he act-
ed from laudable motives. he quoted at
great length from the debates on the forma>
ton Of the Constitution and on the passage
Of the act Of 1888, and from numerous legal
authorities, to show that the question OF the
Presidents power Of removal Vas definitely
settled By the action OF Congress at that
time.
The Senate took recess Of 6fteen min
utes.
On re-assemblinK, Mr.. Nelson proceeded
TO argue that the President had the same pow
er to construe the acts Of Congress ~ Con.
eress itself, supporting his views by numerous
ouotsiions. Ali the preceding arguments, hs
held. proved the Tenure.of-O Office Law uncon-
stitntionAl and void. at considerable length
Mr.. Nelson then elaborated the proposition
that no charge can be maintained which does
net al,ege criminal intent which he said
was NOT dous except inthe 9Th srticle.
In the course Of his remarks he spoke OF
the friendly embrace Of Mr.. Stanton and
General Thomas. and the equal division of
the spoonful OF liquor between them as the
most remarkable exhibition of farcial record
fGreat laughter
He proceeded TO give . humorous apd sa-
tirical account nf the arrest and subsequent
discharge of Gen THOMAS, ridiculing the
idea thsi any one believed he designed to nse
force. Passing to the consideration Of the
I'd and Sd articles. he adopted the statement
in the Presidents answer as . sufficient re-
ply to them. With regard to the 4th article.
which charges conspiracy TO Obtain posses
sion OF the War Oa.ce, be maintained it was
cot covered By the act of 1861, which he
claimed was violated. The 9th article, al
leging the intended employment of force. be
held was not supported by testimony. The
9Th article, in which violation OF the len.
ure of-ofice law is also alleged. he considered
disposed of BY argument on the constitution
aity of that Law. The 7th article was passed
over with denials that the Presidents oath
Of Office vas violated BY the offense charged.
The oth article be met by argument that the
alleged endesyor to obtain Possession OF the
moneys in the War Department, if made,
was not violation OF the eli ssasrs law, -
stated. In seferenee to the 9th article. he
duty when coaferring with Gen. Emery about
the disposition Of faseas.
Considering the 10th article, be claimed it
was based on the principal which underlies
the seditinn law, which ever since its passage,
had stunk in the nostrels Of the American
people. He held that the President bsd fo,
loved the example OF certain members OF
Congress in disregarding the amenities Of ex-
preston, and was exeusable for using strange
language in reply to the sbnse which had
been heaped upon him, AfteF h1ef cons.d-
ssa.ion Of the ilth syticle, which be said vas
sai6ciently answered BY hisrsmarks concesu%
ing the preceding articles, he referred to the
charge Of Mr.. hou.well, that the presden;
WISHED to cantsoI the eieetionsin the South
ern States, and asked how that could be pos
sible with officers designated by Congress in
command and exercising control all over
,ha, region. In conclusion, he reminded the
Senate that trouble and confusion had nsueliy
followed the exercise OF revolutionary ~
unconstitutional rover in the deposition Of
kings and rulers Of the people. and implo-ed
them to SO perform the high Duties devols-
ing upon them, ~ to merit the appreciation
Of thes conscience, the.F cauntr5men and
their God,
The Court and Senate then at 4:l5 o'clock
adjourned.