Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-03-18

Andrew johnson, on Saturday, the 9TH day
of March inst, at O'Clock.
! GEORGE G. BROWNE, Sergeant-at-A Arms
of the Senate of the United States
The CHIEF JUsTIcE.-The Sergeant-at-
Arms will call the accused.
The Sergeant-at-Arms Tin loud yoice)
Andrew johnson, President of the United
States Andrew johnson, President of the
United States, appear and answer to the Ar
ticles of Impeachment exhibited against you
! by the House of Representatives of the United
States.
The doors were thrown open at this point
and every eye was turned that way for a mo-
ment, but Mr.. Butler entered and took his
seat with the other managers.
Senator johnson rose and said something,
in voice inaudible in the gallery where
upon the Chief Justice said IS The Sergeant
alarms will inform the counsel of the Pres
ident.''
The Presidents counsel. Messrs. Stanbery,
Curtis and Nelson, were ushered in at the
side door and took seats at the table at the
right of the Chair-Mr. Stanbery on the
right the others in the order named.
ENTRANCE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
At twenty minutes past one the Sergeant
alarms announced the members of the
House of Representatives, and the members
entered and distributed themselves as far as
possible among the chairs and sofas not al
ready occupied by those having the entree to
the chamber under the rules Many, how
ever, did not find seats at once.
THE PRESIDENTS PLEA.
/ MIR. Stanbery rose and said
! Mr.. ChiefJustice, Ny brothers, Curtis,
Nelson and myself are here this morning as
counsel for the President. | have his au-
Z FL
proceed to read.
| Mr. Stanbery read as follows
/ In the matter of impeachment of Andrew
johnson, President of the United States
Mr. Chief-Justice, l Andrew Johnson,
President Of the United States. having been
served with summons 10 appear before Lhis
honorable court, sitting Court of I'm
parchment, to answer certain articles of i'm
parchment, found and presented against me
by the honorable, the House of Representa-
tlves of the United States, do hereby enter my
appearance by my counsel, Henry Stanbery,
/ Benjamin r. Curtis jeremiah l.. Black, Ill
liam NJ Evarts, and Thomas 4. X. Nelson,
who have my warrant and authority therefor,
and who instructed by me to ask of this
honorable court for reasonable time for
the preparation of my answer to said articles.
After careful examination of the articles of
impeachment, and consultation with my
counsel, | am satisfied that at least forty days
will be necessary for the preparation of my
answer, and | respectfully ask that it be al
lowed Signed, ANDREW JOHNSON.
Mr.. Bingham replied and stated that I'M
der the eighth rule a motion for a continu-
ance to answer was not allowable
Judge Curtis then argued that the Presi-
dent could not be expected to appear 50 soon.
stating that the eleven articles were long and
should be considered, and he did not believe
that the Interpretation of the rule by the
Managers was a correct one.
Mr.. Wilson of Iowa, in behalf of the Man
ayers, replied, reading the rule and held that
the trial must proceed in default of the an
swer to the Impeachment of the House.
Mr.. Stevens, wan and pale, and Mr.. Butler
have entered the Chamber, and taken seats
about the table. and as Mr.. Wilson proceeded
at length Mr.. Gardner was taking 4 photo
graph of the scene.
Mr.. Stanbery replied, saying he had never.
in all his practice, met unjust a case. He
did not believe the Managers had prece-
dent even in the police court for their course.
lie declares the counsel is ready to answer
and he does not want the case to 20 by de-
fault Two of his counsel are absent and they
must have time. The case is so important
in history that haste is indecent. This is
the return day by the eleventh rule, not the
trial day. lie is willing to answer, but he
must have time.
The immense crowd during all the time is
still, and the counsel gains confidence, his
voice becomes calm and sharp. lie says.
g Strike, but hear us dramatically, and
the House is as still as cavern.
Mr.. Bingham rises to reply, but the Chief
Justice rose and read from the rules IN re
gard to the limitation Of debate to one hour
The former then replied to Mr.. Stanberv, re-
l..
He thought there could be no trial until there
should be an issue. The President had not
yet entered plea and the rule required them
to proceed as though the President had plead
not guilty.
The Chief Justice then stated the motion
for forty days time for the President and
proceeded TO put the motion, when Mr.
/ Edmunds offered a resolution requiring the
President to file his answer by the first OF
April, and that the case stand for trial on
the sixth of April next.
/ Senator Morton moved that the Senate re-
tire and consult upon the question before
them.
/ The Chief Justice decided that the proposed
order was in the nature OF an amendment to
/ the rule, whcreupon the Chief Justice and
! the Senator's retired to an antc-room in the
rear of the chamber for that purpose al cx-
actly two o'clock.
Everybody's tongue was embossed, and
great excitement prevailed as the Senators
left the hall.
When the Senators retired to the marble
room there informal discussion on the
Edmunds resolution-those Republicans who
had opposed impeachment joining the Demo
Gratis in desiring that the President have
thirty or forty days in which to answer,
while the most advanced Republicans were
opposed to giving any time at all
At ten minutes past four the Senate re-
turned to the Chamber, headed by the Chief
Justice, and the members took their seats
AS soon as silence had been restored the
Chief Justice said that the motion of the
counsel had been overruled, and that the
time to be given the President for preparing
his plea and answer had been fixed for tho
Odd day of March, at one O'Clock
Mr.. Bingham then moved that the tra
proceed on the day Of the Presidents answer
The question being put, the motion was lost
yeas %, nays %.
The motion lost by the vote of the
President son-in-law, Mr.. Patterson of Ten
nessee, who did not respond when the rol
was called, but afterward asked leave to re
cord his name.
The Republicans voting in the negativ,
are Senators Anthony, Edmunds, Fessenden
Fowler, Frelinghuysen, Grimes, Howe. Nor
rill (Me.), Morrill,, (Vt.), Spraguc Sher
man. Trumbull, VanWinkle, and Wiley.
Mr.. Sherman then moved that the tria
should proceed on the 9Th of April, which
motion Mr.. Wilson moved to amend by fix
ing the LIST of April the day.
, All eyes were turned toward Mr.. Bng
, ham, it was understood that he was t.
argue questions of postponement, but neithe
he nor any other mana ger seemed disposed t,
sneak until Gen Butler rose and inouired q