The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1868-03-28
Impeachment Scens in the Senate on
the 9Th.


the 9Th.
A Washington special Of the 9th
to the Cincinnati gazette. says
The scene in the Senate chamber Al
an early hour this morning was bril-.
liant. Tho ladies came in good
season, and before the opening Of the
regular legislative session large mum.
bers Of them had secured seats aud
were busy with book, crocheiing, or
needlcwork, The dull proceedings
Of the morning hour had a soothing
effect upon the galleries and there
were many smelling bottles passing
around, and many approaches to
quiet maps. As o'clock drew near
there was general waking up and
the scene became lively. The ladies'
gallery was gay with bright toilets
and in contrast was the plain black
Of the gcntlcmens side nnrelicved,
except by the successive rows Of
earnest, peoring faces. The diplo.
matte gallery had slight foreign
air. The police kept the crowd back
from the doors, and through each of
them coaid be seen rings OF mcn all
leaning forward, trying to got q
glimpse oil the inside scene or catch
a sentence OF argument, or a ruling.
The desire to see was only limited BY
the great anxiety Of the crowd which
fhronged tho corridors,
Precisely at ! o'clock, Mr. Wade
cut the debate short with the decla-
ration thnt the hour mad arrived 10
proceed TO the consideration OF mat
ters pertaining to the Impeachment:
of the president, and that the chair
would then be located for the pur-
pose The chief Justice entered
from the lobby in the rear Of the
desk, aud took the chair Of the pre-
siding officer. After reading the
journal, the proceedings at once be.
came spicy aud interesting
Mr.. Howard made point OF order
under the Constitution that II was
imperative upon the chief justice to
administer the oath to all senators,
and held that the point Of order was
not dcbatablc.
Mr.. Chase held that the point must
be submitted to the Senate
Mr. Dixon kept the floor, insisting
upon his right to debate, and for a
time matters looked moro stirring
than they generally become on the
hoor OF the senate. 1t was not very
apparent to strangers, but those nc.
customed to watch the Senate could
PLAINLY sec tua' inc rcstle sness midi
Gated most disturbed state OF feel.
ing a Misunderstanding seemed
to prevail and each was evidently
misludsing the other to some extent.
AT least Mr. Dixons course was
scarcely courteous and some OF the
rulings Of Mr. chase annoyed many
OF the Republicans exceedingly for
time
Nearly all present were convinced
that the deLs'a, on the part OF Mr.
Dixon ana those working with him
was only a somewhat dignIiied kind
OF hlibusier'ns' Then there was no
agreement ~ 70 whether the body,
IN the condition It found itself, was
Senate or q court, md, consequent
", the question as to what rules they
Ted. MI Chase decided on tho
point raised by Mr.. Howard, that tho
rules passtl by the Senate 10 govern
the court Verc not binding, as the
court was not organized. Upon this
Mr.. Drake appealed, and on the call
Of yeas and nays, the chief Justice
was sustained BY ,wenty-four to
twenty. Seven Republicans being
absent At this applause broke out
in one of the galleries the action
being interpreted as sustaining tho
chief justice agains. the majority Of
the Republicans. The applause was
checked, but no order given to clear
the galleries. The vote really had
no significance whatever, except TO
express the opinion Of senator's as to
which set OF s:::= nc body was
bound by, aud each side was equally
to settle it.
The result, however, had an ugly
doors had boon opened for a debate
Of any length, but Mr.. Hendricks
soon put the whole matter in shape