Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-03-12
PROGRESS OF IMPEACHMENT.

On the End instant, the House OF Representa-
tives, adopted the Articles of Impeachment of the
President, substantially as reported in our last is
sue, with the exception of the seventh article
charging the President with conspiracy with one L.
Thomas, to seize the War Office, &c. The vote
on the adoption of the articles stood one hundred
and eight for, and forty-eight against-two repub-
licans voting with the democrats.
These forty-eight members afterwards presented
written protest against the action of the majority,
which we publish elsewhere in full. The docu-
ment explains itself sufficiently, and will probably
be regarded hereafter as not the least important
part of the history of this violent transaction Its
reading before the House prohibited. and leave
to print refused.
The Republican members seem to mistrust the
efacy of their bill of Indictment against the fresi-
dent, and during the discussions of the articles,
these misgivings were not concealed 1t was ire
ouently given out, that any ''shrewd lawyer or cav
ling judge could ride over this labored attempt
to charge ''high crimes and misdemeanors" upon
the President.
On the 3rd instant, two additional articles were
added to the list; and the managers elected by the
House authorized to send for persons and papers.
The managers are Messrs Bingham, Stevens,
Boutwell,, Butler, Wilson, Williams and Logan
all Republicans. The President will be allowed to
select an equal number Of lawyers to conduct his
defence.
On the 4th instant the managers, accompanied by
the speaker and members of the House, repaired
the Senate chamber. where the articles were read
by Bingham, chairman OF the managers. Inc
Democratic members of the House did not attend
on the Senate The House was notified that the
Senate would take action, and the members OF the
House withdrew.
The Senate, in the meantime, had prepared a
code of rules to govern the impeachment proceed
ings in that body, and had completed the same on
the 4th instant, when a communication was receiv-
ed from Chief Justice CHASE, announcing his non
concurrence with the action of the Senate, and
holding that no rules could be established by that
body until organized as Court of Impeachment
He adds, however, that the Senate having pro-
ceeded upon other views, it was not his purpose to
contest what their superior wisdom had directed.
This communication was bomb-shell to the men,
bers of the Senate, and produced great consterna-
ton.
JENcKs presented, in the House, another arti-
Gle in the impeachment list charging the President
with criminal intent, and urging that no conviction
could be had without it. The article was lost.
On the 5th instant, Chief Justice CHASE ap
peared in the Senate Chamber, supported by the
Committee of Managers, and took his seat as pre-
siding officer of the Impeachment Court. The
oath was administered to CHASE by Judge Mel.
SON, and then to each Senator. Objections were
made to WADE being sworn, as he had a contin-
gent interest in the impeachment scheme. The
afternoon was occupied in debate, without any
conclusion being arrived at.
On the 9th, CHASE appeared at l, p M, and
organized the Court He decided that the rules
previously adopted by the body as the Senate,
we're not of force, unless confirmed by it while sit
ting as Court The Rules were then affirmed.
Objections to WADE being sworn were withdrawn,
and the organization of the Court completed.
At the instance of the Managers, and on mo-
ton, a summons was issued to ANDREW JOHNSON,
President of the United States, to attend on Fri
day, the 18th instant, to answer the charges pre-
ferred by the House. The Court then adjourned.