Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-04-28
CONGRESSIONAL.

CONGRESSIONAL.
| SENATE.-Saturday, April 1S.-At IL A. NJ.
| the Chief Justice took his seat, and the Court
| OF Impeachment was opened. Secretary Welles
| was again called to the stand. The Chief JUS
tice then announced the question to be admit
ting the testimony of Secretary Welles, by which
the counsel offer to prove that the veto message
| on the Tenure Of Office bill was prepared joint
| ly by Messrs Seward and Stanton and the sub
| sequent action of the Cabinet on the subject
| After long discussion between the Presidents
counsel and the managers, the Chief Justice
! decided the testimony admissible. vote was
called for and taken. The decision of the Chief
Justice was overruled and the evidence was re-
jected-y yeas 20, nays 90. Mr. Evarts then re
sumed the examination of Secretary Welles and
asked whether at the Cabinet deliberations on
| the Tenure of Office bill from the time it was
| presented to the President until the time the
| veto message was sent in the question as to
whether MIR. Stanton came under its provisions
was discussed? Mr. Butler objected, and the
proof was reduced to writing: We offer to
prove that at the meetings of the Cabinet, MIR.
Stanton being present, when the Tenure OF Of
| flee bill came up for consideration, the question
was asked and the opinion expressed that Mr..
Stanton and the other Cabinet officers appoint
ed by Mr.. Lincoln did not come under its re-
strictions" After discussion, the Chief JUS
tice decided the question admissible. vote
was called for and the Senate refused to allow
it-yeas %, NAYS 26. Two additional attempts
were made by the counsel for the President to
elicit information from the witness on the points
stated above, but in each instance the Senate
refused to allow the proposed questions. The
witness was cross examined by Mr.. Butler in
relation to the nomination of Mr. Ewing as Sec
rotary of War, and in reference to the interview
between the President and General Emory, who
the witness says Vas sent for by the President
in consequence of in ormatiOn of the unusual
movements of troops under his charge, of which
witness had informed the President Edgar j.
Welles, son of Secretary Welles, was called and
sworn The witness testified as to the form of
the commissions issued to naval officers and in
relation to the information furnished to the
President of unusual movements of troops in
General Emory's Department GU the 22d OF
February last Alexander W. Randall, Post
master General, was then sworn and examined.
He testified that Foster BIodgett, Postmaster
of Augusta, Georgia, was suspended by witness
as Postmaster General, and that the President
had nothing to do with it, and knew nothing of
it. At the conclusion of Mr.. Raodall's exami
nation MIR. Evarts stated that evidence on the
part of the President was now closed, as counsel
understood it, but they were not certain, as Mr.
Stanbery had charge OF the proofs, and it may
fered The Court then adjourned. The Sen
ate was called to order and Immediately after
wards adjourned.
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, House
having on Friday refused to adjourn until ii A.
NJ, the speaker of the House, who appeared
in the Hall at that hour on Saturday, did not
take his seat, but announced from the Clerk S
desk that such members as desired could ac-
company the managers to the bar OF the Senate.
At II NJ. the Speaker and members returned
to the Hall and the House was called to order.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole and proceeded to attend the impeach-
ment trial The usual announcement Of the
appearance of that body in the Senate Chamber
was dispensed with. The members at 4. As T.
NJ. returned to the Hall. A resolution was a.
, dopted that on the days when the Senate is sit
ting on the impeachment trial the House shall
attend in Committee OF the Whole at the hour
named for the commencement Of the proceed
ingS. The House then adjourned.
SENATE Monday, April 20.--At | A: NJ.
the Chief Justice took his seat and the Court
OF Impeachment was opened. The counsel tor
the President stated that they had no additional
evidence to offer. Mr.. Butler offered in evidence
the commission of George Washington as Com
nander in Chief. The commission reads that
1T shall be held during the pleasure OF Con
gress. The form OF commission was alter
wards altered to read during the pleasure OF
the President" He then offered letter of
Secretary Guthrie iu 1855, deellning to make an
appointment in the recess OF the Cenate. Post
master General Randall was then called in
reference to the Ease Of Foster Biodgett. Mr..
Butler desired to put certain questions to the
witness to prove that MIR. Bio, gett was unaw
fully suspended from the office Of Postmaster
at Augusta, Ga, and that the only charge a.
gainst him was that he had taken the test oath,
after having been in the service OF the Con-
federate Government. The evidence was re-
jected by the Senate. MIR. Randall then made
statement Of the reasons for which he had
suspended Rodgett, after which he left the
stand Mr., Butler then proposed to offer In
evidence the order OF the President creating the
Department of the Atlantic. After some discus
sion the letter was withdrawn Mr. Butler then
, offered In evidence list of officers who would
be affected if the President could remove officers
and appoint others at pleasure, showing the
amount of salaries that would be affected. MIR.
Butler next offered In evidence certain messages
of the President to the Senate, containing the
i, nomination first of 1t Gen Sherman and after
wards of Gen George Ii. Thomas for General
by br,vet Mr.. Evarts objected. The evidence
was ruled out-yeas IA, nays IS. MIR. Butler
: then said that the case on the part OF the man
ayers was closed and all witnesses here at the
| Instance OF the managers are OlScnargeU. NIT.
Eyarts said he would make the same announce
ment about Witnesses for the defence. The
Court then adjourned until Wednesday next,
when the closing argument for the prosecution
will be commenced by Mr.. Boutwell,. The
Senate was then called to order, and after a
short executive session adjourned until Wednes-
day.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House
met at IL A. M. and proceeded in Committee
of the Whole to the Senate chamber At the
close of the proceedings in the Impeachment
trial the members returned to the Hail. and the
House was called to order. A resolution was
adopted directing the Foreign Affairs Commit
tee to inquire into the property Of enacting that
no claim of British citizens against the United
States shall be allowed until claims of the United
States are allowed by Great Britain. Also, a
resolution directing the Committee on Com
merce to inquire into the expediency of treating
the office of Government Inspector of rails and
railroad cars, with view to prevent accidents.
The Committee on Appropriation reported back
the Senate bill making appropriations for the
expenses of the impeachment trial and for other
purposes. The co4,nstt recommended to
strike out all appropriations except those tor
impeachment, for contingent expenses, for pay
ment OF Capitol police, and for payment OF la
borers The bill was passed as reported from
the Committee. On motion OF Mr.. Banks the
House took up the bill in relation to the rights
of ,nerjcan c,fizanc abroad The nroyiOuS 0ueS-