Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-11
THE FORMAL SUMMONS OF THE
PRE4IDENT.

The Washington correspondent OF the
Cincinnati Commercial makes the follow
ing statement in his dispatch of the 8th
instant:
At 7 O'clock, last evening, the Sergeant
alarms Of the Senate called at the White
House to serve upon the President the writ
of summons in the impeachment. Upon
the announcement Of the Usher that the
officer Of the Senate desired to see Mr..
johnson, the latter directed Mr.. Brown,
the Sergeant-at-Arms, to be admitted.
After the usual civil salutations, Mr.. Brown
said
"Mr. President, l have here a package
which / am ordered by the Senate OF the
United States to deliver to you !" at the
same time handing q sealed envelope or
package containing the writ.
Mr.. johnson replied: every well, sir
it shall receive my attention"
Mr.. Brown-"Good evening, Mr. Preai-
dent"
Mr.. Johnson-"Good evening, Mr..
Brown" and Mr. Brown Withdrew.
Shortly sfterward, the President opened
the package and found therein the writ,
including a copy Of the articles of impeach-
ment, etc.
1t has not been determined by the
President whether he will appear on
Friday in person or by counsel 1t
seems to be generally understood he will
demand time for preparation for the trial,
some say twenty days The impeachers
seem disinclined to grant more than half
that time, so intent are they upon hurry
ing up the trial in the hope of getting
him out of Office and out Of the way of
the contamination of their pet schemes.
The Washington correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gazette speculates on the 9Th
inst as follows in regard to the Presi-
dents counsel and line of defense
The Presidents counsel have not all
been finally agreed upon as yet. Ii is not
considered certain that Judge Black will
serve. VIM. B. Eysrts has been applied
to, but may be prevented from taking part.
B. K. Curtis, Of Massachusetts. is thought
by the Presidents friends to be one of the
strongest men among those Of the counsel,
he having written the dissenting opinion
in the bred Scott decision and on that ac-
count, il is believed, he will carry consid-
cradle political strength with Republicans.
David Dudley Field has been retained, and
is at work on the case with Black and Stan
berry. The latter, if not regularly engaged,
is in the case. The Cabinet is also being
consulted in the whole arrangement Of the
case. There has been some casting around
10 find an able lawyer to add TO the defense
who has influence with Republicans.
As the result of conferences already had,
with a view to preparing the defense, those
in the ring say the Presidents lawyers feel
perfectly satisfied with their case that they
intend to show that the whole practice for
all administrations has been TO remove I'M
der the Constitution, and the tenure-of-
Office bill is an act so palpably unconstitu-
tionsl as to Justify Mr.. johnson in disre-
garding il, the same as if an act had been
passed, saying he should send no messages
to Congress, when the Constitution saws he
shall To meet Buffers and Bingham's
articles, however, they find no precedents,
and these really give them considerable
trouble
1t is understood that the counsel for de-
tense will first challenge various Senators !;
| LOT lnsIanCei Nhueg on the ETOHnu Oh inter-
est and Sumner, Chandler, and others, for
having expressed opinions. Next, they
will contend that the Senate is court, and
that the President has a right to have
full court present, and that ten States with
their twenty members of the court are abb
sent If the votes upon these two points
should be strongly against them, and few
doubt il, then the next step, it is thought,
will be for a long continuance. If this
should be refused and the one granted be
only Of moderate leghth, it is stated by some
in the Presidents counsel that be may offer
his resignation, on the ground that such
votes and refusal boded no good to him,
and that q resignation would save him
from political disabilities following from
| impeachment.
As to the challenge of Senators, the
Board Of Managers have looked into the
question closely, and find that all prece-
dents in England and this country are en-
tirely against any such rights. No fac
tious delay is expected on the part Of Mr..
Johnson's lawyers, as some Of them are
men who could not afford to be thus used