The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-03-13
Washington News.
WAsIIISGroS, March 1893.
IMPEACHMENT,


conspiracy programme was concluded in
the Senate to-day, by the presentation
of the articles of impeachment against
the President of the United States.
shortly after one o'clock, the managers
on the part of the House entered the
Senate Chamber, in the following or
der: Bingham and Boutwell,, Williams
and Butler, Wilson and Logan, with
the"Great Commoner" (SteVens) bring
ing up the rear. The Speaker of the
House then appeared, flanked by two
Ohio JdcoGinS (Schenck and Walker J
and followed by all the JacO6ias mem
bers of that body. Colfax was invited
to II seat on the right of Wade, the
President pro tempOre of the Senate,
while the "lnanagers" above named
were seated i'm the area Immediately in
front of the Secretary's desk. The
members of the House present ranged
themselves around the outer row of
seats. The galleries were densely crowd
ed, the colOred population occupying IA
much larger space than usual. All be-
ing in readiness, Bingham arose and
formally announced the character OF
the business they had before the Senate.
Wade directed the Sergeat-at-A to
make proclamation, which that func-
tionary did, commanding all present to
keep silent (under certain pains and
penalties) whilearticles sOfimpeachment
against Andrew johnson, President OF
the United States, We're being read.
Bingham then proceeded to read the
articles, and, upon concluding the
same, Wade announced that the Senate
would make due order concerning the
matter, and notify the House thereo
whereupon the managers Withdrew,
followed by their Jucobin associates.
The galleries were soon emptied of the
large crowd, and other business was
called up. Thus ended the fourth act
OF the Radical conspiracy to depoSe the
President from office.
A COMMUNICATIONS FROM CHIEF JUS
TICE CHASE.
The Jacobins at the Capitol were
greatly excited this morning by the
announcement that Chief Justice Chase
had sent a Communication to the Senate,
from certain acts done by
that body in its legislative capacity
with reference to the Impeachment trial.
The Chief Justice holds that the adop-
tion of rules for said trial, and all mat
tiers connected Herewith, properly be-
long to the Senate, under oath, as a
"High Court of Impeachment" and
not to that body while sitting in its
ordinary character, and therefore he
objects to the proceedings which have
taken place in connection with
the approaching trial. The communi-
cation is the subject Ofgeneral comment
in Radical as well as Democratic circles.
The former are loud in denOuncing its
author, and assert that he is not in
sympathy with the movement, which
is doubtless true. The Senate Com
mittee of Seven are in session this af-
ternoon, and will, perhaps, endeavor to
get around the objections urged by the
Chief Justice, but there is very little
probability ofa change in the mode OF
procedure already adopted.
WASHINGTON. March ..
THE HIGH COURT OF IMPEACHMENT
In pursuance of the conspiracy origi-
mated by the House Radicals, the Sen
ate to-day commenced the work of or
itself into a "High Court Of
peachment." The somewhat novel
character of the proceeding attracted
a large crowd to the galleries, Chief
Justice Chase, accompanied by Mr.. jus
tice Nelson the senior Associate JUS
tice of the Supreme Court, and a COM
Messrs. Pomeroy, Buckaiew, and Will
son, entered the Chamber precisely at
one O'Clock. The President pro tempOrc
(Wade) announced that all legislati ye
and executive business would be sus.
pended, and thereupon the Chief Jus.
tice was escorted TO the Presidents
chair, and after stating that he came in
obedience to the request of the Senate
to preside over the High Court, annOun-
ced his readiness to take the usual oath,
which was administered to him by Mr..
Justice Nelson. He (Chase then sta
ted that he would administer the oath
to the Senators present, and they were
called in alphabetical order by the Sec
retary and sworn (Messrs. DooIittle,
Edmunds, Patterson of New Hamp-
shire, and Salisbury being ABSENT.
When the name of Mr.. Wade was call
ed, that gentleman advanced to the
Presidents desk, and was about to take
the oath, when Mr.. Hendricks rose and
objected TO swearing him, On the ground
that he was an interested party-being
the next officer in rank to the President
or the United States, and entitled by
law to take his place in case OF his re-
moval. The Radicals did not antici-
pate this objection, and it quite natur-
any gave rlsc 10 cOnSluefhDle excite
ment, both on the floor and in the
densely crowded galleries. The i'm
peachers Immediately rallied to the
support of their champion, and argued
that he had an undOubted right to be
sworn and sit on the trial If he thought
proper. Reverdy Johnson, in reply,
cited, with great effect, the case of Sen
ator stockton, who had voted on the
question of his own right to his seat,
and the Senate had afterwards declared
that he could not properly vote there
on. This logic was irresistible, and ap-
piled with ten-fold more force to the
case of Wade, who by his own vote
might declare the President of the
United States guilty of high crimes and
remove him from Office
and take the place himself, or, in other
words, declare himself President. The