The New York herald., 1868-05-13
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COURT.


UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER,l
WASHINGTON, May IL, $685.
A steady stream lowed into the galleries from the
opening until they were filed. An allotment Of
three policemen in each aisle gave them novel air,
but had no erect In checking the conversational en-
joyment Of the jeunesse dOree until the Senate was
called to order at halfpsst eleven O'Clock. In the
meantime the doOr was the scene Of earnest consul
tatlons on all hands, several Of the Managers, in
cluding Mr.. Stevens, being present long before the
opening. Among the strangers present were ex-
Senators Harris. Of New York, and Cresswell, Of
Maryland.
The chair was taken at halfpast eleven O'Clock
precisely by the President pro tenpore. The chap
lain, Rev. Dr.. Gray, then opened the proceedings
with prayer. After invocati0ns on behalf Of the ma
ton he concluded as follows:-
Prepare the mind, Lord, Of the President for the
removal OF the suspense connected with this days
proceedings. Prepare the minds Of the people for
the momentous issues which hang upon the decision
OF the hour. Prepare the minds Of thy servants the
Senators for the great responsibility Of this hour.
May they be wise In counsel may they be clear and
a to I the high trusts COMMITTED to @ them BY % the
nation and may the blessing Of God be upon all the
prenscy Of the law Nay orc order sn piety and % peace
prevail throughout all our Deliberations and may the
the people God preserve the government and save
It, God, maintain the right to-day and forever more
Amen' 49,. s~'A e.
McSSrS. StauDery anu EVdTtS enCercu inc cnamDer.
In the meantime the Chief Justice assumed the
chair and the court was opened by proclamation.
Mr.. CHANDLER Immediately arose and addressed
the chair but the Chief Justice directed the Secre
tary to proceed with the reading Of the Journal
After the reading had progressed for some minutes
| Mr. EDMUNDs moved that the further reading be dis
pensed with.
Mr.. DAVIS objected, and the journal was read
| through.
Mr. EDMUNDs moved to take up his pending order,
which is as folows:-
Ordered, That the standing order OF the Senate
that 1t will proceed at twelve O'Clock tomorrow
to vote upon the articles OF impeachment be recon
sidered.
Mr.. CHANDLER asked unanimous consent to make
| q statement.
No objection being made, he said:-My colleague
(Mr Howard) Is taken suddenly Ill and delriOus
yesterday. He was very Ill this morning, but he told
he would be here to vote, at the peril Of his
life. Both Of his physicians however, objected and
said 1t would be at the peril OF his life. With that
statement desire to move that the Senate sitting
court adjourn until Saturday next at ~velve o'clock.
Mr.. HENDRICKS moved to amend by making 1t to-
morrow at twelve O'Clock.
Mr.. CHANDLER-There Is probability that he
will be able to be up. He had very high fever and
was delirous. He said he would be here to-day If
the Senate insisted on having him come.
Mr.. FEssENDEN inquired whether the postpone
ment would leave the order with reference to filing
! opini ons after the final vote applicable to-day.
The CHIEF JUsTICE-The Chief Justice understands
| that it applies to the final vote.
| Mr.. CONNEss-And two days thereafter'
| The CHIEF JUsTICE-And two days thereafter.
| Mr.. HENDRICKS suggested thai Mr. Chandler modify
his motion so as to pr ovide for an adjournment till
| Thursday, when il the Sena tor should not be well
enough, further adjonrnmeat could be had.
| Mr.. CHANDLER-WOuld Friday suit the Senator?
/ Several SENATORS-NO
| The motion OF Mr.. Hendricks was lost.
Mr.. TIPTON moved TO amend IL by making 10 Friday.
The motion was not agreed to, Senator Sumner
and the mover apparently being the only Senators
Mr. BUCKALEw suggested that Mr.. Chandler
| modify his motion to read that when the Senate
Mr. CHANDLER so modified it, and 1t was agreed
to- with only one OF two nays on the democratic sde
Mr.. EDMUNDs moved that the Secretary be directed
| to inform the House that the Senate will proceed
| further In the trial on Saturday next, at twelve
O'Clock. He withdrew the motion. however, after
On motion Of Mr. DRAKE the court was adjourned
at ten minutes before twelve and the president pro
tempore resumed the chair, and called the Senate TO
order.
Mr. DRAKE Immediately made motion that the
Senate adjourn until tomorrow.
Several VOices-No, no.
Mr. DRAKE-what are you going to do II you stay
Mr. YATEs-I move that when the Senate adjourn
| It adjourn to meet on Friday at twelve O'Clock.
Mr.: ANTHONY said some Senator'S seemed 70 be for
pushing the session into September or November
They could just as well do something now as at some
other time Every day they sat now shortened the
| session.
Mr. SHERMAN remarked that next week they would
probably have to adjourn in order to allow OF the
usual changes In the Senate chamber for the summer
| and there was important business to be discussed
| before that time. He therefore hoped they would
discharge all the business possible during this week
| before taking the vote on Saturday.
Mr. HENDRICKS concurred in the remarks OF the
two last speakers He thought the reasons for avoid
| ing the consideration Of legislative business no
longer prevailed: All the evidence had been exam
incd and doubtless all the Senator'S had made up
fhair inha Thara m I'm
occupying the four or five days remeaining Of the
week In legislative business, and IL would be worse
than folly to waste them and thus run the session
| into the heat Of July and possibly further.
Mr. DRAKE was of the opinion that the very desire
| TO have some business transacted under circun-
stances favorable to its transaction would do
to hasten 1t than the attempt TO do 1t at an unfavora
be done in the Senate to-day and be Thought it should
be postponed until it could De done properly. ne
prevail but that they would adjourn until tomorrow.
| A SENAroR-what's the matterS
Mr. DRAKE-Gentlemen ask me what Is the matter.
II there Is consciousness on the part OF senators
OF the condition OF things In the Senate this day that
should lead them TO feel thai the mind was not ex-
actly the balance that 1t ought TO be for business,
| cannot impart that consciousness to them. But,
| sir when this nation Is moved TO its utmost ex-
| to know whether the senate is composed Of men
utterly given over to cool and calm philosophy that
moves ey the nation To its rihesi eXremiy they
are all that have 10 say IL that am let In the
condition OF great envy al their superior composure
| Mr. ANrHoSy inquired II all this excitement which
the senator had referred TO could be cooled ia one
night
| Mr.. DRAKE-Yes, sir, Il will We will cool IL all
down.
Mr. SHERMAN thought this had teen the gravest
day they had had In the course OF the trial They
had heard the argument Of counsel the testimony OF
witnesses and the opinions OF each other with COM
posurc, and he had no doubt they would - on with
their ordinary Legislative business with composnre
Whatever occurred they must still discharge their
duty In legislation ana he that their nerves
were not In such condition as to prevent their
| doing It.
! Mr.. DRAKE said that might he tue case with the
/ Senator from Ohio (Mr. Sherman,.
Mr.. YATES thought the suspense and anxiety al
ready referred to prevailing throughout the land
could not be ignored. II would be with them In their
deliberations and no did not believe any wholesome
legislation could take place while this suspense ex.
lists. The minds ~ Senators would remain occupied
with It, He was as tlesrous as any senator TO pro-