Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-05-22

bull and Henderson against ConV1ct1On-
Several other Republican Senators con-
sidered sure for AcquittaI-Extraordi
ry excitement in Washington and else
where-Pr oceedings cf the Senate i'm Sc
cret Session. Sc. Sc, sc.
WASHINGTON, May l.
'' IMPEACHMENT.
"THe President aciN be acquitted"
That IS the sentence dropping from the
tongue and ringing in the ears of nearly
every person in the Capital of the Nation
AS this dispatch is written. It is for the
first time based on facts-sohd, earnest,
public facts-which fell from the lips of
four of the oldest and most distinguished
Republican Senators, in to-day's secret ses-
sion of the Radical Senate, sitting within
closed doors as ''High Court of Impeach-
ment." To say that the declarations of
these Senators have carried CONSERVATION
into the very hearts Of the revolutionary
party and created profound and wide
spread excitement, not only in their ranks,
but among the friends of constitutional
liberty, is to use stereotype dphrase, per-
haps in briefly comprising the interest
and feeling that are manifested in the ap-
preaching day Of final Judgment. Senators
den, declared to-day from their places in the
Senate Chamber, hiatt Iaoc and tie eride1ce
did not sustain the articles of impeachment,
preferred by the House of Representatives
against Andrew johnson, President of the
United States, and by tomorrow noon,
there is the highest and best reason to be-
ieve, more than enough of other Republi-
can Senators will join in the verdict of
those named, to insure tie acquiHal of the
Nations Chief Magistrate. Without stop
ping to detail the feeling of rejoicing pre-
valent among the Conservative elements to-
day and tonight, will commence with
resume of the proceedings of the Senate,
brief in its public and protracted in its Sc
cTet sessions.
The Senate proper was called to order at
10 o'clock a. M, pursuant to adjournment
Oh Thursday last but eight Senators being
Ill their seats. The chaplain prayed that
on the conclusion of this great trial pray
ers would go up from the whole country
for restored peace and prosperity for all
time to come. The Chief Justice immedi-
ately took the chair, and the Coutt of I'm
parchment was opened in due form, after
which the minutes Of Thursday were read,
ators came in. There were not twenty
spectators in the galleries. The Chief
Justice then stated that the Senate met
this morning with closed doors, and the
doors would now be closed unless some
Senator desired to make motion. Sena-
tor Sherman then said that before the
doors were closed he desired to submit
motion, which he thought would meet the
unanimous approval of the Senate. "To-
morrow he said, "will be day of great
excitement" and he moved that the Ser
geant-at-arms be directed to distribute his
assistants throughout the galleries, with
directions to arrest all disorderly persons
without any further directions from the
Senate Senator Edmunds said there was
already a standing order to tLae effect
Senator Sumner thought that an intima-
ton to the Sergeant-at-arms would be all
that was required. The Chief-Justice stated
that the Sergeant alarms had already
taken the proper precautions in the mat
ter. Senator Sherman said that notice of
the same should be given in the morning
papers Senator Williams suggested that
as there would be many strangers in the
galleries tomorrow that the Chief Justice
should, before the roll was called for the
day, admonish all those present that no ex-
pressions of appreciation or disapproba-
ton would be tolerated, and that
all those violating the rules of order
would be placed under arrest. Senator
Conness and otter Senators exclaimed
's That's it, and Senator Sherman then
withdrew his motion, and the doors were
closed at 1920 A NJ The Chief Justice
then said that the first business in order
was the disposition of the form of ques-
tions to be put to each Senator when called
upon to record his vote of guilty or not
guilty on the articles of impeachment. He
had as required by the Senate, prepared
the following questions which he read
First. Do you believe Andrew Johnson
guilty of this article as charged
Second DO you believe this constitutes a
high crime and misdeneanor
The Chief Justice briefly supported his
reasons for submitting these forms which,
after some discussion were, on motion Of
Mr.. Sumner, unanimously adopted. The
Chief Justice then said that the articles of
impeachment were open to discussion, and
each Senator was entitled, under the rules
which had been accepted, to speak for tif-
teen minutes. Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio, was
the first Senator to address the Senate
He announced in his opening that he should
vote against the first article relating to the
Civil Tenure Of Office act, but should vote
for the conviction of the President on the
second and third articles, which charge
him with the intent to violate that law
Mr.. Stewart of Nevada, followed in favor
of conviction On all Of the articles. This
was, of course, expected in and out Of the
Senate, and caused no particular sensation.
Mr.. Grimes then arose, and at once COM
manded the attention of every Senator
He proceeded in an earnest manner to
oppose the articles, separately and
and to denounce them
as unworthy of any consideration at
the hands Of the Senate. He concluded
by declaring that he should vote against
the conviction Of tho President from first
to last. Mr. Morrill,, of Maine, Mr.. Ed
Of Vermont, Mr.. Howe, of Wiscon-
sin, and Mr.. Williams, of Oregon, follow
ed successfully in dry legal arguments in
favor of conviction. Mr.. Hendricks spoke
in reply in support of acquittal At this
point the Senate took recess for twenty
minutes; in the meantime the lobbies of |
the Senate Chamber were filed by mem
bers of the House, journalists, and others
privileged to admission. The Radicals
were jubilant over conviction ;and Judging !
from the debate as far as it had progress
ed and leaked out, the current of opinion |
set that way very vigorously. kilograms
were despatched to the evening papers and |
to anxious inquiries throughout the coun
try, stating that conviction was certain. |
that although Trumbull had not yet spok-