The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-06-17

The Last Act Of the Impeachment
Comedy.

The Last Act Of the Impeachment
Comedy.
The special Washington correspondent
of the Cincinnati Enquirer, under date OIL
the 26th, furnishes the following particulars
of the last days proceedings of the Court
of Impeachment
ASSEMBLING OF THE COURT THE GALLERIES
The impression being general that no
vote would be taken, there was nothing
like the rush which has heretofore charac.
terized the impeachment proceedings
Nevertheless the immense galleries were
packed. The diplomatic section contained
representatives of twenty eight foreign
countries. Arrangements for preserving
perfect order were shown by files Of police
men.
The chamber appeared almost deserted.
There sat the Conservatives and sever ''re-
creants." Where were the thirty.fye i'm
peachers?
IT WAS A MYSTERY TO THE GALLERIES
Others knew that caucus was being
held to determine whether to proceed with
the vote or not. Edmunds came in and
announced confidently that the voting
would be postponed. A few minutes later
other Senators entered with an indifference,
and soon engaged in conversation, with
groups being formed, among which the
action Of the caucus was being discussed.
THE FIRST MOVE
Speculations were freely offered as to the
probable effect of the postponement on
grounds of party interests; yet. soon after
the court organized Edmunds rose slowly
and offered resolution recinding all the
previous rules en- the subject Of voting
The Chief Justice thought the resoln-
ton was not in order. A majority thought
otherwise, and the rules were recnded
THE SECOND MOVE
Next came the resolution postponed the
vote on impeachment until the 23i Of
June. The Chief Justice considered this
out of order and was again overrnled.
On each of the propositions, Mr.. Ross
voted with the impeachers. A decided
sensation among them was perceptible, and
the Radical Senators were bobbing heads
and making great efforts to confer with Mr..
Ross, who had defeated them on the elev-
enth article. Abnse had been heaped up
on him, Was it possible he had repen-
ted.
THE PROGRAMME cHAYGEb- STRATEGY.
Mr. Conkling offered substitute, pro.
viding that the Senate proceed at once to
vote on the remaining articles. This was
believed to have been offered in good faith,
when it was rejected by an Overwhelming
vote. Many Of the spectators left The gal
ferries, supposing the days performance
was closed. The newspaper men, in their
anxiety to outstfip competition, flashed
the news over the wires that "infpeach-
ment was postponed till the I'd OF June.
THE sTRATEGIsTs BEATEN AT THEIR own
No one doubted the fact except parties
engaged in the desperate game. Mr.. Conk-
Inns purpose proved to be draw on Ross,
who, understanding the game in time, set
a trap for the impeachers. Ross voted
squarely against Conklin's substitute. An
other buzz was heard on the Radical side.
Sumner left his seat burriedly, and passed
to the seats of Edmunds, Williams and
Others, holding brief conferences. Sena-
tors leaned toward each other, and passed
hurried words. Spectators continued leav-
ing. The telegraph already spread the
news in every direction. An undercurent
was not seen, but its exact character was
unkuown.
AND CAUGHT IN THEIR OWN NET.
The countenaces of the impeachers were
frightened up by some unexpected turn in
events, as they evidently anticipated that
Ross had been drawn out and was upon
the record with the impeachers on every
preliminary question. He seemed to be
acting ia good faith the impeachers, and
voted down the caucus resolution to post
pone the vote, and moved to 60 into vote
on the second article, The impeachers
were now all smiles, and had adroitly as
J. e =
certained exactly how Ross would vote, as
they supposed, and now they could con-
vict.
they little suspected two parties to their
game, and little suspected that the modest
unsophisticated Senator from Kansas in
tended to eDtrap thirts-fye ihpeachprs at
single haul: The roll was called amid
silence, and the interest height
ened as the votes of the doubtful Senators
reached the eliminating point. Ross
name being called now came.
THE TUG OF WAR.
The impeachers had hazarded everything
upon his vote. Could it be possible that
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