The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-09
THE IMPEACHMENT.


THE IMPEACHMENT.
THE WORK BEGUN IN EARNEST.
OPENING OF THE HIGH COURT OF I'M,
PEA CHMENT
pppsrrrATIoN OF ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT TO
THE sESArE-NTEIEsTINa AND ThPREssIvE
sCESE-FoRMAIITIEs AND INCIDENTS OF THE
PROCEEDINGS.
All accounts agree that the proceedings In
the q. S. Senate on Wednesday and Thursday
last were extremely interesting. On the form
er day the knowledge that The Impeachment
proceedings were about TO open had the effec'
to draw to the galleries such an assemblage as
has rarely, if ever, been gathered within the
capi iol walls. The ladies we're largely in the
majority, and, inspired blythe bright day, were
attired in all the gorgeous hues Of tho ram
bow. The capacious galleries were packed
solid, and there was not even an inch OF stand
ing room. The correspondent of the Baltimore
Sun describing the scene says:
The usual business of the Senate proceecseo so
very quietly until one o'clock, when great SUI;
and hustle were heard from the outside, ana
tine cor; espondents from the oher end OF the
capitol came rushing into the Senate reporter
gallery, pencil and note-books IN nand, aiu
gave notice to their brothers OF tue qTn, qtr,l
eHele they are" "Hcre they come" The
doors fronting the d SIX Of the presiding othcer
were thrown wide open by the assistants OF the
sergeant-st-arms, and The managers, followed
by tie members Of the House, could be seen
coming down the vestlbule in files OF two ana
two. as they reached the door the chatte:lng
galleries and the noisy floor became husned
. into breathless stiffness. They halt, and the
sereeant-at-arms, placing himself i'll position,
an ounces, "The managers OF impeachment
on the part of the House Of Representatives.
At the invitation Of the char they came Tor
ward aud occupied the seats assigned them
within the bar-Messrs. Williams, wilson ana
Butler takipg the chairs on the right OF the
President, and Messrs. Logan, Stevens, Bout
well ano Bingham those on the left. The
members of the House arranged themselves,
standing. in semi-crcle and behind the outer
row oil seats o; Senators, with the exception OF
Mr.. Schenck and -rir. Banks. who seized upon
two vacant seats, and settled themselves COM
fortabiy, with their legs propped up Oh Ine
desks III front. =
Everything now being ready, the sergeant
alarms. by direction Of the chair, stood out
and made the usual proclamation, command
ing silence, &C., and Mr. Wade and MIR. Colfax,
who had been escorted to seat by his slde,
both sat bolt upright, and seemed fully I'M
pressed with the dignity Of thepart they were
performing.
MIR. Bingham then 1ose as chairman OF the
managers, and read the articles Of impeach-
ment. His voice, though pitched in low
key, was strong, and could be distinctly heard
in every part OF the chamber. The time occu-
pied in the reading w;s just thirty minutes.
Without doubt the articles had been already
perused by every soul in the galleries, but still
the closest attention was paid 10 every word
that fell from the lips Of the reader. In mark
ed contrast to this interest displayed by the
galleries was the spectacle on the floor, among
those who ought to have appeared SO much
more interested.
First, as to the fealpw-managers Of Mr.. Bing-
ham, Mr.. Stevens was the only ono who re-
manned sitting. He seemed to have some idea
ct what was going on by the occasional curl OF
his lin and flash of his eye. but again no toyea
with his cane and shifted his position uneaslly
Messrs. Boutwell,, Wilson, Williams and Logan,
their arms folded and the feet OF the latter
spread very vide apart, gazed on vacancy and
appeared perfectly obliSious OF surrounding
circumstances Mr. Butler bent his eye steadl-
ly on the ground, clutched his hat convulsiye-
ly with both haLds. and looked as bashfu! as o
rustic young father standing Mt the baptlsmai
fount with his first child.
THE grave senators who are to sit as the
court of impeachment did net seem to be deep
" impressed with the dignity of the premi-
nary proceedings. Mr. Fessenden nonchalent-
" chewed up paper; Mr. Howard was 6nsily
engaged in studying the merits u Chle1 Jus,
tice Chase's opinion as to the proper mode OF
conducting the trial; MIR. Conklng turned over
the leaves Of rving's Life of Washington; MIR.
Patterson, of Tennessee, went to sleep; Rever-
DIV johnson yawned; hir. Sumner smoothed his
hyperion locks-his lips were just parted, and
Iotriunaphs seemed to be escaping; MIR. Pome-
roy IVES absorbed with the life of General
Grant in the New York Ledger; Messrs. Sprague
and Ross INDUCED in chit chat, and Mr.. Chand-
fer chuckled.
The members Of the House in very short
time got tired Of standing, and looked very
uncomfortable, changing their positions con-
stantly. The grand lnpeacher, Ashley, stood
at the extreme left end, and had the additional
support Of his cane, his faco was wreathed
with smiles during the whole time, and he oc-
casionslly winked across to Schenck and Banks,
who returned his kindness with interest. When
MIR. Bingham got to that part OF the Butler
article reciting tho alledged remarks of the
President about 'kicking Congress out" MIR.
Ashley could not contain himself for his merri-
ment; he nudged Chandler, who in turn nudged
Wilson, and the trio seemed to enjoy the idea
very heartily and il had the same effect on the
army Of clerks attached to the two houses,
who stood in the background.
When the reading WAS conclued, MIR. Wade
remarked that the Senate would take dne order
In the premises. Speaker Colrax then descend
ed from his perch, and placing himself at the
head OF his cohorts the return march to the
house was taken up. The entire proceedings
occupied very nearly an hour.
noticeable TACT was the absence Of the
Democratic members Of the House, Mr.. Axtel,
of California, being the only one Of that side
present. So soon as it was all over and the
members Of the House had retired, the gale
ries commenced to clear, and it was some fen
,mnutes before order was restored and busi-
ness could be proceeded with.
THE DoINes ON THURsDAY-TE SENATE SITS AS
A HIGH COURT OF MpEAoHNENT-cH1EF JUS
TOE CHASE PRESIDING.
At one o'clock Thursday afternoon Chief
Justice Chase entered the Senate chamber,
having the arm of Senator Pomeroy, OF the
Senate Committee, followed By Justice Nelson,
of the Supreme Court, and Senators Wilson
and Bnckalew, also OF the Senate Committee.
As the Chief Justice walked to the front of the
Senate chamber, Vice. President Wade vacated
the chair, and Mr. Chase, clad in his robe of
black, assembled the steps and took his seat
Perfect silence prevailed.
After moments pause Chief Jussice Chase