The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-04-24
xLth CoNGREsS---second Session
wAsH1soros. April %.


SENATE.
The Court opened N ito usual form.
Mr.. Grimes offered m order that the Court
meet hsreeftesat ~ o'clock, but being OBJ
jected 70 It ~ laid over.
At ll:2O Mr.. Boutwell, resumed hia ad-
dress. When Ar. Boutwell, had concluded,
on motion OF Mr.. johnson, the Court took
recess OF hfleen minutes.
On resassembling q lao, Mr.. Nelson took
the door and dsiisefedAn srfsmpoTe address
Affer ailuding 70 the mAgnitode au1 wnai
he deemed his own ability properly 70 treat
it. he said be should consider many points
which, though mot rightly belonging 70 the
case, required attention, because they had
been introduced BY the Msnngers. he refer
red to the charges Of evil nature, vickedness
and detestable character which had been
brought sgainst the President, which had
renamed unn0ticed By his counsel. The
President was accused OF being everything
from = political criminal to common scold;
these accusations, stigmss and sspersions
he intended to examine. Mr.. Nelson asked
Who is Andrew Johns0n? And proceedsd to
sketch the Presidents early life and career,
aud passsd . high encomium on his patrioflsm
and public services, referring also 10 the fact
that his neighbora, I'D those who Ike
himself (Nelson) knew him best, sustained
him and believed him innocent.
Mr.. Nelson felt that he WAS not addressing
merely Senators or politicians, but judges,
whom he begged 10 rise above prejudices snd
party considerations. and do impartial JUS
tice. If he believed that the result Of the
trial was foregone conclusion, humble in
diriduai that be was, be would scorn to ad
dress them. He asked them, ~ far as pos
sible, to put themselves in the Presidents .
place TO Judge OF his feelings, and motives,
and Intentions privilege accorded TO the
meanest criminal. Citing the resolution de-
clarstory Of the purposes of the war, which
was introduced By Senator Johnson just after
the battle Of Bull Run, and passed By Con-
gress. and still reAains unrepelled, he
claimed .ha. the President bad acted upon
and still maintained tha. principle. He ar
gued that President Johnson, after the sur
render Of General Lee, endeavored faithfully
10 carry out the policy oil his predecessor,
which was based upon that resolution. AL
though Senators mar conscientiousiy believe
that he was wrong in his action regarding the
formation of new State Governments, they
must admit that there is no express provis
ion in the Consultation for reconssruction,
and that the Presiden. had right to his own
opinion, more especially as peace had DO,
been fully restored. The loud necessity fos
prompt action was pressing. The honesty
aud integrity Of the motives must, IN charity,
| be presumed IN such case. lettering 70
the recognition by Congress OF state doy-
ernment ID Virginia, formed without the
passage OF any demonstration act
he claimed that Congress had also last,hed
the Presidents policy. Congress had also
in the act Of March lat. 1865, dated the ees'
sation OF the war from August, 1866, the time
fixed on IN the presidents Proclamation
This recognized ils validity, and also, he
lSelsonl claimed, the Tact that the rebe
States had not been out Of the unioni
5. Having thus endsaycsed 70 dispose OF tbs
| charges OF usurpai,on, &c, based on Tbs
Presidents conduct in former years, Mr.
Nelson said be would consider the important
Question, whether this body Is a court Hs
denied that authority or precedent was to hf
| found for its guidance 10 Parliament, exc ri
| 10 the same way that history vas TO be con.
| suited. This is the tribunal Of the consti
tuition.
Mr.. Nelson then quoted from the debates
on the confirmation Of the CONSTITUTION, ia
| support Of his views that the Chief Justice
vas called upon to preside IS Juoge, and
was expected to state the Law, and also de-
eide 10 tho FIRST instance upon all law ques
tons which arise. he further contended ,ha