The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-03-13
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the limits OF their lives.
Eir. Wade arose and made order
that all business should be suspended
to proceed with the consideration of
impeachment, and left the Chair with
the remark that it was now vacant
for that purpose. The Chief Justice
then advanced, followed by Justice
Nelson, took the Vice Presidents
i(Wade's) position, and said:
Senators, | am here in obedience
to your notice for the purpose of pro
ceeding with You in forming a Court
of impeachment for the trial OF An
drew Johnson, President of the Unit
ed States. l am now ready to take
the oath.
Upon this Justice Nelson slowly
read the following oath, which Mr..
Chase repeated after him:
/ solemnly swear that, in al things
appertaining to the trial of the i'm
peachment of Andrew Johnson, Pres
ident of the United States, pending,
will do impartial justice, according
to the Constitution and laws. So
help me God.
1t was strange sight for the Sen.
ate Chamber; those two Judges in
full black robes, the Bible upon the
desk. The slow rendering and re-
sponses produced an impression that
will never pass from the memories of
those who witnessed it..
THE SENATOR'S SWORN.
Next, each Senator, as his name
was called, advanced to the desk, and
with uplifted hand, took the same
oath as that above described, the
Chief Justice administering it.
THE CASE OF MIR. WADE.
The organization of the court was
proceeding rapidly, until the name OF
Mr.. Wade was called, and he stepped
toward the desk. Mr.. Hendricks
rose and objected to his being sworn
as a member of the court, on the
ground of his being an interested par
ty. While this took the spectators by
surprise, Senators seemed TO have
been prepared for it. Mr. Sherman
lat once replied, taking strong ground
for the right and duty of Mr.. Wade to
be sworn The fact that Mr.. Hendricks
had not objected to the Presidents
son-in-law taking the oath, shows that
he was not altogether moved by 4
fear that interested parties would gain
a seat in Court The debate took a
Senatorial range, so far as the mum
Der of participants was concerned
! Mr.. Sumner made a speech, which,
for its arguments and its effective de-
livery, produced a very marked ef-
feet upon the Senate. The question
was consider an important one, and
no desire to check the course of de
bate was manifested. AT 5 O'Clock
Senator Grimes moved TO adjourn in
Difference to Mr.. Chase, who had
been presiding either in the Supreme
Court or the Senate for six consecu-
question goes over till tomorrow.
THE IMPEACHMENT cotRT.
i Precisely atone o'clock Mr.. Wade
cut the debate short with the declara-
ton, that the hour had arrived to
proceed to the consideration of mat
: ters pertaining to the Impeachment
of the President, and that the Chair
would then be located for the pur-
pose. The Chief Justice entered
from the lobby in the rear of the
desk, and took the Chair of the pre-
siding officer. After reading .the
journal, the proceedings at once be-
came spicy and interesting.
Mr.. Howard made point of order
under the Constitution, that it was
imperative upon the Chief Justice to
administer the oath to all Senators,
end held that the point of order was
not debatable.
Mr.. Chase held that the point must
be submitted to the Senate
Mr.. Dixon kept the floor, insisting
upon his right to debate, and for a
time matters looked more stirring
than they generally become on the
floor of the Senate. 1t was not very
apparent to strangers, but those ac-
customed to watch the Senate could
see plainly that the rcstlessness IL
dicated most disturbed state of
feeling. A misunderstanding seemed
to prevail End esch was evidently
misjudging the other to some extent.
At least Mr.. DiXOn's course was
scarcely courteous.
Nearly all present were convinced
that the debate, on the part of Mr.
Dixon and those working with him,
was only somewhat dignilied kind
of fillibustering. Then there was no
agreement as to whether the body, in
the condition it found itself, was q
Senate or Court, and, consequently,
the question as to what rules they
were acting under, remained unset
tied. Mr.. Chase decided on the point
raised by Mr.. Howard, that the rules
passed by the Senate to govern the
Court were not binding, as the Court
was not organized. Upon this, Mr.
Drake appealed, and on the call of
yeas and nays, the Chief Justice was
sustained by twenty-tour to twenty.
The vote really had no significance
whatever, except to express the opin-
ion of Senators as to which set of
rules the body was bound bv, and
each side was equally anxious to set
tie it.
The result, however, had an ugly
look for time, as it was thought the
doors had been opened for debate |
of any length, but Mr.. Hendricks !
soon put the whole matter in shape !
by Withdrawing the objection he had
made to Mr.. Wade's being sworn. I
His motion created considerable
sensation, as it was not expected,
and the Republicans throughout
the building were still firmly dis
cussing the various encouragements
which they claimed we're being given
to dilatory proceedings, when the
news came that the objections to
Wade had been Withdrawn, the or
ganization of the court completed,
the rules adopted, and the writ or
dered to issue against the President.
All this had occupied about twenty
and the relief it gave to
those who had feared delay was very
marked and freely admitted.
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