Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-14
A.uiO II aud 1ispatth.
THURSDAY. May Isss.
argest CIrcaIaLion in cItTy and state.
IMPEACHMENT.


IMPEACHMENT. 8. ...s il
Intense Excitement in Washington
What the Senators Had SO Say in
Secreet session -RTr. Sherman's Un-
riyaled FwO.IIorse Act-A sudden
Change in tIhe tide Of Talk -arines,
TrumbuII and Fessenden square
Against COnyictiOn-Hender derson Op-
posed 90 the FIRST Eight ArtIcIes-
COnfuaisn and Alarm AIaOng the
MAnagers-The Radicals COneede the
Probable AequIttal Of the President
ia-Radieal ReeFiminati0ns.
coTrespondehce Of the Cincinnati Gazette.
-iiiA fii'THE GREAT EXCITEMENT. -
WAsHISgToS, May 1.-THE excitement
in Washington has steadily Increased siDce
the Senate went into secret session. After
meeting, for the first hour or two, confidence
in conviction remained strong, nor was il
at all abated BY GrineS speech against lhe
whole array Of articles; but after Sherman
and Howe had taken position against the
first article, something bordering on a
panic set in. In the House members gath
cred 10 groups in the lObbies and cloak
rooms, while the corridors about the SEN
aNf. MAlE GlDNutl Will DLlGcfbf Oh tL4lb TWO
Houses, members Of the House and news
paper men. There was no obligation OF
secrecy upon Senators, and the general
character of the debate ia the Chamber was
constantly kuoYn outside, and each Sic
successive speech caused fresh speculations.
The scene was most exciting, and no story
could be told that did not find believers,
and every report Tumor or speculation,
once started, speedily assumed large pro-
portions, and by the time the House ad-
journed, at haifpast four, the members
vent over TO the Senate wing in a most de-
spondent mood r... .....f.., ...t.
Henderson's sweeping speech fel like
shell among Missouri members, and they.
With the visitors from that State, of whom
there were good number present, were
taken completely back by it. They were
confident 20 the last moment that he would
surely vote for conviction, and made free
10 express theirindignatioh in no measured
terms FrunbulPs course had similar
effect onsthe Illinois men, though the Re-
publicans were less surprised at him than
at Henderson. BY this time The break In
the line had become 40 marked that Fes-
senden's speech was looked on a. a matter
Of course. st.
Long before the adjournment, yea and
nay lisis were circulated freely outside, and
each party holding them had the case
made out according TO information which
had been picked up. AT -four O'Clock these
lists seemed 90 agree in showing that Wade
would be obliged 30 vote TO save the ease,
aud q leading competitor for the Chicago
nomination for the Vice Presidency, inti-
mated that it would elm his power to save
il, but that deceBcy would then compel
him 10 resign and allow Colfax TO become
President. .. ....
The stories that gained circulation of
bargains and intrigues 10 defeat Wade, and
ofpurchases of Senators to secure acquittal,
were very numerous and heard on all sides.
These, coupled with the Indignation which
attended their recital, formed the staple Of
excited conversation in many groups.
The articles Of impeachment were, about
ii o'clock. taken up for consideration, and
opportunity was given for an expression Of
opinion.
BrR. sHERNfAN's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Sherman was the first speaker. He
had his views but partly written out, and did
not contine himself TO his manuscript He
said he could not vote for conviction on the
first article, that charging high crime in
the removal of Mr.. Stanton, for the reason,
a. he had expressed while the act was under
discussion, that he did not believe Mr..
Stanions case covered by its provisions.
He held that under the act of 1899, the
President had authority TO make the re-
moval, and that il had not, in this par
ticular case, been taken from him by the
tenure of Office act. He announced. how
ever, that in his Judgment the President
had grossly and willfully violated the law,
and far transcended his powers in appoint
ing Gen. Thomas as Secretary I'D interim,
and had thereby rendered himself liable TO
Impeachment by the House and punish
ment by the Senate Tie spoke briefly on
the other articles, and. ON thewhole, in
dicated that while he should certainly vote
against the iirst article, he would vote for
the second and third, and perhaps others.
Mr.. STEWARDS STATEMENT.
Mr.. Stewart was the second speaker, and
took strong grounds in favor Of conviction
on all the principal articles.
,HtHta''. MR.. GRIMES.
Mr.. Grimes was the third speaker. He
has, been reported for acquiital for some
DAYS, and the truth OF this report has been
learned by everybody who took proper
means Of inquiring. There was great in
terest, however, in hearing what he would
say, and when he had occupied the allotted
fifteen minutes, there was a general request
that he should read his whole opinion. Mr..
Grimes began with a consideration of the
Presidents power Of removal OF the heads
of department under the Constitution,
quoting many authorities 10 show that
IL was not denied or abridged as TO the
passage of the tenure Of Office act. But
lie Then, passing over the question of the
constitutional validity Of that act. took
up the discussion Of whether Mr. Stanton 8
case comes within its provisions. He did
not consider the Secretary Of War either
within the first section of the act, OF the
| proyiso, and quoted the declarations Of Mr..
Schenck aud Mr.. sherman, in the debate
nn the passage Of the bill in March, 1867,
90 sustain. the theory. He thought MIR.
Stanton held the Office under the
pleasure of the President alone, under
the act of 1889, and that the President
could remove him. He did not think
there was any distinction between the
power Of the President % remove in a re-
cess and his power 20 remove during the
session Of the Senate an officer who held
solely hy his pleasure. Taking up then
| the second article, he said the temporary
designation Of a person 20 discharge the
duties Of an office until the office could be
Billed, was made legal by the act Of 1875,
which he IL satisfied has not been repealed
By the act 1868. But even il he thought
otherwise, Mr.. Grimes said, he should he
unable 10 convict the President of crime
~ such temporary appointment not
doubting that the President acted in good
hith, and believed that he was acting
within the laws. lie dismissed the CON
spiracy articles very briefly, as he did the
eighth and ninth srtieles. lie then took
OF the question Of intent, saying he had no
doubt that the President thoroughly be-
heyed the tenure Of office act unconstitu-
tonal, and said that he was advised Of its
onconstitutionaliiy by Mr. Stanton and
j other members Of his Cabinet, and Mr..
Grimes thought il not strange That under
the circumstances, the President should
doubt or question its scope. He held,
however, thai Sianton's case was not an
oluded in the provisions Of this act,
| and that therefore questions Of intent