Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-03-18

equal to any that has been witnessed here
since the impeachment began in earnest,
nearly four weeks agc. the adoption of the
ticket system kept the crowd from thronging
inside the Capitol buildings, and secured
comfortable seats to the favored few. but in
the Avenues, and at the hotels, and on the
street corners were scenes of excitement
amounting almost to tumult from 10 O'Clock
this morning until this evening, news
or rumors from one the other end OF the
capitol were received and discussed. Moth
ing like it has been witnessed here since the
most critical period of war, when dispatches
rom the 'front.', telling Of decisive battles,
Were received and discussed. 1t was very
we'll known that no person could gain admis-
sion to the Senate wing of the Capitol with
o1t ticket, and the number of tickets had
been restricted to I,C0O-being the capacity
OF the Senate galley. Each Senator re-
cciyod four. and each member of the House
two tickets, with which to supply all the de-
mands from their constituents and friends,
and they were literally besieged at their resi-
dences, their committee-rooms, and wheresO-
ever else it was possible to find them up to
! III o'clock this morning. 1t is not an exag-
geration to say that for every ticket there
were 200 applicants, out of whom, of course,
1919 were necessarily disappointed. Never
before was witnessed such digging and i'm
portuning for any favor was seen in the
struggle to get these tickets. Ladies of
wealth and fashion made personal applica-
tions to Senators and Representatives., and
were not discouraged with single refusal
bat repeated their petitions as often as half
dozen times, and as late the hour for the
opening of the Court of Impeachment One
Senator was waited upon last night at ii
| o clock by an esteemed and highly respecta-
Bile woman, who drove to his residence in her
UstrIiugv, aud demanded to him. The
servants informed her that the Senator was
in bed and asleep. But the fair applicant
was not to be denied an audience on that ac-
count, and insisted that she must see him,
as her business was urgent and admitted of
no postponement. The Senator, thus per-
/ emptorily summoned, descended the stairs,
half asleep, and not more than half dressed.
He was met in the hall by his excited friend,
of whom he inquired in establishment what
was the matter-whether anybody was sick
or had suddenly died, or what it was that
| that mad induced her to call at such an I'M
seemly hour. q Why, Senator" said she,
- nobody is sick and nobody is dead but
do want ticket for the Impeachment, and
must have it, 81 But said the Senator,
smiling at the extraordinary call which had
aroused him from peaceful slumber, and
rubbing his eyes to get he few remaining
winks out of them. - have given all my
tickets away :. Well, but [ must 90, -
said the applicant, not at all discouraged by
the reply that had turned away hundred
applications of the same kind to the same
Senator during the day. There's no use of
talking, Mr.. --, | have made my mind
up to 60, and have been trying all day to
get ticket. and have Gnal!y come % you. y
! The conversation continued, the Senator pro-
testing that he had no ticket. and his fair
prosecutor protesting with an Indifference to
nn Mt lac m he
you'll. The interview lasted near.y half an
hour, and was ,ern.inatod only by a solemn
promise hy the Senator that lie would per-
suade Il frcni Il WON he had given one of
the ticket 10 eIrre-;.er :, and tat he would
send it t. his visitors residence before nine
o clock this morning.
Persons 500 miles distant naya tcicgraphed
for tickets, sayin. that they We're coming to
Washington s,ltlv t witness the trial, and
many have come from the East and rom the
West, ana yer have been unable To get inside
the Sc tc chani5ec to-dry. Strong guards
of police Were stationed ~ all the doors of
entrance to the Senate Wing OF the Capitol,
which were opened at / oclcc,l this morn
ing
The women exceeded the men III number,
probably three to one, which may bc ac-
counted for on the suppositiol that Senators
fore t,king care OF their friends and constil
uents. MIs. Wade occu ped Il front seat near
| the diplomatic gallery. Near her sat Mrs.
Sprag and her sister, Miss Nettic Chase,
and scattered through the multitude at short
intervals were recognizable nearly all the
ladies who lead the fashionable society of the
! capital during the gay season. They were
attred in the most costly robes of the latest
fashion; and from the standpoint of the re-
+ ha of
derful brilliancy and beauty, much like that
which three years ago, on the fourth OF
: March, 1860 VAS witnessed in the Chamber
when the then Vice President elect, now
President impcached, made his famous in
augural steccn. Among the personages of
note IN the diplomatic gallery were NJ. De
Herthemv, F.ench Minister 4; Baron Gerolt,
pruss:an Minister; ". Rangabe, Grecian
Mnist + :; Hacque Bey, Turkish Minister :;
NJ Ccrru;i. Italian Minister Francis Clare
Ford. Secretary of the English Legation.
Whether OF not it was owing to an oversight
by the persons who had the disposal of tick
cts, it was noticeable that no colored men or
women were in the Chamber. 1t is possible
that the greater importantly of the friends
and acquaintance of the Senators and Rep
rcsentatives obtained for them that consider
alton in the distribution of tickets, which
the modesty of the black man failed to com
a somewhat changed appearance The desks
remained as usual, but 80 chairs in the lob
bies altered the picture SO that one could
hardly recognize IN it the Legislative Cham
hcr OF Yesterday Tables had been provided
for the Managers and counsel on each side
Of the floor, in front Of the Secretary's desk.
The Senate was called to order and prayer
promptly at II O'Clock, by rap of Mr.
Wade's gavel The first hint of what was
about to take place came from the Chaplain
who prayed that the proceedings of the high
court which was about to meet might be
sanctioned by the High Court Of Heaven
An hours dull proceedings followed. Bills
were called up and discussed, and, for aughi
the audience knew cared, passed. The
galleries had come for O clock and its cere
monies, and impatiently waited while Sena
tors debated motions and INDUCED in the
tedious routine of ordinary legislation
Promptly at | O'Clock Chief Justice Chase
in his judicial robes, entered the Chamber by
, one of the side doors. Mr.. Wade recognised
him, and announced that the hour had ar
rived for the Senate to resolve itself into
Court of Impeachment, and thereupon he
vacated the chair, which the Chief Justice
quickly filled. The Sergeant-at-Arms ther
made proclamation on former days, com
manding all persons to keep silence while thu
Senate Of the United States is sitting on The
trial of articles of impeachment against An
drew Johnson, President of the United States
He uttered this command in n clear. louC
voice. which resoundsd Trough the Cham
5 Der. The voice OF the Chief Justice is 50
: weak as to be scarcely :.idIb.e lew seat
distant on the floor.
Now sail M-. Howard. :-sirg afte