Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-04-21
CONGRESSIONAL.


the Presidents counsel stated that Mr.. Stan
berry was prevented by illness from attending
the trial, and asked postponement OF one day
IN the proceedings. The Court then adjourn
co.. Inc President pro tenn. resumed the chair
and called the Senate to order. A resolution
was adopted ordering that five thousand extra
copies OF the report of the impeachment trial
be printed for distribution The Senate went
INTO executive session and at It's close adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE The Speaker
gave notice that on Thursday next, upon the
return OF members of the House from the SEN
ate, Mr.. Banks would call up the bill in relation
to rights of naturalized citizens abroad. The
House as usual attended the impeachment trial,
and after the adjournment OF the Court the
members returned to the Hall. Without trans
acting any business of importance the House, at
II Is P. NJ, adjourned.
SENATE. "Wednesday, April 15.-At II M.
the Chief Justice took his seat and the Court
OF impeachment was opened. The first busl-
ness in order was the consideration Of the mo-
ton of Senator Sumner to allow such counsel
and managers a. please, to print and lille argu-
ments before closing of arguments by managers.
After considerable discussion the subject was
postponed by a vote of 81 to Is. A motion that
the Court meet daily at IL A. NJ. was rejected.
Mr. Evarts announced that Mr.. Stanbery was
not yet well, but that the time would be occupied
in the presentation of documentary esidence.-
The Executive Clerk, Mr.. Clark, was sworn,
sand produced the aessxge of the President,
dated February %, 1868, nominating Hon.
Thomas Ewing to be Secretary of War. Mr..
Butler objected to the reception of the message,
as it was written after the impeachment charges
had been preferred by the House, After long
discussion between the managers and the Pres
ident's counsel the Chief Justice decided that
tbo ,of bo
Curtis read number of documents showing the
provisions of the statutes in relation to Tenure
of Office Mr.. Curtis also submitted in evidence
the appointment of John Nelson, as Secretary
of State, by President Tyler. amt also the ap-
pointment of John e. Calhoun in 1914 Of
General Scott, as Secretary Of War, by Fillmore,
in 1850, and of Mr.. Conrad, as Secretary of War,
in the same year. He also submitted the APP
pointment of G. B. Smith, as Secretary of the
Interior, by Mr.. Lincoln, in 1861, and list of
appointments made up at the Navy Depart
ment. After some discussion all of this evil
dence was admitted. MIR. Curtis then offered
list of civil officers appointed, but who were
removable at pleasure, and who were removed
before the expiration of the term of their COM
missions. The evidence was admitted, and Mr..
Curtis then offered papers from the Postmaster
General in relation to removals from Office, and
they were admitted and read. The message of
President Buchanan relative to the removal of
Mr.. Floyd and the appointment of Mr.. Holt as
Secretary of War. was put in evidence and read,
after which the Court adjourned. The Presi-
dent pro tenn. resumed the chair and called the
Senate to order. The Secretary of the Senate
was directed to furnish the counsel for the
President with a statement of the beginning and
from 1859 to 1868 The bill making appropria-
tion tO RI fray tho aypanSnc of ba i'm
trial and for other purposes was taken up. The
different items amounted to the sum Of one
hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. A
long discussion ensued, chiefly in relation to a
discrepancy in the accounts of Col. Forney, the
Secretary of the Senate, caused, it was alleged.
by a defalcation of Mr. Wagner, the financial
clerk and relative of Col Forney The con-
duct of Col. Forney was severely commented
upon by Senator Cameron and others, and de
Tended in turn by his friends, The refusal of
the Capitol police to admit Sergeant Bates to
the building on Tuesday was also alluded to,
and Senator Doolitte gave the Sergeant estate
ment of the affair, from which it appeared that
he was told that he might enter but could not
bring his flag with him and that the difficulty
arose from that circumstance. The bill was then
passed. The Committee on Contingent Ex-
penses was instructed to Inquire into and report
upon the condition OF the accounts Of the Secre
tary Of the Senate (Col. Forney.) i'he Senate
then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House,
| as usual, attended the impeachment trial, and
at its close the members returned to the Hail.
A number of bills and resolutions were offered
and referred to the different committees Mr..
Stevens stated that he proposed to offer to-day
a motion ordering a night session Of the House,
to allow certain managers an opportunity of de-
PrpSIupDf
it is feared, they may not be allowed by the
Senate. Several members opposed this pro-
position, and Mr. Stevens said that he was not
sure he would make the motion, but offered it
as suggestion. The House, at 4 Is p NJ,
adjourned.
SENATE. Thursday, April l6-At II NJ the
Chief Justice took his seat, and the Court was
opened Mr. Sumner offered motion that all
evidence on either side not Of trivial irrelevant
character should be received. At was laid
on the table by vote Of SO to Ii. Some ad-
ditiona documents from the State Department
were put in as evidence by Mr.. Curtis. Walter
S. Cox, counsel in the case of General Lorenzo
Thomas, was called and examined in relation to
his engagement to defend General Thomas when
he was arrested in February last. The witness
was asked when, by whom, and under what
circumstances, he was employed as Gen. Thorn
as, counsel? Mr.. Butler objected. The Chief
Justice ruled the question admissible. Witness
proceeded to state that he was called upon by a
messenger, and that he went to the President S
House on the ed of February, and found Gen
eral Thomas and the President alone at O. clock
in the afternoon Witness was then going on
TO state what took place at the interview, when
| General Butler objected Mr. Curtis then Of
fered to prove that Mr.. Cox was employed pro-
fessionally by the President, in the presence of
General Thomas, to bring the question into
Court and have the whole subject decided there
Mr.. Butler again objected, and explained his
objection as being that it was after the avt DONE
A long discussion ensued, after which vote
was taken and the testimony admitted by vote
of % to 81 Mr. Cox then stated what occurr-
ed at the interview with the President and Gen
eral Thomas, and said the President told wit
ness that he wanted to test the legality Of Gen
eral Thomas appointment in the courts. Gen.
Thomas was present at the interview. Mr.. Cox
then proceeded to explain the legal steps he
took to bring the matter before the courts, and
he was then about to state the proceedings be-
fore the courts, when Mr.. Butler objected to
| anything but the record evidence. Mr.. Curtis
said they proposed to prove that Mr. Cox made
every effort to bring the matter properly before
the Court. The evidence was admitted by a
vote of 81 to 49, and Mr.. Cox then proceeded
to detail the proceedings as they occurred before
Judge Cartier, and of Gen. Thomas subsequent
discharge, when the proposition was made to
deliver him in custody. Mr.. Curtis asked if