The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-03-20
THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
THE PRESIDENT APPEARS BI
COUNSEL.
Forty Days Asked for Prepare
ton.
TRI1L FINED FOE .N1RCH 20.

THRILL FIXED FOR .H-1RCH ~.
At one o'clock, Friday, March Is, Sen
ator Wade vacated the Presidents chair
and Chief Justice Chase, entering by
the rear door, assembled the steps and
took possession, after the Sergeant-at-
Arms had made proclamation. Mr..
Howard moved that the House of Rep
resentatives be notified that the trial
was about to begin. The Journal was
then read by the Secretary of the Sen
ate. The chamber became very still and
the scene was solemn and imposing. \
few minutes past one O'clock the House
managers, with the exception Of Mr..
Butler and Mr.. Stevens, entered slowly
and took their seats around the table set
aside for them. Then came the mem
bers of the House of Representatives
who took seats in the rear of the hall
BY the direction of the Chief Justice the
roll was then called and the Senators
who were absent at the organization of
the court were sworn in, including Mr..
Vickers, of Maryland. After all the
Senators had taken the oath, the Serg-
eant-at-Arms called in a loud voice -
Andrew Johnson, the accused three
times, but no response was given. The
Presidents counsel were then notified
to appear, and they did so.
Henry Stanbery, Judge Nelson Of
Tennessee and Judge Curtis of Massa-
chusetts took seats at the table assigned
them. Mr.. Stanbery then rose, and
amid profound silence said that he, by
direction of the President, was engaged
as counsel. He then read IL statement
from Andrew Johnson, asking that at
least forty days be granted him to pre-
pare his case. a paper was also pre-
scented signed by the President counsel,
Messrs. Stanbery. Nelson Curtis, Ey-
arts and Black, stating that the time
asked for by the President was absolute
ly necessary for the counsel in order to
prepare all their points. This paper de-
tailed at length the time allowed to
Judge Chase to appear when he was ar
raigned on the trial of impeachment.
BY half-past eleven o'clock, half the
Senators appeared and arranged them
selves in little knots discussing the mo-
mentous business of the day. Ii was
noticeable that not a single negro was
in the gallery, the section usually Occu-
pied by them was filled with ladies'
There was no rush or crOwding of doors
or aisles, everything was conducted with
perfect order and decorum. The chap
lain invoked blessing upon those now
entering upon this high and important
duty, and upon whom rests the eyes ofthe
country and of the world, that they
might be guided by divine wisdom, that
all their acts might be characterized 10y
justice, and that this high court might
be led to such verdict a. God would
approve in the high court of heaven,
and to which all the people shall respond
heartily, Amen.
At one o'clock, the morning hour h.lv-
ing expired, the Chief Justice took the
chair. and the Selgeant-at-Arms made
the proclamation in the usual form. The
Secretary of the Senate then read the
journal of the last meeting of the court.
4 large number of members of the
House, headed 10y the managers, mean
while standing in file outside the open
door, and on motion of Mr.. Howard, an
order was made that the Sergeant-at-
Arms notify the House that the Senate
was organized as Court 0fimpeachmcnt
and ready to proceed with the trial of
Andrew Johnson.
Immediately thereafter the manag-
ers and members of the House. entered
and took the seats provided Tor them,
Mr.. Butler being absent ana the Sena-
tors present who had not already been
sworn. took tho oath The return or the
Sergeant-at-Arms of his service Of the
summons on the President, was read,
when on motion of Mr.. johnson, the
counsel of the President were notified of
the commencement of proceedings, and
Messrs. Stanbery, Curtis and Nelson
took their seat at the table on the right
of the ChiefJustice and opposite Ito the
managers, who were seated on the left.
Mr.. Butler, the remaining manager,
then came in, and shortly afterward an
other deputation Of the House entered,
headed by the Speaker.
Mr.. Washburn of Illinois, and Mr.
Mcpherson, the Clerk of the House,
ranged themselves behind the bar. Mr..
Stanbery then rose and addressing the
Chief Justice, read the answer OF the
President, entering his appearance and
naming as his counsel Messrs. Stanbery,
Curtis, Nelson, Black and Evarts, and
asking a reasonable time for the prepa-
ration of his defense, the period of forty
days, citing various cases in which pc
RODS as long in preparation 10 the mag
nitude of the case. had been granted
Mr.. Bingham, on behalf of the manag-
ers, cOntended that the eighth rule pro-
vided that on the appearance of the
President, he was required to file his
answer, and in case his answer was not
flied that the trial should proceed as
on plea of not guilty. He claimed,
therefore, that the trial should proceed
forthwith. Mr.. Curtis, in reply, refer
red to the cases of Judge Humphreys
and others, and argued that the rule wa
susceptible of no such construction a.
that put upon it by lIr. Bingham. Mr..
Wilson followed, enlarging ON the same
views as his colleague. Mr. Stanbery
expressed greater surprise than he had
ever before felt at this claim put for
ward by the managers, and saying there
& ,emed TO be disposition TO hurry
through this momentOus trial as if it
were a case before police court.
Heargued from the wording Of the
otherru that the appearance day was
not intended to be the day for the ans
wering and the trial day.
He said two of the Presidents coun-
sci were not present, and that no oppor-
tunity had been offered for the prepare
ton Of defense or calling of witnesses,
and that in the worst days of the star
chamber, such an attempt to hurry
through q trial had never been made
bespoke very warmly, saying that there
seemed to have been trap set for the
President and his counsel. At the con-
clusion of his remarks the Chief Justice
said that the motion would be argued
for an hour, in accordance with the
rules.
Mr.. Bingham rose and said he had
been greatly surprised at hearing the
hasty words which had been dropped
from the lips of his learned friend Mr.
Stanbery, and asserted that the only
motive of the managers was to enforce
the rule which the Senate had made,
and to prevent dilatOry line of de
Tense.
The Chief Justice was about to put
the question on Mr.. Stanbery's motion,
when Mr.. Edmunds offered an order
that April first be the day appointed for
filing of the Presidents answer, that
within three days thereafter the man
ayers file their replication, and that the
9th ofApril the trial proceed.
On motion of Mr.. Morton at two