The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-04-29
CALIFORNIA CORRESPONDENCE.
ESPECIALLY TO THE HAWAIIAN GAZETTE.
SAN Francisco, April 4, 1868.
Impeac c hment.

the subject Of impeachment. Matters will
take their proper course before the High
Court" without fear of interruption from
the army or any of those enthusiastic friends
of the President who at first threatened TO
demolish the "Rumpn if il attempted to ar
raign him. He will be fairly tried, and if
found guilty of the charges preferred, sus-
pended from office; otherwise, acquitted.
The order of proceeding in the Senate, or
High Court" since the date of my last let
ter, has been substantially as follows. Chief
Justice Chase assumed the Chair on the S0th
ult., at 1890, and called the Court TO order.
Mr.. Butler got the floor and spoke for three
hours reciting the particular charges against
President johnson, and urging his conviction
and suspension from Office as the only mode
of securing prosperity to the South and per-
manent peace TO the country. He concluded
by saying to the Senate:
"The safeguards of the Constitution against
usurpation are in your hands, aud the inter-
ests and hopes of free institutions wait upon
your decision. The House of Representa-
iives has done its duty. We have presented
the facts in a constitutional manner; we have
brought the criminal to your bar, and demand
Judgment at your hands for his great crimes.
Never again, if Andrew johnson go quit and
free, from this day, will the Jaw or people of
this or any other country, by constitutional
checks and guards, stay usurpatiOn of Exec
utive power l speak, therefore, not the
words of exaggeratiOn, but words of truth
and soberness, in saying that the future po
litical welfare and liberties or all men hang
trembling on the decision of the Senate"
On the 3lst, at the opening of the Court,
Mr.. Wilson, Of the Managers, offering dOcu-
mentary evidence. Witnesses were then call
ed, who testified to preliminary matters, such
as delivering copies of the Senate resolutions
to the President and Gen. Thomas, etc, etc
A . NJ ba arAis do
occurred, which, among Radical Republicans,
has raised a doubt of Mr. Chase's entire 10y
atty to his party. Rather, i might say, sus-
picion previously entertained on that head
was considerably strengthened. He is ac-
cused of discriminating in favor of the Pres
ident, in the face not only of bis own convic-
tions, and the spirit of the rules adopted for
the government of the impeachment trial.
Ny own impression is, that he has been ac-
tuated more by a desire to magnify the dig
nifty of his office, by observing the practice
of its extreme punctiliO, than any absolute
desire to prevent the course of justice in its
strong current against the President. The
facts giving rise to suspicious against Mr.. !
Chase, arose in examining Mr.. Burleigh as to
what he knew of Gen. Thomas intention to
use force TO gain possession of the War
Office.
Mr. Chase decided that the evidence was
out of order. A discussion arose as to the |
power of the Chief Justice, who said he was
willing the Senate should pass on his rulings. !
Senator Wilson moved that the Senate re-
tire for consultation.
After discussion the vote was a tie, and the |
Chief Justice cast his vote in the affirmative, |
and the Senate retired.
On the lst, the minutes of the last session |
were read until mention of the vote cast by 1
the Chief Justice, to decide the tie vote on |
the question of retiring fordeliberation. Mr.. !
10 no hxyi
serting the words expression of the Sen |
ate's opinion" He said the vote of the Chief /
Justice was unauthorized and of no effect; |
he demanded the yeas and nays on the mo-
tion, which resulted, yeas, 2l nays, %; so |
the motion was lost.
The question as TO the admissibility of Bur |
leighs testimony about the conversation be- |
tween him and Gen. Thomas, was submitted /
to the Senate by the Chief Justice, and an |
argument ensUed.
At the conclusion of his speech Mr.. Bing- |
ham made point that the hour on both sides /
had expired.
The Chief Justice said he understood the |
rule entitled the chief counsel on both sides |
to have one hour on all questions.
Several Senators dissenting from this ruling |
the question was put to the Senate and Mr.. /
Chase's ruling was decided against.
The question of admitting Burleigh's tes
timony was decided afiirmatIvely-39 to IL
a strict party vote.
Mr. Burleigh testified that on the evening |
of February 2lst he had an interview with |
Gen. Thomas, who informed him that he had |
been appointed Secretary of War dd interim;
that he should take possession Of the office |
at ten O'Clock next morning; be also stated |
that he would use force to take possession if |
refused; Gen. Thomas said that if Secretary
Stanton barred the doors he would break /
them down. The question was then asked 4
whether the witness had any conversation
with Gen. Thomas while acting as Adjutant /
General, or heard Gen. Thomas say what he /
would do in case he became Secretary of War.
Witness had heard Gen. Thomas make an
address TO a number of Clerks in the War
Office about a week or ten days prior to Feb.
2lst, in which he said he would relax the
harsh rules of his predecessor, and treat the
clerks as gentlemen. Gen. Thomas subse-
quently told witness that if he had not been
arrested on the morning of Feb. 3D. he would
have broken the doors and taken possession
of the War Office
Mr.. Wilson offered additional documentary
evidence, including the correspondence be-
tween Gen. Grant and the President, relative
to disobeying the orders of Secretary STAN
ton.
W. E. Chandler, late Assistant Secretary of |
the Treasury, testified in regard to the man
ner in which money was drawn out of the
Treasury. He knew 10 means by which
money could be drawn out for the War De-
partment except on an order of the Secretary
of War, signed by the President.
The dispatches between the President and
Lewis c. Parsons, late Governor of Alabama,
were introduced for the purpose of showing
the Presidents attempt to array the people
against the lawful acts of Congress. After
some discussion, the Senate decided the evil
dence admissable-27 to l7-and then ad-
journed.
Congressional.
There was breeze in the House of Rep
resentatives on the eth over the insult of
fered to that body by the Legislature of New
Jersey sending demand for the withdrawal
of the consent of the State TO the proposed