The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-04-18
WASHINGTON.
impeachment Trial OF Ey.Secre.
tary Belknap.
A Crowded Audience Witness
tho Meagre Proceedings.
Plea Denying the Jurisdiction Of the
Senate Entered By Carpenter.
me ooart az the Request Of Managers
Adiourns 10 Meet ON Wednes.
day Next.

WASHlNuTONi Aprll Ill mere was
unusual activity In the Senate cham.
bertbis morning In preparing for the
impeachment trial of eX-Secretary Bel
knap. In the rear Of the position OF
the presiding officer were placed chairs
for the counsel of Belknap, md for the
managers on the part of the House.
The space in the rear OF the Senator'S
seats chairs were ranged for members
Of the House. When the Senate was
called to order there was not a seat to
be obtained in the galleries. The
larger portion of the gentleman's gal
lery, on the left OF the diplomatic gal.
l.ry, was reserved for ladies in addi.
ton to the regular gallery, large ma
jority of the audience being composed
Ofladies.
After reading the journal, various
petitions and memorials were present
ed, when, ut half-past twelve o'clock,
legislative business was suspended and
the Senate proceeded to the considera-
ton of the articles of impeachment.
After proclamation by the Sergeant
alarms, Chief Justice Watt admins
tered the oath to Senators Allison,
Burnside, Christiancy, Dennis, Conk-
ling, Caperton, Goldthwaite, Howe,
Jones, of Nevada, Morrill,, of Maine,
Ransom and Robertson who Were not
present when the other Senators were
sworn few days ago. Senators AL
cOrn Johnson, of Virginia, English,
Patterson and Wadleigh were not
present to take the OATH The Secreta-
~ was then ordered to notify the
House that the Senate was ready to
proceed with the trial and that seats
had been provided for members,
AT 1855 ex-Secretary Belkuap, ac-
cOmpanied by his counsel, Messrs.
Carpenter, Black and Blair, entered
and proceeded to the table provided
for them. The ex-Secretary was lean
ing on The arm of Carpenter and took
Rseat between him aud Judge Black.
Heappeared very nervous, aud began
reading Immediately on taking his
seat but soon dropped the pamphlet
and conversed with his counsel. The
Managers of Impeachment and the
members of the House appeared at
one but quarter of an hour had al
most elapsed before all were seated,
when the minutes OF the session Of the
Senate as a court Of Impeachment,
held on the fifth instant, were read.
The return on the writ served upon
ex'Secretary Belknap having been
read and the Seargeant-at-Arms hav-
lug called upon him to answer, Mr..
Carpenter read and had filed a plea de-
nyingthe jurisdiction of the Senate to
Try Belknap on articles of impeach-
ment as he was not an officer Of the
United States at the time such ar
licles were found and presented
to the Senate that he has not since
been, nor it not new an officer Of the |
United States, but was and is private
citizen of the United States and State
Oflowa. ~
Mr.. Lord, on the part Of the manag-
ers, asked that time be allowed them
4 until the 10Th instant to consider what
REPLICATION shall be made TO the plea of
Beknap, and it was 80 ordered. The
managers and counsel for the accused,
making reply to the question of the
resident pro tenn, said they had moth
as further to propose, the Senate set
aAg as a court Of impeachment ad-
K Mrned till Wednesday next, and re-
nned the considratio OF legistive
'Osiness.