The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-06
GEN.W.w. BEIKNAP'STR1At
rHE sENATE ORGANIZED AsA CoCRr
or JMPEdCHMENT.


chief Justice WHITE Administering the Oath
TO ScuutotE-The EN-.secretnry summoned
to Appear on April ~ to Answer.
WAsHfNGroN, April 5.--At the opening
II The son to to-day Mr.. ElmunGs O,cp. Wy
said the third rule Of the senate provided that
IN this day II I O'Clock the presiding On cr ct
the Senate should aduini-tcr the oath To- SEN
ators In the Impeachment case Of W. w Bel
knap, hut on examination with several other
senators he had been unable to find any statute
authority for the residing officer to administer
the OATH Tho authority stood upon the rule
alone. In this state Of difficulty and doubtit
had been deemed best 10 submit to the Senate a
proposition that the chief Justice Of the SUI
psemc Court OF the United States be invited to
attend u l o'clock and administer the oath to
Senators, there being no doubt Of his authority
| to do SO. He therefore asked unanimous con-
sent to suspend so mucn of the third rule a. re-
| qulres the Presiding officer to administer tho
oath referred TO. This was agreed to. lie then
submitted an order providing for the appoint
mcnt Of committee of two Senators to wait
| upon the Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court
aud invite him to attend In the Senate Chamber
| at l O'clock, 20 administer the oath required IN
| tue matter + the imp.a ,hmcnt Of w. w. Bel
! knap. tate SECRETARY " War.
| Mr. ingalls, rep, kanl inquired whether the
authority OF the Chiof Justice to administer
oaths 10 cases. OF impeachment wa, statutory
ali United states Judges had a general author
ity to administer oaths In any case.
| the order was modified 80 ~ to request the at
tendance Of any Assoc to Justice OF the SUI
| attend. and % modified. Il was agreed to-
| Mr.. Edmunds $ id bill would be introduced
hereafter 20 cover cases of this character, and to
authorize the Chief Clerk or Secretary to admin
| lister Oaths to witnesses.
| The Char appointed as the committee TO in
vtc the chief Justice or any Associate Justice
~ the supreme Court 70 attend ia the semde
| Chamber az o'clock. Messrs. E1munds OF Ncr-
mont aud Thurman Of Ohio.
CONSIDERING THE ARTICLES.
The hour Of one O'Clock having arrived, Messrr.
Edmunds ana Thurman appeated In the Senate
hun 20 seat al the right Ofthe presiding oficer.
Mr.. Ferry. President pro tempore then an
Ing to its rules to consider the articles ~ I'm
peachment against W. w. Belknap, late Secre-
tered the following oath to Mr.. Ferry. President
pro tempore Of the Senate aud Afterwards to all
Senators crescent, who were called Ia alphabet
teal order In groups Of SIX:
9gg 1 s1sT9y s y ' o ASF PRs s S6 TO
secrctsry o. War nov p,ndius you viii do impartial
justice. nc Qraiue tae Constitution and the lave. 50
The Senators. as their names were called. sd-
ysnccd to the dSsk 81 the presiding onicer,
oath. After tho first tx Sen4tors had been call
ed Mr.. Morton utcp.. iudJ said II there was
objection Ae would suggest that all senators be
sworn a one time stUhGirg IN thear places
Mr Ihurmau tDeul., Ohiol objected. lie said
| thorc might be some DOUBT about verifying
Senators who wero sworn. He thought the
Senate had better follow the usual custom.
The Senators wso wee absent and therefore
not sworn. we've Messrs. Ac9rn Allison, Burn
side. Caperton. Christi .ncy, Conkling, Conover
Dennis, Eaglisu, Goldthwa,e; Howe Johnson,
! Jones II Nevada. Morrill, Ut Maine, Patterson,
Hanson, RlNerisun. and Wadieigh.
1hs Chief Justice then retired In charge of
Mr.. Frehnsnu,sen Rep, y. Jl submitted an
order directlng tie Secretary Of the senate To
senate T. now orsdu,zcd for the trial Of the int
geachment u W. W. Belknap. late Secretary Of
Wa. and Is ready to receive tue managers of
impeachment Oh the uart OF the House Of Rep
reseatatIyes % the bar OF the Senate.
ORG .NIzED roR rnE TRIAL
~ l:t0 =. VI. the managers appeared nj the
main sntr4n'e Of the senate Chainaer. and were
announced ny sergeant at Ara French.
escort the ulan,gers to the seats provided for
them. After obey were seated, Mr.. Ferry, Pres-
Gent PRO tempore. said;
ina Y a a'' Of R'S ' B5sasS
ia'e Secretary OF War.
Mr. Lord, Charm IN Of the board Of Managers,
SAID:
Mr. Fy,'ilca, , We rr'y fer me i'ne G process.
s~er ue -rtc.os Of Impeachment presented.
Mr. Elmunds suo.alttcd the iollJ wing, which
wa, greed -:
uc iu.s q pgseeoure .aa 4ci,e 10 the ni,c ~
~ ms ~ tue ira a. ihpeat !n'lt, To- " bclSuap
mont AZ ! o'clooG II tni afternoon
Mr. Lord-Tuat Ia satisfactory TO the managers
.
Mr.. Stevenson dem, kyJ said II there was no
further business he moved that tine senlte, sit
ting rs a court. dIouru.
Mr. Elmunds said that was hsrdly the proper
= motion. The Senate. sitting as a court, snouid
adjourn un.il tue l'sh, when the process vas re-
, tgrnahle.
Mr.. steyens.oPn inquired 4 any conference bad
to whether the fixed lime for tue return o. the
{ ! pr 'ce-s would suit them.
. Mr. Edmunds said that he had had no such
conference, ana Gid not expect TO have any con-
ference with the counsel Of Mr.. Belknap. or
| course, when the process was returned Oh tho
} l'th, II they desired more time they could apply
| Tor u.
. Sir stevenson said he saw no impropriety In
tueuolS interview with the counsel OF Cen. BEL
= knap TO learn when tney would be ready for
nr Edmuuds moved that the Senate sitting
A. court Of impeachment adjourn until the
~. Bsry Dem, MOI said that the twenty
fourih rule Of me senate required that Ia cases
! .b.e at l2sjJ i. NJ, aud the order Just adopted
maze tue suinnous feiuEnabs AT one o'clock.
POWERS or THE SENATE.
, Mr.. Edmunis said that rule was n mere matter
- Of form. kua the Senate had the Iieht to change
Il tuat form and fix any nour convenient. lie re-
c ferred 10 tie johnson uial. and said that tho
late chief Justice. VINO presided at that trisl,
thought "a rules u the Senate IN regard % i'm.
/ ~ chmcnt slcull be atOrted while the senate
= vas ttlng ~ q court of imucachment, and tina
4 senate ala ADOPT mo rules again while sitting
I Us court. i VS.. therefore. perfectly cnmpe
= 4 nt for the Senate to change OF modify the
a Mr.. sherman rep, Ohio) said the Senate As
. court SHOULD junrn until E;N T. NJ on the
l,th inst. IN order 60 then arrange the preiimi
&. naries the trial n II was TO begin at ocio1k
L NJ. Bayard QDem., Dell read from the rules
. rnl ara cd that their language was directory
Y lnt should be followed with precision. lie
II hoped the crder would be hmeuded 50 as 1
- make the summon. returuable at 1870 /. N. y,
. ham could come ~ such actOn, and II might
save much difficulty.
L S.r Edmunds said the order Just adopted
r. could no. sc CHANGED now without the presence
j, OF the Managers on the part Of the House.
o AffcT some further discussion Mr.. Edmund,
modified his motion so that the Senate, sittinG
as court, should adjourn untl l%:JO A. NJ. OF
the nth Of April, and insisted upon It's adoption
SIR. BoRY demanded tue yeas and nays, an,
the motion was agreed to-yeas, 2S NAYS, 10
Nessis. Barard, bogy, Cooper, DAVIS Eaton
Norwood, Randolph, Salisbury Whyte, an6
. Mithers voting in the negative.
. Good News for Fishermen.
=. Old resd ents Of Long isis nd and Staten Islant