Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-04-28

Impeachment SccHes and Proceeds
ings-Fhe Presidents Price ana
the II residents Veto.
: r regular Correspondent ]

.l1 ID In sil &c AIT s5cc6es ana FfOCeeN. |
ings-'Ehe Presidents Price and
the II residents Veto.
From Cur regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. April %.
This week has been eventful in tine
commencement of impeachment pro-
ceedlngs in the Senate. in an encoun-
ter between Mr. Tucker of Virginia
and Mr.. Blaine of Ma lie in the House,
in the veto of the Presidential salary |
reduc ion bill by the President, aud in |
the testimony of ex-Attorney General
Williams before the committee on ex
penditures in the Department of JUS
tice, that $50, 900 were paid out of the
secret service fund to carry the cleo
lions in tue city of Neg York by order
If Pres dent Grant.
On Monday full hour before the
time for the convening OF the Senate
as a court of impeachment the CALLER
les we're deusely filled with ladies, at
taches CT foreign legations, representa-
tves of the press, the families of mem
bers of Congress Hundreds, after
Waiting at the doors for an hour. or
two, went away unable to gain admis
sion.
The first scene in the imposing
drama was the appearance of Chief
Justice Waite, walking slowly dowr
the main aisle, arraycd il his long silk
rob" and escorted by Senators Thur
man and Edmunds, the two most dis
| tirgulshed lawyers in their respective
parties unless Senator Coukliug may
| contest the palm with the latter
The Chief Justice was conducted to
Il seat on the right of the Vice Presi
dent, and he then administered the
| oath to the Senators who took theil
positions upon the right of the stand
| in divisions of six. As soon as the
last division had resumed their seats,
| there was murmur of excitement in
the galleries as the notorious accused
appeared inside the front door of the
Senate chamber accompanied by his
counsel. ex-Attoruey General Black,
Hon. Montgomery Blair aud ex-Seua-
tor Matthew Carpenter. Gen. Belknap
was Ill a closely buttoned frock
coat and his attire was scrupu
lousy neat. There was nothing III
his dress or appearance that suggest
ed the slightest trace of remorse or
mental suffering. He appeared con
siderably embarrassed under the
plunging fire of eyes and lorgnettes
from the gallery, as the group paused
for moment waiting for the sergeant
alarms to conduct them to their seats
bnt when Mr.. Carpenter passed
his arm through his and led him down
the main aisle his counteuance as
sumed an expression of pleasure as OF
one who had found friend in the
camp Of the enemy.
The rextto appear We're the impeach
ment managers on the part of The
L l. ~ IL
on the opposite side of the area, to the
left of the Vice Presidents stand
J after them came the members of The
t House of Representatives, marshalIeG
, | by the sergeant alarms aud headed
by Spe aker Kerr and Mr.. Rand ali. wht
) walked arm in arm.
2 The members of the House oCcu.
: pied chairs in the rear of those occu
had been read the sergeant-at arm
made proclamation, calling upon VIII
t liam w. BeIknap to appear and answe
Y 10 the articles OF impeachment, t,
which he made the plea, through hi
r counsel, MIR. Carpenter, shat tn
Senate had no jurisdiction in his cas-
bel eng 1T the time the articles of i'm
pelchm6nt wore exhibited privat,
= citizen Of the United States and of th
State Of Iowa.
q 70 ttiis plea Mr.. Lord, on the par
| Of the managers, made replication tina
the S. nate has urls dictirn because a
p. rhe time said acts were done William
0 | W. Belknap Was Secretary of War
, | Nh. LHrd, although he has not tin
national reputation OF Mr. Carpente
nd Judge Black, is very able law
] yer. He ia the law partner of Senate
f Gunh ling, aud man OF very modes
bearing, but he Is so unfortunate as t.
: resemble Nast's caricatures of Tweed
Mr.. Carpenter appears in full dress
spike tailed coat aud white cravat. Ii
I | speuk4 with almost hippant ease, bu
always to the D.. int, and without verb
| tage; IN this respect he is in mark
contrast with Mr.. LORD who hesitltes
IS not graceful, and seems 70 have d
| iective utteraucA. Judge Black has 81
ong been the target of 1ara5ra pltisr
sat it is not easy to say anything nev
bout him. He is cira .iy shhvcn, vel
P | dressed. and looks more like d wealth
| farmer than one of the greatest law.
vtrs Of the country. He has si!ve,
tobacco .box in his hand AMI chew
| lncessautly. 1t is said that member
f the bar il: the Supreme Court hav,
learned to place their hats out OF reac!
when ne gets up to speak with bolu>
of'tobacro III his mouth.
The Pr sident has vetoed the bill tC
reduce his successors salary from
55;;. 010 to $50, 900 and it is not be-
iievad that Congress will be able to
ov.rcomo the veto by the two-thIrds
vote. The loud urrepuhlican style Of
living that has been introduced heI {
oy the post trade peddlers ard silvel
mine adven'urers of the "great moral
idea party has made it appear diff.
| cult for President to live on less than
$50, goo. and yet, many OF us are old
| enough 20 remember two or three
Presidents who were able to 1--we on
half that salary, and even to retire
| with competence for life.
| 1t will bs better for politics aud
morals, both national and local, when
Presidents, Cabinet minister's, Sena-
tors and IL governmt Mt officials case
to vie with each other in the snlendor
Of their entertainments, diamonds and
dresses; or, if th-y must aeep up this
vulgar display, let them 10 it at their
own expense. II is opposed to the
]ririt of our institutions, to the spirit
of seventy six; the millions whom
these officials misrepresent are not in
sympathy with it. G. 4. s.