Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-08
FORTY-R0URLH CONGRESS.
The Impeachment Trial.
MONDAY, May


| ment) resumed its session.
The usual proclamation was made by the
Sergeant alarms, and the Secretary was
| directed to notify the House that the Senate
| was ready to proceed.
The managers and the counsel having en-
| tered and taken their seats, the minutes OF
saturdays proceedings in Impeachment
MR.. MANAGER KNOTT
| then addressed the Senate, resuming his
! argument from the point where he suspend
ed On Friday last He said the line of argu-
ment which he had proposed to maintain
had been so ably and powerfully followed by
ms colleagues that hut little remained for
some of the more prominent points. He held
| mat this mode OF proc edare Cmpeachmentl
| was designed TO protect the purity of the
| public service and provide against misde-
| meanor and malfeasance n office. Accord.
| tpg 10 the learned counsel for The accused
the sole object aimed at is to secure removal
the constitution had different ideas.
They provided that not only should
the criminal be removed from office,
qualified from EcIding Office. Their design
| was to exhibit such q historical ex.
| ample as would prevent the imita-
| In office. 1t was designed not for the harrass-
ment OF single Individual, not for purposes
OF vengeance, but for the sake OF example,
as precaution against future offences OF
the same kind. He said the learned counsel
were dignifyiDg their client too mach when
they supposed that this proceeding was
qualifying him. The House OF Representa-
ttves, in sending these articles here, had a
FAR higher purpose in view-the vindication
would be extraordinary for the Sen ate to de.
eide that such momentous anomaly ex-
listed in our institutions that party enter
pertaining thereto, should escape thoss re-
spons1bilities by resigning. IL IL had been
intended that only those I'm Office should be
impeached, then why did not the trainers of
the Constitution insert q clause "that only
those In office should be impeached 2" III
they had intended that no man should be
impeached except he was in office, then they
certainly would have said so, for they were
men who always said exactly what they
meant: The very fact that they omitted to
MAKE this distinction is conclusive OF their
intentions. The impeachment clause is not
only not susceptible of the construction put
upon 1t by the ounsel, but IL does not admit
u any such construction.
AZ II % m. MT Hamiin moved that the
Senate sitting in Impeachment adjourn till
12.15 p: m. Agreed to.
At II O'Clock the
LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF THE SENATE
was called to order, and prayer offered up
by the chaplain.
The legislative journal of Saturday was
read.
The chair laid before the Senate q commu.
nication from the Secretary of War, enclos-
ing report OF Assistant Adjutant General
ored soldiers. Referred to Commit on
Appropriations.
Mr.. Davis introduced bill to incorporate
the National Drove-yard Association OF the
District OF Columbia. Referred TO Commit
tee On District of Columbia.
The Senate then resumed the considera-
ton OF
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS.
Senator Morton propounded the question
whether there had ever been an instance
where party who had been impeached by
Parliament had afterwards been tried in the
courts OF justice; or OF party who, having
impeacbed by Parliament.
Mr.. Knott said he did not know that there
was any such case. Mr.. X. then resumed mis-
argument in defence of the jurisdiction of
the Senate, characteriZing the position of
the respondents counsel, when worked out
TO its logical conclusion, as ridiculous, and
as making Impeachment farce. In con-
clusiop, Mr. X. said he was perfectly con-
tent TO leave this question with the Senate
perfectly satisfied that no large body OF
right. men would condemn the House
for what Ii had done, or condemn the Senate
for its decision, whatever that decision
might be. He could make DO passionate APP
peals to the Senate; he could not forget that
II was sitting here the hig CHEST constitutional
body In the land, called upon to decide the
gravest question that had ever been brought
before 1t. he trusted that verdict would be
that the American Senate, unbiased by
party or partisan clamor, would have the
sterling virtue TO administer the law.
other side would agree with him. On closing
Mr. Knott was greeted with applause in the
Judge Black said that he felt as keenly as
the occasion. He asked that If in his embar-
easement or bis haste he should say anything
that IT,, was ,s improper he would BE- censured for
had suffered enough. He agreed that this
question ought to be, and he believed il
would be, decided on the law OF the case and
come directly to the subject before them;
nrst, whether or not this party here
was liable to impeachment by the House OF
Representatives because he was lately Sec
rotary of War, and second, whether his resig
nation as Secretary Of War took him out of
the jurisdiction, and whether the fact that
jurisdiction had anything to do with the
question. This latter fact had nothing at al
TO do with the main question, 1t was purely
Senate to determine, and wrong for him to
discuss. BE did not deem 1t necessary for
him to go over the ground OF bis colleagues,
points OF the managers. There were some
points to which II was impossible for him to
reply. He had listened with great admiration
urday, INT. Hoar.i o It was the most finished
GRAFTON to which he (Mr. b. had ever lis
tened. But 1t was given I'm great part to the
manaaer had no right to do. He had assumed
that everything charged against Gen. Bel
KNAPP was true. The manager had no right
to play the part of Cicero and set up Gen.
Belknap as an imaginary Marc Anthony.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE S. -
Under the regular call OF states the follow
| ing among other bills were introduced for
reference:
By Mr.. Blair IN. H.)-To facilitate the sale
and settlement of the public lands granted
in aid OF railroads and telegraph lines. Pa
cific Railroads.
By Mr.. Meade IN. Y. ITO amend sections
| 1881 and 2 943 Of the revised statutes. Ways
| and Means.
By Mr.. Randall pa ITO provide for the
issue Of coin, and for other purposes. Bank
By Mr.. Rollins N. C)-Bin to amend the
bankrupt act. Judiciary.
By Mr.. Milliken (Ky.STo amend chapter
4, section 622, Of the Revised Statutes. Ju-
| dietary.
BY Mr.. Clarke (Ky.)-To provide for the
| appointment of assistant naval constructors
/ by the President. Naval Affairs.
l BY Mr.. Wells (Mo.) To provide for the
| issue OF subsidiary silver coin. Ban king and
/ Currency. Also, bill to enable purchasers
| OF lands granted TO railroad companies to
exercise certain corporate powers. Pacific
By Nj. Buckner (Mo)-BIu to authorize