Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-17
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
MONDAY, April II.

| solemn functions with which they were now
| invested, should administer justice, aud so
! act for the best welfare OF the nation.
| Mr.. MOrrfll, OF Maine. from Committee on
| Appropriations, reported with amendments
| the bill 10 supply deficiencies in the appro-
priations for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1876, and for other years.
| MI. Mitchell, from the Committee on Priv
| iieges and Elections, submitted a resolution
| 10 pay p. b. s. Pinchback the amount OF
| compensation OF a Senator from The begin
! ming OF the term for which he claimed 20 be
| elected TO the date at which his case was dis
Mr.. Thurman gave notice that as soon as
| possible he would ask TO take up his motion
TO reconsider the electoral bill.
| Mr.. Hitchcock, from Committee on Rail-
| roads, reported bill DECLARING forfeited TO the
| United States certain land grants 10 rail-
roads in the state of Kansas.
| Mr.. Window introduced bill to amend
section 4 30 OF the revised statutes ralatIng
| TO commerce and navigation. Referred 10
Committee on Commerce.
| Mr.. Morton gave notice that on Monday
| next he would ask the Senate TO take M his
resolutions relative to the relations Of the
! states and the federal government.
| THE BELKNAP IMPEACHMENT
| The Chair appointed MesSrs. Edmunds
and Thurman committee TO wait on the
| Chief Justice TO invite him 10 attend ia tn @
| Senate Chamber TO administer the oath 10
| Senators who have not yet been sworn for
| the trial of the Impeachment OF w. w
Belknap, late Secretary of War.
AT - 80 the Chief Justice entered, escorted
by the committee, and was conducted 10 the
right OF the Chair.
The Chair then stated that legislative
business would be suspended. aud the Senate
| articles of Impeachment against w. w Bel
knaP, late Secretary OF War.
The Chair then directed the Sergeant at
Arms TO make proclamation.
The Sergeant at-Arms.-Hear We. Hear
| yei Hear We! All persons are commanded
to Keep silent Oh peln OF nne and imprison-
OF articles OF impeachment exhibited by the
House OF Representatives against w. w.
bslknap, late Secretary OF War.
The Chief Justice then administered the
oath TO the following Senators: Messrs. Ali
son, burnside, CapertOn, Christiaucy, Conk-
ling, Dennis, GOldthwaite, Howe, Jones of
Nevada, Morrill, OF Maine, Ransom, and
Robertson.
On motion of Mr.. Edmunds, the secretary
| was directed 10 inform the House that the
| Senate is now sitting in It's Chamber aud
| Belknap. late Secretary of War, and seats
| are provided for the managers.
AT one minute 10 p m. the late Secretary
OF war. Gen; Belknap, entered the chamber,
accompanied by his counsel, Messrs. Car
| IeDter, Blair and Black, and all took seats
at the table provided Tor them.
SHORTLY after, the managers OF impeach-
ment, attended by the Sergeant alarms of
the House, entered and were announced, and
then escorted TO the seats provided for them.
Mr.. Manager Lord said Mr. President,
in accordance with the invitation extended
10 the House of Representatives, the House
has resolved itself into Committee OF the
Whole, ADD will attend.
The President pro TEN directed the Ser
seant at Arms OF the Senate TO wait on the
House OF Representatives and escort them
10 the seats provided.
The members OF the House of Representa-.
tives then entered, preceded by the Speaker
The Speaker took a chair I'm front OF the
PRESIDENT and the members took the chairs
provided on the outside circle
Sucn OF the members of The House as could
rot obtain seats remained standing.
Mr.. Conoyer was then sworn by the Chief
Justice.
The Secretary then read the minutes of the
Senate sitting as court OF Impeachment on
the trial OF WV. Belknap, late Secretary OF
War, on Wednesday, April 5.
The Secretary then read the return OF the
SeTgeaDt-ot-ATms,t TO the effect that he had
served the process OF the Senate upon the
then swore the Sergeant alarms as 10 the
truth of the return.
The Chief Justice then retired, escorted By
the committee, Messrs. Edmuads and Thur
man.
The Sergeant alta rms then made procla-
nation, as follows:
William W. Belknap, William w. Bel
KNAPP, William W. Belknap. Appear and
answer to the articles OF impeachment ex-
Aibited against you by The House OF Repre-
SentativeS.
Mr.. Carpenter then arose and said: VIII
liam w. Belknap. a private citizen OF the
United States and OF the State OF Iowa. In
obedience to the order of the Senate TO APP
pear and make answer to the articles OF i'm
parchment exhibited against him by the
House of Representatives, appears at the
bar of the Senate aud interposes the follow
Ing plea, which ask be read by the Secre-
tary:
The Secretary read the plea ian affidavIp
which in brief claimed that Gen. Belknap
being q private citizen can not be impea ched
by the United States Senate.
After the reading, Mr.. Carpenter said that
Judge j. S: Blake, Hon. Montgomery Blair
ard ard himself appeared as counsel for Gen.
secretary make record of the fact.
Mr.. Lord, chairman OF the managers on
the part of the House, asked that they have
time TO consider and answer the plea of the
counsel Tor Gen. Belknap. The President
pro tenn. asked him 10 reduce his request
70 writing, which he did. The request ASKS
that the managers be allowed until Wednes-
day, the 18Th, to make their replication, and
also asks for copies OF the plea of Belknap's
counsel. The Senate granted the request OF
the managers, and, on motioa of Mr.. Ed
munds, the court was djourned until 1880
p. m. on Wednesday next.
The Senate resumed its legislative sessi on
The unfinished business, being the bill TO
provide for the repaviDg OF Pennsylvania
avenue, was then taken up, the question
teing on the amendment of Mr.. BayaTd, pro-
ton of all streets and avenues and all public
parks laying and admitting upon said avenue
be paid by the United States.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Speaker called attention OF the House 10 the
fact that the kilbourn matter came over as
unfinished business and question OF high
privilege. While the Commit tee OF the Dis
trict of Columbia was entitled to the control
of The House under the rules al two O'clock
that unless some arrangements were
made the Chair would be compelled To recog-
piZe that com mittee at that hour.
After some discussion, in which Mr.. Hen
dee VIZ announced that the District Com
mittee was anxious to report tax bill for
the District, next Monday was assigned
that committee, and the House resumed the
consideration of
THE HALTET KILBoURN MATTER,
which came over from Saturday as uudn-
ished business TO the exclusion of the call
OF states ard territories for bills for reference.
Mr.. Lord IN. " addressed the House, TAX
| ing the ground that this was not question
whether the House would reverse its action;
not q question whether IL had acted rightly;
but whether, having rendered its Judgment,
| IL would now surrender its Jurisdiction. He
maintained that the House had the power,
| and IL was its duty to hold the body OF the
| prisoner. II the courts Of the District were
armed with the writ OF habeas corpus il
| would have the power toibreak up anyinves-
| tiealion Congress might attempt TO make.
| The House, he argued, was at least the equal
| of the courts of the District In judicial