The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-09
IMPEACHMENT.

CONCLUSION OF THE ARGUMENTS ON THE
QUESTION OF JURISDICTION MANAGER KNOTT
ON THE DUTIES OF THE SENATE CLOSING
SPEECH OF JERE. BLACK ON THE PART
OF THE DKPENcE-oRDERs OF THE COURT OF
IMPEACHMENT.
WASHINGTON, May s, 1876
Al eleven O'Clock the Chair announced that tho
Senate sitting In trial Tor the impeachment of W. W.
Bclknap would its session. in accordance with
the order OF saturday last
Proclamation having been made by the Sergeant at
Arms, and but lew Senators being present Mr.. Mcrri
mon, OF North Carolina, moved call OF the Senate
when thirty nine Senator's responded The proceed
ings Of Saturdays session were read The respondent
with his counsel, Messrs. Carpenter, Black and Blair
and the Board OF Managers being present Mr. Manager
Knott resumed and completed his argument commenced
Friday He said the line OF argument which he had
proposed Tor himself had been completely covered
by his colleagues that little had been left for him to
say except perhaps - recapuate Of the points
and to elaborate 10 extent few OF the suggcs-
very ably presented by them, which he pro.
cccdcd TO do, concluding as follows
/ am content TO leave the question with YOU per-
fcctly confident that no large number right minded
people viii the House OF Representatives of
beng composed Of either fools traitors Tor sending
here, or dedouncc you Tor coaardcc corruption de-
eide how YOU will Whatever your decision may be
am satisfied II will be such "a To rebound to your
own credit as jursls and statesman, well to
the permanent good Of our common country. For
have neither wit. words. nor WORTH
Action nor y. terancc. not the power Of speech
10 STIR mems bio.d
| cannot forget that stand ~ the presence Of the
most exalted tribunal known to the constitution OF my
naive land, sitting 10 determine OF the gravcst
questions ever submitted to human court not Tor
TINS hour but Tor all time; not for the individual
cused. but Tor generations yet unborn | would not
therefore, Il could, obscure single ray OF the pure
bright ,gn OF truth and reason in which this queson
b. | | cOul nv nv
undue influence change In The estimation hair the
balance which should be poised here IN the rin hand
OF rigd and impartial justice know that the pro-
ceednss OF tins hour with ever be recorded by the
cxorabc pen OF history, but should IL be trust that
III. record Will DO IN letters o. living light,
permanent and enduring as the rock ribbed hills,
that the American senate, unbiased by personal or
party considerations, uuinnuclced bye private SYM
pathy or popular prejudice. bal the sterling
administer the law. In tnat sentiment sure that
the very distinguished counsel who is To follow me
tMr Black viii July accord for In his contrDu
tions to the Judicature literature Of this country IN
his manly. fearless and undated yindicaton OF the
majesty OF that same law, he has achieved a memorial
In aneetlonatc ycnerai'on OF his countrymen
precious than scupsurcd marble and trust more cL-
curing that monumental brass tAppausc.l
ARGUMENT 90 AR. BLACK.
Mr. Black closed tho argument the part Of the
defense lie drew the distinction which existed
Office al the time the Hoase OF Representatives took
cogn,sanec Of H. and the case OF official rcsignlng
amer that point OF time. The real point issue was
whether man who had resigned his cfcc was to be
sun accounted public officer Tor all The purposes OF
Impeachment On that proposition he held
the negative and would maintain u u he able In
discussing the legal point he alluded the speech OF
Manager Iiosr Saturday last the most aborate
and carefully prepared Grafton that he had ever had
the good fortune TO listen TO and admire II had how
ever, he said, been Ied With The crccs aud bltlcrcst
abuse OF tue accused. well as of
otner persons absent and undeiendcd lie Mr. Black)
could have any objections 10 that gentleman play
ing tho Of Cicero 10 this proceeding: but pro-
tested that he had no right 10 make mag Marc
Antony oi General Beknap tor the mere purpose
OF having subject tor MS philippe. lie had only
charged General Bcknap N no guilty OF every
thing which the managers had seen proper
to set forth IN their articles Of impeachment,
hut he had gone out OF hls way and charged that
the wnolc country was ul OF corruption had