Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-11
itch TO the y. Y. Warid.
BELKNAP'S FALL.
opinions On the Question Of Impeaehmeat

Opinions Sn the question OF Impeachment
WASHINGTON, March 3.-"Thers they
comet there they comet said several,
nerVOusly, involuntarily almost. But all
our eyes turned quickly TO the Senate en-
trance, opposite the Presidents desk. 1t
was false alarm; only half dozen
members of the House coming into the
senate Chamber, but its effects showed
cOnclusively what was uppermOst in ev-
erybOdy's mind. Quick eyes had already
noted Ben Hill take 4 seat in the men,
bers' gallery, and the new token, albeit
false alarm, WAS assurance Of something
unusual coming from the House, and il
required no shrewdness to guess what
that something was. Already the CALLER
les were filled TO OyerfiOwing. Early
noon had started great throng Capitol
ward, and by - 80 every seat was filed.
Close upon the heels of the remark above
quoted came a squad of members troop
ing through the entrance doors and dis
tributing themselves about the chamber.
Edmunds was in the midst of his speech
on the Pinchback case. He tried TO take
no notice of the interruption, to appear
uncOncerned; but the members kept COM
ing faster and faster, the hustle increased,
murmurs from the outer hall came
through the constantly opening doors,
and Mr. Edmunds was forced TO deEist.
The venerable form and gray head Of Mr..
Green Adams, Chief Clerk OF the House,
appeared in the doorway. After mo-
ment's fumbling, ergeant-at-Arms,-
French, announced message from the
House of Representatives. Mr.. Adams
message was a short one, but the impOr-
tance of the occasion was too much for
him, and he tripped and stumbled a little
in announcing the resolution passed by
the House and notifying the Senate Of
the appointment of a committee of i'm
peachment.
Necks were craned and ears strained to
hear the message, and then Edmunds re-
sumed again, but only for a few minutes.
Five minutes later, at ! O'Clock precisely,
there was a measured tramp Of feet out
side, the doors were swung open again
and the House Committee, arm in arm,
three in front and two behind, marched
into the chamber, and being announced
by Mr. French marched forward TO the
Senate bar. Mr.. Clymer stepped for
ward, holding bit of paper in his hand,
and proceeded as follows:
Mr.. President: In obedience to the
order Of the House of Representatives
we appear before you, and in the name
Of the House Of Representative and of
the United States of America, we do i'm
peach Wm. w. Belknap, late Secretary
Of War of the United States, Of high
crimes and misdemeanOTs while in office;
and we further inform the Senate that
the House of Representatives Will in due
time exhibit articles Of impeachment
against him and make good the same, and
III their name we demand that the Sen
ate shall take order for the appearance
of said William w. BelSnap 10 answer
said impeachment.
Mr.. Ferry, President pro tompore, re-
piled a: once:
M. Chairman and gentlemen Of the
Committee of the House Representatives,
the Senate will take order in the prem
ises.
That WAS all, and the House Commit
tee walked quietly out; not so the great
audience. With eyes straining and heads
turning, now This way and now that,
they sat, after the thing was all over for
the day, as though in momentary eXpec-
UatiOn OF seeing the late War Secretary
marched in handcuffed and between a
couple of policemen. During Mr.. ely
mer's reading the faces Of the Senators
were r study. Morton, as usual, paid
close attention, and 50 did the Denocrat-
ic side. Conkling was pretending 10
read, and keeping his eyes steadily on his
paper, affected the impertuTablc, a favor
ite role with him, so also with Window
and Howe: but most watched the Speak
er and looked troubled. Later in the ses-
sion Edmunds offered q resolution, which
was adopted, appointing a special COM
explained that this was the usual custom,
and at the close Of the session Mr.. Ferry
appointed Senators Edmunds, ConkliHg,
Freliughuyseu, Thurman and stephen
son as that committee. The unanimous
Judgment Is that he could hardly have ap-
pointed a stronger committee. They Will
really have little 10 do beyond fixing the
time when the Senate will consider the
articles 10 DE presented. But it is gener-
ally understood that they viii exhaust
lively examine the precedents and be
ready TO advise the Senate as to the right
of Congress To impeach an officer after
he has resigned. On this point will come
all the contest there will be, and a strong
effort is making to have the Senate decide
the question negatively, that is, that the
eX-Secretary having resigned before he
was impeached cannot now De impeached
NJ all.
Outside, Belknap's fan still continues