Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-04-19
FOrty.FOurth Congress.

House. The case of kilbourn, the recus- |
ant witness was discussed.
The Senate amendments to the silver bill |
were concurred in and the bill passed. The |
President signed it Saturday SO we may
soon expect to see less of fractional cur
rencv and find silver in general use in
making change
THURSDAY. Senate The Senate did
little but adjourn till Monday.
House, The House discussed the Indian
question again. Mr.. Cook of Georgia and
Mr.. Hooper of Mississippi advocating the
proposed transfer ofthe Indians TO the war
department. The most powerful speech
of the debate thus far was by Prof. Seeley
in opposition.
SATURDAY House. The judiciary COM
mittee reported 4 resolution directing the
sergeant at arms not to surrender kllbOurn
to the civil authorities without an order of
the House. and the House spent pretty
much all Of Saturdays session debating it.
but without action. Meanwhile, Judge
Carter, not caring evidently to directly
antagonize the House action, has further
postponed, the question of releasing Kill
bourn on the writ of habeas corpus, which
gives plenty Of time to the House TO dis
cuss the principle involved.
The House referred to the committee on
rules the case of its journal clerk, {. ii.
Smith, who has been preparing to do a
brokerage and claim collecting business in
connection with the bounty bill now before
Congress.
MONDAY. .Seaate This was the day
set for the beginning of the Belknap i'm
parchment trial.
Senators Edmunds and Thurman were
appointed a Committee to wait on the Chief
Justice and ask him to administer Oaths to
such Senators AS were not present when
the Court was organized. They soon APP
peared escorting the Chief Justice, who
wore his silk official robe.
AT twenty minutes after twelve lcgisa-
tive business WAS suspended and the Ser
geant-at- Arms made proclamation that the
Court of Impeachment was opened. The
Chief Justice then administered the oatl,
to the Senators who were absent on the
first day of the Court An order was then
passed directing the Secretary to inform
the House that the Senate was sitting As a
Court of impeachment, and that seals were
provided for the accOmm OdatIOn of the
members.
There were many ladies' in the Diplo-
matte Gallery. but none of the "Cabnet
ladies' were there Senator FentOn and
Judge Poland, with other members of past
Congress, were on The floor Of the Senate
At one o'clock General Bclknap appear
ed arm-n-arm with ex-senator Carpenter,
followed bv Judge Black and Montgomery
Blair. Soon afterward the managers ON
the part of the House appeared. We're an
nounccd and took seats at their table on
the left The House came in next, very
Il Inv
tered the Senate Chamber with sam Ran
dali rs bell wethrr, and took possession of
the chairs in the rear Of the Senators
desks
Gen. Belknap sat between Mes>rS Blair
and Black. apparently an unconcerncd
spcctator Of the scene and seemed TO be in
good health and spirits.
As the prominent representatives came
in they were recognized by the occupants
of the galleries and commented npon. The
House officers followed, and Wien they
entered there WAS not an available square
foot of space in the Senate or galleries.
Aficr \ proclamation to William W.
b KNAPP to appear and answer TO the anti
les of impeachment, Mr.. Carpenter rose
and said that VIM. w, Belknap, private
citizen Of the United States, app AIRED and
makes lhi> plea:
The Secretary then read the plea. which
asserts that Mr.. Belknap i>a private eli
z,.n. and denies the Jurisdiction of the Sen
1T. Mr.. Carpenter announces that Me>sr>.
Black and Blair We're associated with him
us counsel.
Mi Lord said that the managers desired
time for the consultation. Tuc House then
withdrew.
l.,l hn LaI
y copy Of the plea, and to have until
"Wednesday, the l9th, to answer, which
was granted. and the court adjourned.
In half an hour after the Senate resumed
legislative business the galleries were
nearly empty. Many senators went to
lunch and the few who remained drc,ui-
" discussed the bill tor paving rrnn>vl-
vanil avenue.
No1tst The debate growing ont of the
Kilbourn mater, after the House came
back from the Senate chamber. WAS of Al
e1ci.ng character Mr.. Hooker. speaking
in favor of the lre>olutlon regarding the
summoning Of Witnesses before GO nmlt-
tees. reported by the judiciary committee.
argued that if the opposite ground Were
affirmed bv the House this strange >pccta-
Gle mirht follow. that witnesses who are
: being summoned before the committees OF
, the House all over the states and tcrrito-
rieS and who. declining TO obey the sub
: puna may be arrested under the warrants
: from the Speaker. might procure writS of
\ habeas corpus from their local courts -
=. that the witnesses would BE- stopped in
transit
: Mr.. Fry reminded the democratic side
. of the House Of the bitterness with which
/ the democrats in the last House resisted
, the proposition 10 give the president the
right TO suspend the writ of habeas corpus
in the Southern States, and now the demo
e cra's Of this House We're proposing III,
l. eternal suspension Of the writ in regard to
4 both Houses of Congress. Had it come tc
this that Il democratic House was prepar-
Ell to saw that an American citizen might
.e deprived Of liberty whether he WAS
guilty of any wrong or not? Ii this prln-
e cipic WAS established. then the committee
: of which Clymer was chairman. and
: which had much cause to complain OF
! news paper correspondents might call any
e of those correspondents before 1t. ask hin
l any question it chose. and if he declined
; to answer, report him to the House. de
, mand the previous question, refuse debate
Il have the House commit him to j,il, ant
: then determine its own power to be with
out limit anu without llSul Vl question ny
: any court.
l Mr. Tucker proposed an amcntmcn; tt
Il the majority resolution directing the ser
: grant-at-lrms to appear by counsel before
y the court and make Il motion to qnash o.
; dis mis-, the writ or to take such other pro
; cedure as he should be advised to raise The
: question of legality and propriety of the
= issue of the WI it on the facts stated in thu
. petition and complaint. and us preliminar,
Il to any return to the same; and that in thu
Il meantime he retain the custody of XII
bourn's body, and not produce it witLou
: further order Of the House.
Mr.. Garfield said this method had beer
pursued in Twins case last session, bu
/ the court refused to hear the motion unlcs
e the body Of the prisoner was produced.
t Mr. Tucker said such refusal woul,
i show corruption. and that the Judge SHOULD
:, be made to do his duty by Il superio