Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-05-05
The Impeachment Trial.
WASHINGTON, April 18th, 1876.


Mr. Editor 1t was my fortune to stumble
into Washington, and the United States Sen
ale, on the very day the Beknap trial was
opened. Whether was fortunate or a0t is
yet TO be decided. The countless numbers
who came late and were unable to obtain ad-
mit,ance TO the galleries of the Senate would
dou5tlessly have thought me extremely fOrtu-
nate in getting on the inside, but think dit
ferently for several reasons, first of which is
that | was allowed but six inches Of spase
when, to be comfortable, require us many
feet. Then on top of me was three thickness
es of a heavy overcoat, which ] had worn
through the frost Of the early morning, and
above all was an aged aud ponderous woman
who; in the excitement attending the impeach-
ment, had failed 10 observe me.
Before entering the gallery inquired Of a
door-keeper if there was plenty of room on
the inside and was answered that as the day
was pleasant and there seemed to lie great in
terest manifested he had orders 10 fit them in
as close as possible, three thicknesses deep. !
thea concluded TO enter for | had been on a
horse-car when it was said to be fuH. That
same door keeper came to me after had been
slowed away and impertinenuy asked what
was doing there.
Reporting the Belknap trial." replied
with some dignity.
Cline possh for that, >" he remarked "tak-
ing Il down in shorthand, | spose." And
replied VERY short, indeed"
AS | entered the galleries when they were
comparatively empty, had quite breathing
spell before being covered by the surging
masses OF puifs, founces and humanity, and
was thus enabled 10 take in the most striking
features of the situation before became a.nul-
lily in the crowd, and among these not die
least amusing was the contention on the par
of The female portion of the attendants for the
most desirable seats. In vain the politely
positive door keepers assured them that his
orders were 10 reserve one-fonrth OF the gall
leries for the men, but he was always met
with the rejonder, (using the language OF one
very determined contestant, 81 like 10 sit
where like ~ The fifteenth amendments
too were there, one of whom was so persistent
in obtaining seat that ofIicial--an amend
ed citizen threatened TO kick hum out Of the
gallery. ! was the only thing in the crowd
that had no rights at all. Why should have
any when woman, lovely woman, has so many2
At half past twelve O'Clock Beknap and
his counsel entered the Senate, closely followed
by the managers from the House. The ''High
Court OF Impeachment had barely become
settled before Mr. Carpenter jumped up very
quick and stated it to be the wish of the coun-
sci for the defence to have the case postponed
until December next. A Senator smiled at
this, another Uttered and quicker than thought
the contagious laughter extended to the gal
leries aud Terminated in an uproarous gufiaw.
The President looked daggers at the galleries,
but held his peace. The Senate, not being
able to see the use of postponenent, proceed
ed with the trial Conspicuous among the
counsel for the defense sat the War-llorse of
Montgomery. He followed Mr.. Carpenter TO
state why postponemcnt was asked by the
defense. He said not word as 10 the merits
Of the case, and pleaded only for postpone
ment or an enlargement of time, but what he
said was with force and dignity that command
ed the implicit attention of that august as
semblage His matchless voice filed every
nook and corner of the hail. and as he swung
his arms far outward he seemed DESTROYS of
taking in the Senate, Belknap, post-traderships
and all, and if they show him half chance
be will do it, too. Meanwhile Mr. Lord,
manager, made COULTER statement. Think
ing perhaps, he was Lord of all he survey
ed - he addressed his remarks TO the chair
but a Senator--a manager suppose-step-
ped quickly forward ard right-dressed him
around to the High Court"
Mr. Blair was followed by Judge Black,
whose careless toilet and falteriug speech pre-
scented stricking contrast to the faultleSs
getting up and mastery diction OF his pre-
decessor, but when he alluded to the position
the Democratic party held in The trial his
tongue was loosed and his speech became rapid
and incisive. He said ''the Dmocratic party
was so pregnant with honesty that like II tor
pedo, it was always ready to explode; he did
not doubt that his opponents were rammed to
the muzzle with evidence against that inno-
cent man, and he declared before Heaven he
was innocent, but he was not so sure that the
evidence was what il should be- This caused
another roar on the floor and in the galleries
which the President declared positively must
cease, intimating pretty plainly that they did
not known what they were laughing about.
Your correspondent didn't laugh, indeed he
felt more like CRYING; and if the Sergeant-At-
rms had cleared those galleries and that i'm
mense woman had moved single inch, the
writer of this letter would never have been
spared to tell his tale Fearing such caam
" | extricated myself after a mighty struggle
and adjourned sine die, having come to de-
finite conclusion on one point, and that was
that though Belknsp may be an innocent man
II hope be is as | wish all wcro-but ! am
sure be has never suffered closer imprisonment