Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-04-06
Forty Fourth Congress First Se sion,
SENAT e.
Washington, April !

ate provided that on this day, at l o'clock
the pre- siding officer of the Senate should admin
lister the oath to the senators in the impeachment
case of w. w. Belknap, but ON examination with
several senators he had been unable to find any
statute of authority for the presiding officer to adj
minister the oath. The authority stood upon the
rule alone In state of doubt it had been deem
ed best to submit to the Senate a proposition that
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
the L. S. be invited to attend and administer the
oath. Agreed to.
committee of two senators was thereupon ap-
pointed to wait upon the Chief Justice and invite
him to administer the oath required in the matter
of the impeachment Of Secretary of War Belk-
nap.
At | o'clock Chief Justice Waite of the SUI
preme Court appeared in the Senate, accompanied
by Senators Edmunds and Thurman, and was es-
corted to seat on the right of the President pro
TEN.
The following oath was then administered, first
to Mr.. Ferry and then to the senators, who were
called by the Secretary in alphabetical order in
groups of six
"You do solemnly swear that in all things ap-
pertaining to the trial and Impeachment of w.
w. Beknap, late Secretary of War, now pending,
you will do impartial justice to the constitution
and the law"
The Chief Justice then retired.
The House was then notified that the Senate
was organized for the trial of Belknap, and ready
to receive the managers of impeachment on the
part of the House.
At LAO the House managers appeared and were
assigned seats.
Mr. Ferry President pro tenn, said
Gentlemen managers: The Senate is now Or
gained for trial Of the impeachment of w. w.
Belknap, late Secretary of War"
Mr. Lord, chairman of the board Of managers
said
"Mr. President We pray for the issue of pro-
cess against w. w. Belknap, to answer the arli-
ces of Impeachment presented"
Mr.. Edmunds submitted the following, which
was agreed to-
"Ordered, That summons be issued. as
Quired by the rules of the Senate when sitting in
trial of Impeachment of W. w. Belknap, return
able on Monday, the 18th day Of the present
III )nth, at | O'Clock in the p. IN"
Mr. Lord-That is satisfactory to the mana
gers.
The managers then retired.
Mr.. Stevenson moved that the Senate, sitting
as a court adj urn.
Mr. Edmunds said that was hardly proper. The
Senate sitting as a court, should adjourn until
the seventeenth inst, when the process was re-
turnable.
Mr.. Stevenson inquired if any conference had
been held with the counsel for Gen. Belknap;
whether the time fixed for the return of the pro-
cess would suit them.
Mr. Edmunds said that he had no such confer
ence land did not expect to have any conference
with the counsel of Belknap; of course when the
process was returned on the 18th, if they desired
more time they could apply for it.
Mr.. Stevenson saw no improprety IN the man
ayers on the part of the House having friendly
interview with the counsel of Beiknap, to learn
when they would be ready for trial.
Mr.. Edmunds moved that the senate, sitting
a court, ad ourn until the l1th
Mr. Bogy said the oath rule Of the senate re-
quired, in cases of impeachment, that the sum-
mons be returnable at II 10 D. M. and the order
last adopted made the summons returnable at one
o'clock.
Mr. Edmunds said that rule was mere matter
of form, and the senate had right to change that
Iorm and fix any hour convenient. He referred
to the Johnson trial and said the late chief justice
who presided at that trial, thought all the rules of
the senate, in regard to lmpeachment should be
adopted while the senate was sitting as court of
impeachment, and the senate did adopt the rules
gain while sitting ae court. IL was, therefore,
Perfectly competent for the senate to change or
modify the rules.
Mr. Sherman said that the Senate as a court
should adjourn until II 80 p. IN. on the l7th, in
order to then arrange preliminares for trial. If it
was to commence at one o'clock.
After further discussion Mr.. Edmunds modified
his motion so that the Senate sitting as a court
should adjourn until II 80 p m. on the 18th of
April, and insisted upon its adoption.
Mr.. Bogy demanded the yeas and nays, and the
motion was agreed to-yeas, IS; nays, 10.
Messrs Bsyard, Bogy, Cooper Davis, Eaton,
Norwood, Randolph, salisbury, Wbyte and With
ers voting in the negative
House.
Mr. Randall of Pa, offered resolution direct
ing the Secretary of the Treasury to furnish an
itemized account of the amount expended under
the item of 100000, appropriated for light and
fuel for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1876
Adopted.
Mr. Cox of New York, from the Committee on
Banking and Currency, reported the bill to regu-
late the winding up Of national banks. lie ex-
planned that the object Of the bill was to facilitate
liquidation. and that nsolved hanks may be hon
estly and speedily closed up in the interest of the
public.
Passed
A message was received from the Senate in
forming the House that the Senate had organized
for Trial and impeachment of w. w. Belknap, and
was ready to receive the managers at its bar
Mr.. Hubbard of Michigan, from the Committee
on Banking and CurreAcy, reported back adverse
y the bill fixing the legal rate of interest on ma
tional banks throughout the United States at not
exceeding six per cent. per annum, and aihxing
penalties for its violation.
Pending action the morning hour expired.
The impeachment managers presented them
selves at the bar of the House, and stated through
Mr.. Lord, their chairman, that they had proceed
ed to the bar of the Senate, and the Senate had
fixed Monday the 18th inst. as the day they would
make process returnable against w. w. Belknap,
late Secretary of War.