New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-03

guilt BY reading tho evidence in print
Wa he to be blamed that when he found
| the most delicate relations In human life
| involved in this proceedings relation %
delicste that he dared not allude to it in
detail; if be asked m opportunity to con.
slider whether there was anything to
and 90 great . misdemeanors But
it was too late to 20 back to
that now; he and his colleagues had been
refused that opportunity, and now he only
asked the attention Of the House to the
question whether the House did not need
more time to ASCERTAIN whether this officer
was impeachable. After quoting from
Judge Story on this point, he argued that
the powers of Congress were limited BY the
constitution, and that if Mr.. Belknap be i'm.
peached the Senate could not execute the
constitutional provision which declare
that no shall be relieved from Office.
If he were liable to impeachment,
let it be understood that they were ali
without exception for impeachment, but If
the House was establishing . precedent
which did not rest on the constitution, and
which was dangerous for the future, he
thought it right that the House should
pause and consider, by report from its
Judiciary Committee, the question of its
right to make this impeachment. If the
House could impeach . man not in Office,
it might 60 back and impeach Jefferson
Davis and John b. Floyd for conspiracy.
Mr.. Robbins, of North Carolina, suggested
that there was great difference between Q
conviction ON impeachment and . cOnvic.
ton on indictment. In the latter case the
man might be psrdoned BY the executive,
but in the former case it could not be. AZ
to the suggestion of the impeachment Of
jefferson Davis, he replied that it had been
decided that Senator could not be i'm
pesched. not being IN officer of the United
States.
The debate being closed, the House pro-
decided to vote on the resolutions. They
were unanimously adopted. The Speaker ap.
pointed ~ the committee to notify the Sem
ate of the action of the House. Messrs,
Clymer, Robbins, Blackburn, Bass and
Dapforth. these members composing the
Committee on the Expenditures Of the War
Department, making the report.
Thus ended the most bitterly painful
scene that ever took place in this hall, the
theatre of 90 many exciting events. The
proceedings not being anticipated, nor the
facts which led to them generally known,
there was ct first no very large attendance
in the galleries. Mr.. Wood was speaking
on the Hawaiian treaty in committee of the
whole, but on an intjnstion of what was
about to take place, he left his speech un-
finished and gave way for motion that the
committee rise.
MI: c!yns e. il 9 making his preliminary
reading from the clerks desk the testimony
which told in such . plain and convincing
manner the guilt of the man who had been
90 trusted and honored, was visibly affect
ed, and had to exercise . strong mastery
over his feelings to suppress the public dis
play Of his emotions. He was particularly
affected when he came to read that portion
of it which described the scene between the
witness, Marsh, Mrs. Belknap and Mrs.
and now herself holding that name, IN the
nursery, where the pecuniary prospects of
the innocent child were alluded to; and
the other portion, which describes the eff.
forts made BY the wife to screen the hus.
bandit and the mental anguish of the wit
ness, struggling between the desire to save
bis friend and The resolve not to do 60 At
the expense of his own soul.
Mr.. Clymer had to pause several times
strong emotion won favor for him from all
'Dectators. During the proceedings Mr..
Kerr occupied the Speakers chair, and be-
Meath him, at the Clerks desk, sat his
Mr.. Blaine. evincing painful
interest in the story a. told in the testimony
# Marsh. Many members, whose seats are
n a remote part Of the hall, took mp posi-
ions in the area in front of the clerks desk,
md all the rest occupied their seats, paying
he most marked attention to tho reading.
Before the scene had closed the galleries
led ell become crowded, including the
liplomatic gallery, where the Danish min
sfer and bis wife were among the specta-
orr. There was / feeling Of relief expe-
fenced b ell when the vote was taken
nd the affair was brought to Q close.
The committee appointed by the Speaker |
gill tomorrow proceed to the Senate Cham |
'er and communicate to that body the &c
ion of the House. The Judiciary Commit |
ee will also tomorrow draw up the articles |
# impeachment and report them to the |
1ouse. When adopted by the House, that
,ody will, headed by it's Speaker and high
Ulcers, proceed to the Senate Chamber and
lemand the impeachment of Mr.. Belknsp.
Then the Senate will lin parliamentary
.hrase) take order for the impeachme Mt;
hat is, arrange the time and manner of
conducting the trial, which will be pros
cuted on the part Of the House by its Ju-
liciary Committee.
The House adjourned.