The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-03-07


| Laverty, OF specifications charging high
crimes and misdemeanois, formulated by
| the Assembly, is practically the first i'm
parchment trial ever had in the State. A
| Justice of the Peace was once arraigned
at the Bar of the Senate, but he was of little
| importance himself, and the Senate and
| the public made equally little of his case.
Not a precedent for the conduct of the
great State trial about to begin has been
| found ia the conduct of that. The rules
which are to govern the Senate in this pro-
ceeding have been formulated without re-
gard to the rules which governed that pro-
ceeding. Nothing short of the formula
upon which Andrew johnson was brought
to answer before the National Senate would
fit the imposing dignity Of the pending
arraignment of Keeper Laverty. As these
rules anticipate much that will be witnessed
during the trial, brief outline of them
will interest them.
THE MODE OF PROCEDURE.
President Griggs wills preside over the
High Court. His rulings on questions of
evidence and constitutional questions are
to stand as the Judgment of the Court unless
some member of the Court asks for formal
vote.
Secretary of State Kelsey is to act as
clerk of the Court. He will keep a record
IF proceedings. and supply his record for
publication III the Senate Journal. When
the Ser ate resolves itself into Court, the
Secretary of State is to be summoned to
admin ter to each Senator an oath that he
twill truly and impartiaily try and de-
termine the charge in question according
to the evidence, so help me God" When
the Managers of the Impeachment on the
sc el,a11 asr
ness to exhibit their articles of impeach-
ment, the Sergeant-at-Ar.ns of the Senate,
officiating as court crier, is, with the or
thodox
"Hear ye Hear yel Hear vel"
to direct sail persons to keep silence, on
PAIN of imprisonment" When the articles
are presented, a summons is to be issued
directing the accused to appear upon day
to be fixed and file his answer to them
and then the trial begins. During the sit
ting, the High Court is invested with full
power to compel the attendance of wit
nesses. Witnesses are to be examined by
one person on behalf of the party producing
them, and cross-ex mined by one person
on the other side, though Senator may
ask of the witness any question he may
please. The case on each side shall be
opened by one person, and closed-in the
final argument on the merits-by two per-
sons and the Assembly Managers are to
open and close the final arguments. All
orders and decisions shall be made and had
by ayes and nays without debate, except
when the High Court considers interlocu-
tory questions in secret session then
Senator may speak once for ten minutes.
two-third vote is necessary to a convic-
ton. The final finding of the Court will
be reached in secret session, when each
member of the Court may, if he sees fit,
make single speech of fifteen minutes
duration.
PREPARATIONS ON The PART OF THE HOUSE
1t is the common impression that the
first step in the impeachment will be taken
Monday night, in the presentation to the
Senate of the formal Articles of Impeach-
ment. Keeper Laverty will probably be re-
quired to file his answer by Wednesday or
thursday. Then the trial will probably
begin ut once, and continue every day save
Sunday to its close. There are to be five
Managers on the part of the Ascend
These gentlemen have not yet been desig-
mated, and the Speaker has been subjected
TO considerable pressure on the part of
lawyer Members who are thrsting for the
distinction their active participation in such
trial would thrust upon them. limitations
have not been wanting that Armstrong may
pick out none bat Republicans to act as
Managing Prosecutors, but it is not likely
that he has any such display of partisan
ship in contemplation even. He probably
regrets that delicacy forbids him to mention
himself, and he is not so happy, it may be,
in his Speakership as he thought he would
be. Republican Members are disposed to
urge the selection of Corbin and Parker as
the chest equipped of the Republican
lawyers in the Chamber, but Mr.. Corbin
says he will serve upon no conditions what
ever. Parker is understood, however, to be
willing to sacrifice himself, and his name
will doubtless be con the list" On the
part of the Democrats, the choice will fall
on Besson, or Pintard, or Gourley, or
Hudspeth. The Keeper will berepre sented
by Ex-Judge William T. Hoffman, and
Counselor Barton of Trenton. lie con-
templated retaining Counselor LiXdaburJ
of Elizabeth, at one time, but has decided
not to do SO.
THE KEEPER ASKS TO BE IMrEAcHED.
The articles of impeachment were or
dered drawn by unanimous vote of the
House, but not, as some of the less scru-
pulous and more partisan of the Republi-
can papers intimate, because the testimony
against him was overwhelming and unan-
swerable, The unanimous vote was due to
his demand to be placed at the Bar of the
Senate. He seeks complete vindication
from the scandalous charges that have
been made against him, and his trial by
the Senate afforded him his only opportu-
nifty to secure such an acquittal. He was
far from pleased when be learned that
some members of the House Committee
were making an effort to inject extraneous
matters into the case, with view of OBJ
securing the issue he is SO anxious to have
clearly and definitely presented for deter
| nination, and when he learned Of it lost
no time in making his dissatisfaction with
them become known. His letter Of protest
| speaks for itself. 1t il as follows
| szArE FAIsoN
| ERKETeN. March !. 1885.
Han. Ioha O Bssson Chairman Of Cbmmittes ON In
] vestieation. 9et.
| DEAR Sm-I am well aware Of the fact that airy
| attempt on my part to advise rs TO the action Of
i your honorable committee might be deemed i'm