Year: 1868




wAsHISGIoN Monday, March 23 1868.


The excitement in Washington to-day was not so
intense as on previous impeachment days One
would hardly have supposed from any indications on
the streets or at the hotels that the great trial was
In progTess-in which respect it was in marked con-
trast with ten days ago. when the city was agitated
as it used be only receipt of decisive war news
II was known that the Presidents reply would be
ready and it was rumored that the President him
self would appear in person IN the Senate Chamber
with his counsel but few believed it, and they
proved it unfounded Little that is new can be said
by way of description of the scene in the Senate
Chamber up to o'clock. AS to floor, galleries and
attending circumstances it a repetition OF what
has been witnessed on each preceding day OF the
impeachment trial The ticket system of admlttance
was rigdly adhered to, and no person without
ticket was admitted within the Senate wing of the
Capitol The galleries were filled 10 their capacity
the proportion of ladies to gentlemen was about hve
10 one The former were attired more gayly than on
any previous day, because the weather was more
suitable for the display of the latest Spring styles
and for feminine dress parade. This made the scene
exceedingly brilliant. Nearly all the gentlewomen
known in the fashionable society of Washington
were in the gallery. Among them were Mrs ana
Miss Chandler, Mrs. Black, Mrs. Senator SpragUe'
Miss Nettie Chase, Miss Josie Spinner Mrs Gen.
Butler Miss Blanche Butler Miss Cameron, Mrs Lo-
gan Miss Dixon, Miss Doolittle Miss Frelinghuysen,
Miss Drake and Mrs. Vicc-President Wade. Several
of the Foreign Ministers with their wives and
daughters were in the Diplomatic Gallery. The gal
leries were thrown open at IL o'clock and were filed
before 12


At l2Ithe Senate was called to order by Mr. Wade,
and the Cbaplain in his mathis alluded TO the event
that was about to become history, and invoked the
Divine blessing on the ceremonies. AT l24 o'clock
Nj Wade interrupted legislative business with rap
Of his gave to say that under the Eleventh Rule for
the government of the Senate, sitting as Court OF
Impeachment the hour had arrived for him to yaeate
the chair. Mr.. Trumbull Immediately rose to dissent
from this construction of the rules, believing that
legislative business should continue until o'clock;
ard one Senator after another discussed the subject
until the half hour in dispute had been nearly con-
sumel In the wrangle. The Secretary of the Senate
Ss ordered to inform the House that the Senate was
ready TO sit as O Court, and at o'clock Mr.. Wade
y.ca Jed the chair.


About three minutes elapsed before the Chief JUS
tce entered the chamber. On entering he at once
went the Chair raped feeby the desk IN front
pf him, and said in a voice that few could hear the
Court Will please come to ORDER This in direct
violation of the point which was raised by Mr. Drake
with SO much emphasis a few days ago, that it was
not a Court but that it the Senate all the time
1t was noticeable throughout the days proceedings,
too, that there was uniformity in the manner Of
addressing the Chair Some Senators said Mr.
President" Others "Mr. Chief Justice" The Presi-
dents counsel invariably used the latter phrase.


The Managers Of the Impeachment on the part of
the House, were next announced. They entered by
the main door, linked arm in arm, two by two as
heretofore. Thaddeus Stevens had come i'll half an
hour previously and was seated in easy chair at
the Managers table He seemed TO take little interest
An the proceedings, and was apparently M dose
half the time. Close following the Managers came
the members of the House, led by Mr.. Washburne of
Illinois and Speaker COlfax. As the members, nearly
two hundred in number poured IN through the
door in disorderly rush. they filed to the right and
lett and took seats which filed the obbes to receive
them After five minutes Of noise and confusion, the
chamber was hushed to silence and the ChietJustce
directed the Sergeant-atA Arms to make proclamation
This he did by reading from paper before him com
mand that all be silent while the Senate sits Court
for the trial of articles of impeachment against An


drew Johnson After the reading of the journal Of the
last dav's proceedings. Mr.. Doolttle who has been
absent on Court days hitherto, was called to the desk
and sworn as a member of the Court


The Presidents counsel had by this time entered.
and seated themselves at their table, to the right of
the chair Mr.. Stanbery leading, followed by Mr.
Tyarts Mr. Curtis Mr.. Groesbeck, and Judge Nelson.
VI Groesbeck. who took the place of jeremiah S.
Black is a lawyer of high standing in the West and
an ex- Congressman who did much toward finishing
his career as a public man by voting for the Lecomp
ION swindle.


Immediately after the reading Of the journal, Gar
ret.Davs rose with a notion whose character was
well understood before the little old man had
straightened himself out of his bow to the Chair 1t
was the same made by him in the Senate two weeks
ago 70 the effect that the Senate wasn't Senate,
nor tie Court a Court because ten States were de-
MED representation in Congress Mr. Howard
scarcely waited for the reading Of Mr.. Davis's re-
uoarksble document but was instantly on the floor
to object to its being received. Mr.. Conness turned
MIR Howards objection into motion that
the Davis proposition be not received, and
Mr. Howe of Wisconsin topped both the
obieotion and the motion with point OF
order that the Court could not entertain the prOpo
sition. The Chief-Justice briefly glanced at the
rules before him, aud decided that as member OF
the Court Mr. Davis had right to make the motion;
40 the proposition was put to vote, and on call of
the Yeas and Nays received Alternatives and 40
negatives The alternatives were Mr. Davis and his
colleague. Mr.. McCreery OF course Kentucky
STOOD grand. gloomy, and peculiar" She was not
even reinforced by Delaware; for Mr. Salisbury sat
silent in his seat. and Mr.. Bayard was not IN the
chamber. All the other Democratic and COnserya-
tves voted straight nay-even the Presidents SON
in-law. The Chair then informed the Presidents
counsel that the Court ready to receive the
answer of the President.


Mr. Stanbery rose and said that he and his associates
were here In obedience to the order of the Court.
rbev had dismissed all other professional and private
business and devoted themselves assiduously to their
task, working night and day. and yet had not had
fine enough TO prepare as they would like. With
these few words Mr. Stanbery gave way to Mr.. Cur


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