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The Impeachment
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»Impeachment, Trial, and Acquittal |
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APATHY OF CONGRESS
Our correspondents and artist at Washington unite in describing the
serious and earnest composure of both Houses in acting upon the subject of impeachment,
and the notable absence, whenever impeachment is discussed, of all the apathy and levity
which is usual on other occasions. On almost all other questions, even that of
Reconstruction, the House displays its want of interest; the halls become deserted or grow
noisy; but when Impeachment is talked ofpro or conit is only the lobbies which
are empty. An amusing scene which illustrates the apathy of members on other and minor
questions is given by our artist on page 180. It occurred on February 26, while the House
of Representatives was discussing the Indian Appropriation Bill. Mr. John W. Chanler, of
New York, had the floor, and, standing at one of the desks in the front row, spoke for
half an hour as interestingly as one can speak on such a dry subject. Mr. A. G. Burn, of
Illinois, sat, or rather reclined, in the adjacent seat, and so near that the sweep of Mr.
Chanlers hand, in gesticulating, passed very close to Mr. Burrs nose. One
would naturally suppose that a loud, shrill voice, such as Mr. Chanler possesses, would at
least have kept Mr. Burr awake. But the very reverse was the case. Mr. Chanler had been
speaking and gesticulating very earnestly for less than five minutes, when Mr. Burr
stretched both legs upon his desk, slid down in his chair until his head rested on the
cushions of the back, and calmly slept until Impeachment came up as the unexpired
business, when he instantly awoke, as the Reporters Gallery has it, with "Mr.
Chairman" on his lips!
SCENE IN THE HOUSE APATHY OF
THE MEMBERS
March 21, 1868 page 180
Articles Related to the Impeachment, Trial, and
Acquittal:
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articles go back to the intro
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