The Lords debate the judgment among themselves. Then the vote is first taken on the question of guilty or not guilty; and if they convict, the question, or particular sentence, is out of that which seemeth to be most generally agreed on. Seld. Fud., 167; 2 Wood., 612. Judgment. Judgments in Parliament, for death, have been strictly guided per legem terræ, which they cannot alter; and not at all according to their discretion. They can neither omit any part of the legal judgment, nor add to it. Their sentence must be secundum, non ultra legem. Seld. Fud., 168, 171. This trial, though it varies in external ceremony, yet differs not in essentials from criminal prosecutions before inferior courts. The same rules of evidence, the same legal notions of crimes and punishments, prevailed; for impeachments are not framed to alter the law, but to carry it into more effectual execution against too powerful delinquents. The judgment, therefore, is to be such as is warranted by legal principles or precedents. 6 Sta. Tr., 14; 2 Wood., 611. The Chancellor gives judgment in misdemeanors; the Lord High Steward formerly in cases of life and death. Seld. Fud., 180. But now the Steward is deemed not necessary. Fost., 144; 2 Wood., 613. In misdemeanors the greatest corporal punishment hath been imprisonment. Seld. Jud., 184. The King's assent is necessary in capital judgments, (but 2 Wood., 614, contra,) but not in misdemeanors. Seld. Fud., 136. Continuance. An impeachment is not discontinued by the dissolution of Parliament, but may be resumed by the new Parliament. T. Ray., 383; 4 Com. Fourn., 23 Dec., 1790; Lords Four., May 15, 1971; 2 Wood., 618. 1614 13 Congress. Session. Statement showing the commencement and termination of each session of Congress keld under the present Constitution, with the number the names of the Speakers and the Clerks of the House of Representatives. of days in each, and Resigned December 9, 1800. ¡Resigned January 19, 1814, and Langdon Cheves, of South Carolina, elected. Thomas Dougherty, of Kentucky.§ Do. Do. Resigned January 28, 1815. Died during recess of Seventeenth Congress. Do. Congress. Session. Statement showing the commencement and termination of each session of Congress, etc.--Continued. From To No. of days in each session. Names of Speakers. Names of Clerks. Resigned October 20, 1820, by letter, and John W. Taylor, of New York, elected November 15, 1820. Resigned June 2, 1834, and John Bell, of Tennessee, elected. Dismissed January 18, 1845, and Benjamin B. French, of New Hampshire, elected. Appointed April 17, 1850. March 30 adjourned to July 3; July 20 adjourned to November 21. July 25 adjourned to September 21; September 21 adjourned to October 16; October 16 adjourned to November 10. **S. S. Cox appointed February 17, May 12, and June 19; Milton Sayler appointed June 24. Samuel J. Randall, elected December 4, 1876. |