PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE. Lansing, Thursday, March 28, 1872. At the evening session, the Sergeant-at-Arms announced a committee from the House of Representatives, Messrs. I. R. Grosvenor, W. H. C. Mitchell, and Aaron Childs, who appeared at the bar of the Senate and delivered the following message: MR. PRESIDENT-In obedience to the order of the House of Representatives, we appear before you, and in the name of the House of Representatives and of the People of the State of Michigan, we do impeach Charles A. Edmonds, Commissioner of the State Land Office, for corrupt conduct in office, and for crimes and misdemeanors; and we further inform the Senate, that the House of Representatives will in due time exhibit particular articles of impeachment against him, and will make good the same; and in their name we demand that the Senate take order for the appearance of said Charles A. Edmonds, to answer the same. The President replied that the Senate would take order in the premises, and the committee withdrew. Mr. Ball offered the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That the message of the House relating to the impeachment of Charles A. Edmonds be referred to a select committee of three, to be appointed by the Chair, to consider and report thereon. The President announced as such committee, Senators Ball, Emerson, and Wheeler. Lansing, March 29, 1872. The select committee appointed to consider and report concerning the impeachment of Hon. Charles A. Edmonds, submitted the following resolutions: Whereas, The House of Representatives, on the 28th day of the present month, by three of its members, Messrs. I. R. Grosvenor, W. H. C. Mitchell, and Aaron Childs, at the bar of the Senate, impeached Charles A. Edmonds, Commissioner of the State Land Office, for corrupt conduct in office and for crimes and misdemeanors, and informed the Senate that the House of Representatives, by their Managers, will in due time exhibit particular articles of impeachment against him and make good the same, and likewise demanded that the Senate take order for the appearance of said Charles A. Edmonds to answer to the said impeachment; Resolved, That the Senate will take proper order thereon and proceed to the trial of such impeachment in the manner provided by law. Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate give the House of Representatives due notice of these resolutions; And recommend their adoption. BYRON D. BALL, Chairman. Report accepted and committee discharged. The resolutions were adopted. 3 THE LAW OF IMPEACHMENT. During the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 28th, the following message was received from the Governor: To the Legislature: EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Lansing, March 28, 1872. ( The Constitution has conferred upon the House of Representatives the power of impeaching civil officers for corrupt conduct in office, or for crimes or misdemeanors. It also provides for the election by the House of three of its members to prosecute such impeachment, and that every impeachment shall be tried by the Senate, but not until the final adjournment of the Legislature. Having received official notice of the impeachment of a State officer, it becomes my duty to call your attention to the fact that no law exists in this State, under which the trial may proceed. It is with feelings of the deepest sorrow-but the necessity exists that I recommend the passage of an act to confer upon the Senate and other officers the requisite power to proceed in cases of this kind. Although this comes before you at a very late period of the session, just at the time when you are expecting to return to your homes and your families, I am quite sure you will not hesitate to remain as long as may be necessary to give the most careful consideration to this important subject, so as to protect the good name of the State, and at the same time carefully guard the rights of the impeached officer. The compensation of the members of the Senate and other officers, when convened for this purpose, should be fixed, and provision made for the payment of the members, officers, and contingent expenses. HENRY P. BALDWIN. The message was laid on the table. The same message was communicated to the House of Representatives the next day. On Friday, March 29th, in the House of Representatives, Mr. Holt, unanimous consent being given, introduced A bill regulating trials of impeachment, and providing for the expenses thereof. The bill was read a first and second time by its title, and, On motion of Mr. Holt, The rule requiring the second and third reading of bills to be on different days was suspended, and the bill was put upon its immediate passage. The bill having been read a third time, and the question being upon its passage, pending the taking of the vote thereon, Mr. Holt moved to amend the bill by striking out in the first section the word "shall," after the word "impeach," and insert "may by the Governor," in lieu thereof; Which motion prevailed. The bill was then passed, a majority of all the members elect voting therefor, by yeas and nays, as follows: By a vote of two-thirds of all the members elect, the bill was ordered to take immediate effect. In the Senate, on Friday, March 29th, the following message was received: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, To the President of the Senate: SIR-I am instructed by the House to transmit the following bill: House manuscript bill, entitled A bill regulating trials of impeachment and providing for the expenses thereof; Which has passed the House by a majority vote of all the members elect, and by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elect been ordered to take immediate effect, and in which the concurrence of the Senate is respectfully asked. Very respectfully, N. B. JONES, Clerk of the House of Representatives. The bill was read a first and second time by its title, and, On motion of Mr. Romeyn, |