After the evidentiary phase of the Senate Trial of Andrew Johnson was concluded, counsel for both sides were allowed a lot of time to present closing arguments. How much time? Prosecuting Congressman John Bingham spoke for the better part of three days!
Bingham concluded his marathon oration by saying:
I ask you, Senators, to consider that we stand this day pleading for the violated majesty of the law, by the graves of a half million of martyred hero-patriots who made death beautiful by the sacrifice of themselves for their country, the Constitution, and the laws, and who by their sublime example have taught us that all must obey the law; that none are above the law; that no man lives for himself alone, but each for all; that some must die that the State may live; that the citizen is at best but for today, while the Commonwealth is for all time; and that position, however high, patronage, however powerful, cannot be permitted to shelter crime to the peril of the Republic.
When Bingham concluded, the audience went wild. Chief Justice Chase ordered that the spectators be removed. Anyone watching the current impeachment knows that spectators make noise under possible “pain of imprisonment. Here is how the New York Times described the scene:
May 7, 1868 NY Times:
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