Journal of Proceedings of the Senate, in the Matter of George W. Smith

United States Senate

ISBN 10: 1332841716 / ISBN 13: 9781332841714

Published by Forgotten Books, 2018

About this Item

Print on Demand. This book presents the proceedings of the 1866 impeachment trial of Oneida County Judge George W. Smith. Following an 1865 recommendation by New York Governor Reuben E. Fenton, the New York Senate convened to determine whether Judge Smith should be removed from office based on charges of misconduct, including his alleged acceptance of bribes. Many of the witnesses in this case were prominent figures in the Civil War. The author provides historical context on the charges as they relate to the legal and political landscape of the time, and analyzes the arguments and proceedings that unfolded during this trial with insights into the inner workings of the judicial system of the era. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book.

Seller Inventory # 9781332841714_0

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Journal of Proceedings of the Senate, in the Matter of George W. Smith
• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1332841716
• ISBN 13: 9781332841714
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Book Type: print-on-demand item
• Seller catalogs:
  • General Administrative Records

About this title

Synopsis

A historic Senate trial document that reveals how 19th‑century charges against a county judge were handled in real time, with all the procedural rules on display.

This edition presents a detailed transcript from the trial of George W. Smith, a Oneida County judge, as charged by the state governor. It captures the formalities, arguments, and courtroom dynamics of a 1860s political-legal process, offering a clear window into how such cases were managed in that era. The text is a primary source that shows the sequence of motions, rulings, and witness handling that shaped the proceedings.

Whether you study nineteenth‑century law, state governance, or legal history, this book provides concrete material to understand the mechanics of a high‑stakes judicial inquiry and the language of the time.

• Follow the order of proceedings, from motions and rulings to witness procedures and final judgments.


• See how charges are framed, how defense and prosecution present their cases, and how the senate copes with complex evidence.


• Observe the role of the governor’s recommendation in the process and the procedural rules that govern impeachment-like actions.


• Encounter authentic language and structure of state government records from the period.

Ideal for readers of legal history, government proceedings, and archival transcripts seeking a firsthand look at an 1860s senate inquiry.