Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-04-25
DEBATE on GEN. STONES CASE.

The debate IN the Senate, Tuesday, on Gen.
eral Stones case, is described as having been
very bitter in its spirit. Mr.. McDougars al
lusions to Secretary Stanton were marked
with much asper,ty Of feeling, and Mr.. Wade
was indignant in reply. The chief points Of
the debate are reported as follows -
Mr.. MeDougal, OF California. alluded the fact that
it hiy DAYS since Gen stone mad been arrested
his hume midnight, and closely confined boz dark
1u without being able "a learn why he arrested Boy
whom nor had he learned whether his arrest or
deicd hy the prcsd MT secretary Of the Countu
ing general The manner Of hls arrest and coniuemcnt
seemed % be the result of Venetian council o
than tnRt Of officials Of free republic. he briefly te
clriul4tci the Imstanccs Immediately prior Co
Stones arrest l. sHted that General stone had visit
cd the president ana secretary Of war 300 uendy iufcr
course, and diued with the commanding general not
many hours before his arrest. Rumor that had the
poger blast the fairest fame was all that had made
charges against General Stone aud nothing else could
be- learned H. quoted from II. W. BeecAers sermon
defending Constitutional liberty truth aud Justice and
spoke Of these arrests fraught with danger to free
people. He was glad the pulpit had takeu up these
cases, and though not expecting it from that source
glad TO quote any one iavoung truth aud justice
lie then reviewed General stones career in the Mexican
war being bre,eied for gallant conduct--whle his
ancestors wtre among the first Of the early defcnd
eis N the country. In California, Of which Gen
stone was resident, no man was regarded higher per-
sonaly. aud be was the selection Of General scott to
command tine first gade here and supern-end the de
fenses OF the capital ast year Was there any suspicion
him al that time; lie was also made colonel 10 the
regular army by the president Confirmed by the Senate
aud comm 'nded bACide under Gen Mcdowell when
re.p S M d @ 2hs ana sad TIE iSS line
Of defense to Bas Crfs Klais, which threatened
by the enemy lie was made a brigAder General and
was Al the battle Of BaH's Bluff In that he had made
many enemies but had demanded court OF inquiry
pnor 20 his arrest that DAY, aud was informed by
tATy Stanton that charges had been made against him.
ana thai he could retutn 70 his command Ine CREATES,
Efforts had bsen made 10 vain 70 learn the cnae against
him. Several letters read addressed by eminent
lawyers Of the country TO Secretary Stanton incosiug
open letters TO Gen NJ asking he knew what
d be an
COUNSEL but these withheld, and Secretary stanton
returned replies that no communication could be held
with Gen stone We had a committee on the conduct
OF the war, and from tat source rumor has inumatcd
that this arrest and other thngs have emauated. Icst-
mony taken SECRETLY and ex parte, TO abroad ia the
press ana n TINS way He committee conducted the war
lie read dispatch from Gen Stone 20 his friends,
lug he sired u be before yorktown now lie (Mc
Dousa mad endeaNoie TO see the secretary OF war but
had Jailed . procure Audience and he thought the
Try had fallen upon strange times indeed when the
tarcs OF the president could not be official Dusi
ness There was 30 excuse offered by this
Of all the government hrcts, who set aside Law aud
ute, but had never seeua squadron ia the field Written
applications had likewise failed Gen. Mcclellan had
three dicunc times nauded OF the secre airy OF war
court martial 1f Grusrone, but had foil d. H. then
reviewed The European aud American military Codes
showing Oh they were or the protection well pun
ishmeut OF soldiers. The articles II provided for
summonng court martial eight days after arrest
yet mo steps had been taken for one hundred and hfy
says after General Stones arrest and than this
no charges had been made, nor could any be found
who had ever heard OF any.
II he was charged with treason, he could be speedily
triedby civil courts lie quoted case during Mr. Mali,
sons administration officer sentenced 10
death by the marital, but ordered afterwards TO du-
y by the president But that in the better days Of
the Old republic before the faction had raised its hydra
head in one Of the departments Of this governments
H. cited the fact hatb by the delay Of the trial Of the
most important Witnesses Gen Lander, had gone to
give his evidence in another world The secretary Of war
aud the secretary OF state could not make laws for that
belonged to legislative bodies. Mr.. Stanton however
had made law which was the law OF tyrant, more
worthy Of St. Petersburg and Consantiuople one hun
drtd years ago Fools rushed in where angels dare
not tread" In conclusion he thought that the Senate
should demand trial for General Stone.
Mr. Wade Of Ohio thought that the hours plat.
tudes Of heCalifurna like the lawyer whose
client was at the foot otbad indictments He fully agreed
with all the senator quoted about constitutional rights
NJ respected law and liberty more than he did, but
he repealed the nsinuaton made against the
on the conduct Of the war, Of which he chairman.
MI MeDougal discaimed any reflection the
mittee. lie had heard that the committee had the case
Of Gen. stone under consideration, which led to his
Mr. Wade SGD III aaai, had stated that the
committee sa6bedalen an he dark
Mr.. McDougall replied that he did not say so.
Mr.. Wade was ad TO- learn that he did not say So
There was not word Of truth in H. The committee en-
deavorrd 70 correct many wrongs in the army and had
published word, but had given the their
Investigations TO the executive They had under
taken 10 conduct the had been alleged frequently.
The committee were entirely above sabbins men in the
dAik, and had never in ured single but remed-
led numerous wrongs So far Gen. Stone is concern
ed, he was stranger the committee and it would not
harm hair OF his head. He would say here, in this
place there probably for his arrest and the
testimony relating 70 him was laid before the presidenl
and secretary of Whether that evidence led his
arrest OF not he did not know. That testimony should
not be drawn from HIM While the country was
struggling for existence aud unborn generations were 10
be taxed, traitors walking these The sem
alor talked about constitutional liberty. Breckenridge
used To stay here aud talk about It, and traitor at
heart II wac SO with others. Those who talked VI
haheas corpus IN times like these sympahzors with
the rebellion The movements Of armies were known
70 the rebels as 20 loyal people. The government had
endeaFored TO keep this information away from the ta
tors, but failed Times Of revolution demanded string
ent measures but traitors had been leuienty dealt
WIN, owing to too much goodness of heart. All that
| epply quauy well 10 JEFF Davis. The latter was in
Mexico aud had defended the government but he was
traitor l.9cefwas angel in heaven once but had
fallen aud has not been respected much since Ia that
/ quarter Applause Mr.. Wade continued at some
sacrificing he insdtuti6a Of slavery Lei slavery die
/ aud the Unon live.