The New York herald., 1864-12-15
TRE GREAT LIBEL SUIT.
Second Day Of tho Legal
Tournament
Judge Pierrspont Opens for
the Defence.
SHARP ExC0RIATlON OF Mr.. 0PDYKE.
Tne ACcuser Made Out to bo the
Accused.
~~~-~>~o~-~~-~~-~-~-~
The Developments Relative to Gun
and Shsddy Contracts.
The Friendship cc cpdyke and
Weed.
MELTING APPEALS TO TIE JURY,
~ IAA SN
Tne ACcuser Made Out to bo the
Accused.
The Developments Relative to Gun
and Shsddy Contracts.
The Friendship cc cpdyke and
Weed.
MELTING APPEALS TO TIE JURY,
0bo,. Co.. Ec.

y
nero rush for seats, and COUNSEL witnesses officers
md spectators all rushed and hudded together Every
avsabe spot occupied By the crowd anxious 70
hear the opening OF Judge Pierrepont, which occupied
thas learned gentleman three hours and hail. He stated
ma Of the evidence would be gwen
terribly in his upon the plaintiff
connection with the exoronate profits exacted from
she In his gun and other shoddy contracts
Judge Pierrepont opening the defence said he
began feel like Hamlet, that there special providence
- the affairs Of men; that each but little sa ms
Seating the great river OF .ime its resist
ss without tho slightest choice our part as
% the isle the bank which may be thrown that
There is divinity that shapes ends rough hew them
bow WILL he had never struggled to avoid the trial
before. He bad striven with all the power and
sk Of which he is possessed avoid the trial OF this
eanse. He had hoped that it would have been
brought trial. and through the friends opposing
party he had done everything that he could to avoid the
public scandal the disgraceu exhibition OF the proceed
&es OF public men, which this trial needs
present, Mr.. Weed said It was public duty,
and he did NOT shrink from it, We did. He
sAr. Picrreponp had begun TO feel that he was
coward IN his own esteem from his reluctance to come
INTO court before the community do his laying
osre one of the most astounding frauds dsgraceu
matters that before the attention OF any civ
sed people any land. In progress OF every nation
the time always comes when high corruption in Il gh
places becomes 50 srug and outrageous that
te exposed. Sucn was the history OF Eugland mus
was u after the great south bubble ex pod ed
And he would undertake say that never did Lord
Mansfield sit on trial important the consequences
which we're 10 follow its TO be developed
- this case This win from this time forth re-
csve public nooriety aud public impor tance which
ne would undertake TO had been equaled in
she history of the nation. And he a0reed with the em
nent counsel who had opened the the proascu
Won; Tor he was OF opincn that that gentleman
ever estimated 1t when he spoke Of importance IN i,s
psehc view aud rnIence u cannot be overcst,msted
was impossible to prevent the rsSeon 10 th. country
~ impossible as the fall OF Fort sumter. u was one
% those things that must come to pass. We had
reached degree OF degradation in CITY, among ts
nigh men, that could be borne longer and something
ncsi happen TO exhibit in is character That
something did occur and that something ALWAYS arises
ent Of the passions the violence and senshness
sAe actors themselves Such the history
exhibitions 10 England u was the same in France II
= the same here, and this day speaking OF IT, IL
164s there was great revolution IN France aud the
King was driven from his realm. His government was
0verturned not OF LOUIS Phiippes children ever
returned TO it, The greatest political philosopher
lived in any aga Statesman OF greater foresight
tbsD any OF his coatemporariea-was then member o,
she French Chamber OF Deputies aud IN his place
b that solemn Office uttered few memoraole words
Setsriora.ed was because public morals had
previously been invaded; because selfshness had
been said that there two kinds OF moralty-onc
ser pubic and the other for private e But continued
morale and this s the result OF the change which
eoins on IN public moras He spoke without bitterness
may, without party spirit lie was speaking OF men
against whom he I'd personal enmity. His profound
and settled CONVICTION thar public Meals were be-
BRING upou the nation revolution Dc Tocquevile
hissed By every VIII, heard him, and In thirty
days the King was oryen from the throne not vestge
a il remains, and the sons of that monarch
azes and wanderers through the Garth. Judge Pierre
psot continued We will exhibit to You here to-day
state ot things that predict viii be the
beginning OF revolution here SPEAK ad.
vsedy when say tho beginaing of . revolution
here. God grant that u may be bio dsss one, be-
,ieve u will be- Flow near II may be 40 moi know
Bot say TO you, with al socmn.y, that you will see
snch an exhibition or public morals this trial
shsi will show the need Of changethe beg o. an
end state o ninss which the people u thai they
viii longer allow con,inue. The eminent ana ase
opened the case the course OF IL, as you
must have observed, seemed Ike on blpe.s bent.
turned into that clear eye-nsi truth,
fg', intelligent eyc-whie spcsshg, could zee the
asnor OF The couuionauce tie struggle that gong
on beween his conscience snd Ls client. lie IS good
ofn, an able man. lie neyor should nave been brought
70 the tral OF his case-ueyer. JUDGE Emott knows
Mr.. Weed, he knows NJ character, he him well
persuasive eloquence, he would have done had bo
uh and ustics on hs side, 30 constantly faered ana
voice there /, mag gneism biz eye Tnere was
q that sympathy for which be s famous, and
which a righteous would have WOO every hear,
md tbe cause be ore be ros Ined He rather
trDed to lasn hlmscM INTO the halei that there
Justice 10 his and under that he eresty
exaggerated tue remarks waich had been charged 10
II. Weed. took down his words they dropped from
sr lips lie said thst shis libel charges Nr. opdyke
vpb being psrjured wfc!ch. who would eel his SOIL
br where other oossms burned with agriotisun;
q reckless pluuderer ot the county, traitor 20 h
sounry false 70 his rends corrupt traor 10 public
vice, man who oartsred - h.s cthcs, a perjrree
seoundr. Now, Is there anything n the publissed
buei that will any OF these assertions OF the
sesrned cuu1sei? | viii read tho hoels they were
sriginsily published - tas papers, which
alleged libcls, witch have frequently been pub
dxhed Irsl, tnnt cx Mayer upcyke was active ir
s,t; ng 10 the CAtAne slabder. This n,au has msde
money by con.facts, 6c, than any nfy sharpcrs
Jes Gentle, ~ tho city ~ Acw York; The article
then alluded 20 the destruction az factory In New
rsri there anything this 10 justly the remarks
ne counsel for the prosecution Was there word
ih,se int 70 used 70 be found - the artide There
nnst have been ycry * moives indeed, that could
bave iDdaced Judge Jott havs OF
9.a nele i ~ slhEle wesa "a sas pol n9" ssn-
aemeh, yoN have beard lst ID.L fr weed, u his
snswer, state. ,hsi be believes ese things ~ true,
Lo ihS' ee So his Information rom sources entitled 10
0sat' ae was gfotsg pfsyosed 70 write * c.use ibis
srsiele 70 DO pubhslsi. y Consequence u at
,seAs which Opdyke rad made upoD him because
nc could make money - Ne "a 1aii 70 have dous out
other ofces IN vhca NJ had bson engaged. Nc. weed
AYERS thai DC eau.sd tbes articles be published bit
nat he did not make any seser 81 ithout ereys aed
earefu investigation % nd ths4 tl aud M g th.m
Tere true Now II We Dc rot con,scaa you tha. these
al nfs true ana - rge, ,Ertvartifusry tire
viii faB Gar sho-t u tAsir vrlscn sa.s
sris. You tbe exhibition that va vayteYdav tacs
when the was brought 40 f9r trial. We moved tnc
Coort permission 90 opea and roe ~ r nuch
o. tho burden of proof as thrswz gga "a h Uss vto
seutly opposed by counsel ths Q her sce, % ths
ground thai they had tno rfht " h'ow e1prt8 malice,
aud they gave lie Court 20 luioutaol sett hty
H. Weed h4d saIi elat be hat expressly win
6esire Of malcIosay lpIurrg W updgke ~
partee q macsi cortaay yea wii saY that ihefe vas
Ealce, and that TIE ~role Care s based upon malice
Ihere are however, 10 motive Tnug tts Caeo. JBe
ore Is tnase. the other Is Toe. nd taess Two mo
tves are Toe oly thst VII lie throughout tEo
NbSe IDS ui1l. kVory gpod lli.1i whom hr 0ndyko
pa hso lela nm Vat lie idlt q trsE tis tong
ac trial. sad ued 8 r. ugda ssiaa i'm from i3ng
be would ns1 sten 10 taen ani 5000 ihav t0Uud
s'oe sias O slars re ,nnSs 10 get money OF o.
hr Weed, ard DC a wiling 10 fk Ms repuia,o 'or The
sake Of money. lbs te sin1ue tra,n "a ihe matter
and wben nc pt upan tht stud you ~ aaG that "
M only expias on hat 10 Vlu b0 9bo II give Loak
al TIE character o. tL1 thrgaanoat aid III. pafgp
sv4deuce cnpesrs. We = man Q. whom hrs
owp partner was enforced 8 Yay h1l through bis
lnGranate love ncg lhis I'd ne ovyr H. 30
~ fhth ayenls--aner sdiNnE that he was pcfsralIy
wofth t200.C00-to ttgs b0arr beciosa CO a