Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-04-22
Testified Yesterday that Mr.. stanbery had an

i Testified yesterday that Mf. stan berry had an
engagement at the Supreme Court at IL
o'clock. but it was only his inference. Do
not know why the officer under Gen. Emory g
command were called from the party to 90
to headquarters did not hear that it was to
: warn them not to go to masquerade do
+ not know whether he stated to the President
anything else except the fact that the officers
were called for, and that the War Depart
ment was unusually lighted up
MIR. Evarts then stated that the counsel
had in attendance the Secretary of the Treas
ury, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of
the Interior, and the Postmaster General,
who were prepared to give the same evidence
they had wished to elicit from the Secretary
of the Navy, but which he should not now
attempt to introduce in consequence of the
; late ruling.
Alexander Randall, Postmaster General,
was then called, and testified that Foster
Blodgett was removed from the Office of Post
master at Augusta, Ga, in consequence of a
complaint in writing of misconduct. He
produced the papers and letters which effect
ed removal.
The President appointed Mr. Blodgett with
the consent of the Senate Witness suspen-
ded him under the practice of the Depart
ment and the law Of necessity. Does not al
lege any particular statute in the defence Of
his action in the communication to the Pres
ident did it without consultation with him
Suspended Mr.. Blodgett on hearing of his
misconduct from the District Attorney, and
on seeing his Indictment for perjury, &c.
He has not appointed hundreds of men who
could not take the test oath, nor one that he
is aware of. He did not inquire whether the
men who brought the Indictment were rebels
or Unionists. 1t was not his business, he
dealt with the simple fact.
! Mr.. Sherman submitted the interroga tories :
" Whether the question of applicability OF
the Tenure of Office law to the members ap-
pointed by Mr.. Lincoln ever came before the
| Cabinet for discussion? And if so what the
opinions were -
Several of the Managers objected that the
same question had already been ruled mad
missible. and the yeas and NAYS being taken.
ree,.ltod 90 &c. so the question was not al
lowed to be answered.
Mr.. Evarts arose and stated that the con-
tinued illness of Mr.. Stanberry prevented
the counsel from saying positively, but as far
as they knew, their evidence was all in.
The Court then, at 3, 40 adjourned
Monday. April 20.
| Gen. Butler at halt-past eleven offered some
important documentary testimony of rebuff
ting character, after which p H. General
was called to the stand and examined by Gen
/ Butler regarding the Indictment of Foster
! Blodgctt, a Postmaster at Augusta, Ga
The indictment of Mr.. Blodgett was read
| by the manager, and he then stated that Mr.
/ Blodgett is member of the Constitutional
Convention and Mayor of Augusta, appoint
ed by Gen. Pope, and was proceeding, when
/ he was stopped by the Chief Justice, who re-
minded him that he could not state what was
not in evidence
4 Gen. Butler replied that the evidence was
/ in his hands, and he proposed to offer it. He
/ only desired to state what he was prepared
to prove.
/ The Chief Justice required the proposition
to be submitted in writing.
After delay of several minutes Mr.. But
Ter offered in writing 10 show that Foster
Blodgett was Mayor of Augusta and member
OF the Constitutional Convention of Ga , and
because Of his loyalty an indictment was
found against h i'm whereupon he was sus-
pended from his Office by the Postmaster Gen
during the session of the Senate, and that
Mr.. Blodgett has always been friendly to the
Government of the United States.
Mr.. Evarts objected TO the testimony on
the ground of its irrelevancy To the real ques-
ton at issue. and stated that if the loyalty of
Mr. Blodgett is to he tried there is a witness
in the city who could testify that Mr. Blod-
gett was a captain in the rebel army.
Mr. Butler contended that the testimony
was pertinent The Indictment makes GER
tain allegations against Blodget and his an
swer thereto is part of the proceedings in
the case. He (Blodgett) could well swear
that although he served as captain in militia
company under the State of Georgia he did
not do 80 voluntarily
Mr.. Eyarts briefly replied to Mr.. Butler
The managers then changed the phraseol-
ogy of their offer to prove the facts in Blod-
gets case stating that they proposed TO put
in the remainder of the record thereof.
Mr.. Evarts objected to the proposition in
it's amended form.
: The Chief Justice submitted the question
to the Senate and IL was ruled out without a
DIVISION.
The witness, Postmaster Gen Randall,
WAS then allowed 10 explain the circumstan-
ces under which he suspended Blodgett He
stated that he made the temporary suspen-
sion until all the facts in the case iwere fully
reported.
Mr. Butler asked why the witness did not
report the case to the President
The witness replied that he did not desire
the removal of Biodget if it turned out that
he had been guilty OF only Il technical viola
ton OF the law.
General Butler then offered a copy of the
order creating the Department of the Allan
tic and the same being ohiec ed to by Mr.. |
Evarts, he stated mis- reasons for Offering it. |
remarking that the order was made on the |
same day that Thomas restored 10 the |
office of Adiutant General
1t being evident that debate would follow. |
Gen. Butler Withdrew his order. He then |
offered list of officers that would be affected |
by the action of the President, if allowed to |
remove an officer at pleasure, the number be |
ing fUrty-one thousand five hundred and |
eight, and the salary represented being up |
wards of twcnty-one millions Of dollars, |
which. after being examined BY the counsel |
read. Gen Butler then offered the mes
sage TO the Senate, nominating Lieut. Gen
Sherman to be General by hrevet and also |
the message. nominating Mai Gen George II |
Thomas to be Lieutenant General and Gene
raj by brevet.
The counsel objected that it was irrelevant !
and vote was ordered. resulting ayes II.
NAYS p. the evidence was net admitted
Gen. Butler ct | o'clock declared that the
case on the part OF the managers was now
closed and that all witnesses here on sum
mons OF the managers might consider them
selves discharged from further attendance
Mr.. Evarts said the case on the paIt of the
counsel WAS now also closed and that their
witnesses were discharged
The Chief Justice then directed that the
managers should proceed and open the argu-
ment. There was silence throughou the
Chamber as still midnight, every breath
was hushed, the books and pens were laid
aside, and there was not a movement through
that vast audience. y futter of expectancy
passed through the chamber as Mr. Boutwell,
rose, but disappointment followed, for he
only announced that his argument would
probably occupy whole day and that he was
not wholly ready.
He therefore desired that the Senate ad-
iourn until tomorrow.
Keyerdv johnson offered a motion to that