The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-04-02

conspirator in the a6ence Of anotssr i
He proceeded to state.ha they pso. |
posed to show through he evidenes
under discussion, that thy intended
to use force, but was prevented by the
arrest.
Mr.. Curtis rejoined that it was suf.
ticient objection to the first part of
the question to be submitted, that
the evidence sought to be introduced,
was immaterial. No declaration Of
Mr. Thomas could show the Prcsi-
dents intent, and if any could be, il
must have been made as sworn testi-
mony.
Nothing has been advanced to
prove that the employment Of force
was contemplated.
| Mr.. Bingham followed denying that
there was grounds for assumption
that the Senate was restricted in con-
sidering this matter by the question,
whether 1t had proven that force
was intended to be used by the Pres
ident. He claimed that the Presi-
dent aud Con Thomas could not
shelter themselves by asserting that
their actions was matter of obeying
military orders. The managers do
not rely merely upon the dec
laration of General Thomas, to
show the intention Of the President;
they would show from his own writ
ten confessions that his long medita-
ted purpose had been to violate the
law of Congress. The arguments of
his counsel had heen more plausible
and ingenious than s,,und. Thomas
did not act that day as adjutant gen.
eral, but as secretary of war, ad in
term, whom he claimed to be. The
desire ofthe counsel was not simply
to have this testimony ruled out, but
to obtain some sort of o decision by
the Senate of the question of guilt or
innocence of the president.
After some further debate, the
Chief Justice stated thequestion to be
whether the question Of Mr. Butler
should be put the witness, Burlei Oh.
The yeas and nays being demanded
resulted 80 to IL.
Burleigh was then called and said
that on the evening Of Feb. 21st he
went to see General Thomas at his
residence. Thomas told him he had
been appointed secretary of war, ad
interim. He had gone to the depart.
ment and demanded possession
Stanton asked him if the would give
him time to remove his papers. The
witness understood Thomas to say
he had already issued orders as secre.
tary of war. He also said he intend
ed to take possession at 10 O'clock
In reply to inquiry by the witness,
Thomas stated he would use force
to obtain possession were it refused
| Butler asked the witness if he had
had any conversation with Thomas
while he was acting as adjutant gen
eral.
| In reply to the question by Evarts
Butler said the question to the wit
ness was to show that Gen Thomas
had attempted to seduce brother Of
ficers from their duty.
| Evarts objected and debeate follow
ed.
| The Chief Justice ruled that
the question could mot be put
Evidence having been offered on
proof of conspiracy before Feb 21st
The question was submitted. The
yeas and nays resulted ~ to 20, and
the question submitted.
| Witness heard Thomas make an ad.
dress to a number of clerks IN the
war office abont week or ten days
prior to Feb 21st, in which he said he
intended to relax the harsh and ar.
bitrary rules made by his predecessor,
and regard the clerks as gentlemen;
they could 60 out and come in when
they pleased, if they were absent only
reasonable time.
| Butler asked if Stanton had &c.
acknowledgements that the testimony
given by the witness before the
House CON-, was true.
| Butler asked if Gen. Thomas hud,
since Feb. 2lst restated any portion
of his conversation with Burleigh
about breaking down the doors of the
War Department, objected to by
Evarts, as were also several modifi.
fications of the question, which was
finally put as follows have you had
eny conversation with Thomas since
the first and since his appointment
as Sec'y of War Ia tnferim about
using force in getting into the War
Office, or in any other way reaser.
ting his former conversation, if 80,
state what he said. W.
The witness said he asked Gen.
Thomas last week why the perfor-
nance promised had not come off,
he answered il was because he had
been arrested by the Marshal in the
morning, otherwise he wonld have
broken in the doors of the Dept.
He was cross examined by Stan
berry.
Rept. Samuel Wilkinson was call
ed, he testified he had known Gen.
Thomas 6 or years, and had con-
vcrsation with him en- the afternoon
of Feb. 2lst at the War dept, in
which Thomas said, since the office
had become public he felt free TO
talk about it without reserve. He
stated that he had demanded posses
sion of the War Office, and Stanton
asked if time would be allowed to
remove his papers, which he (Thom-
as,) granted, he expressed to the
witness his intention TO demand poe
session the Monday following and
would if necessary call on the Gen.
of the Army for assistance, which
he though could not be refused.
At Wizards Hotel that evening he
reiterated the same intentions except
he could carry them into effect next
Monday, he seemed to mean what he
said, cross examined by Evarts.
Geo w Kaizener, had known Gen.
Thomas many years. Saw him at
the levee of the President on the 9th
inst. Says to him, General the eyes
of Delaware are upon you. The PEG
pie ask you to stand firm" He re-
piled that she intended to, and in
short time he would kick that fellow
out" He did not say who il was he
intended TO kick out. Witness under
stood him to refer to Stanton.
Cross examined by Stanberry: