National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-04-03
WASHINGTON. March 80.

The witnesses for the prosecution
are all here. Among them are
Gen. "Ad Interim" Thomas, Gen.
Emory, Col. Wallace, Hon. Burt
Van Horn, Samuel Wilkinson, and
Horatio King. These will be eX
amined with reference to the War
Department affair and thingsrelated
thereto. Messrs. j. a. Deer, james
b. Sheridan, James o. Chphane, +.
II. Smith, ID. II. Murphy and ID. B.
McEwen will be examined i'll regard
to the Presidents speeches-that of
the 18th of August, 1866, delivered
in Washington, and those delivered
at Cleveland, st. Louis and other
points in "swinging round the cir
Gle"
The Managers are ready for trial,
and they will urge thai the Senate
sit early and late. The British
House of Lords has on several trials
of impeachments sat over twelve
hours day, and that when there
was no especial urgency as there is
here now, when the rights Of the
Republic are in the scales of Justice.
PRELIMINARIES TO THE TRIAL.
At twenty minutes past twelve,
Mr. Thad. Stevens was carried thro'
the rotunda in chair, looking grim
and defiant as he passed to the
scene of the future humiliation of his
opponent.
Close behind him Mr.. Chief JUS
tice Chase strobe along, wearing
, his robes of Office and escorted by
Senator Pomeroy.
, AS on previous days the Presi
I dent suspended the regular business
a of the Senate at 1880 o'clock, an
nouncing that the Senate would g.
into session for the trial Of the I'm
+ parchment of the President of thu
+ United States. The Chief Justic,
q then took his place within the desl
O of the presiding officer
! The managers at about the sam,
f instant appeared ut the door of thu
E Senate, when they were announced
Il and fling i'll as upon previous occa
: sions, took seats at their table. TIL,
:, members of the House followed il
rec llar order. MessrS. Stanbery
# Evarts, GrOesbeck, Nelson and Cur
n It's took the seats previously occu
=. pied by them.
# The short hand reporter attache,
a to the Attorney Generals Office wa
!. seated at the table of the counsel
"a busily writing during the reading
% of the journal of the last session b,
70 Mr.. Forney.
m Mr.. Stevens did not occupy sea
d with the other Managers, but sa
@. two or three yards in the rear of tn
table, behind Mr.. Buffers secretary
". At 1850 the reading was iinishe
I'd when the journal was approved.
Ii GEN. BUTLER's ARGUMENT.
y. Gen. Butler at Cncc rose ami
he great stiffness and proceeded to a,
is dress the Senate.
His opening argument is the gcl
ed eral topic of conversation to.nigh
al and it is highly c2mplimented, eve
re-. 10y those who dcnouncc his doctrii
rs. that the tribunal has none of Il
tlI attributes of Judicial Court, M
that the Senators are bound by !
1T law, either statute orcommon. viii,
I'd, may limit their Constitutional pI
IN. rogativc, but are ga law unto thel
at selves"
ed The General spoke and read
ial ternatcly hour after hour witho
of apparent fatigue. His enunciatit
although ut times rapid, was d
Isl tinct, effective, and occasionally
, to became really eloquent-his beari
ion and his gestures adding to the
the pressivencss of his delivery.
Ugh his prominent characteristics w
dc brought out. Impetuosity--disd
Gle, for conservatism--love Of INJECT
,ch. and determination to succeed, W
of in turn rapidly displayed. He !
hes had but few days for preparat
II n yet he had gone to the bottom
and every question evolved, and g,
icle ceraied the truth ut once. I
the rhetoric and the logic Of the ans,
M, - ia. .;laut,e couu nj ,rorn