The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-22

GEN. THOMAS TEsrIMoNY.-The Washington no
cia of the St. Louis Republican, in his dispatch Of ia
10th, gives the following interesting account Of tia
testimony of Gen Thomas before the impcacbnsr.
court:
The object of the defense in calling Gen Thomas,
was to prove that the President never authorised him
to use force to get Mr. Stanton out of the War Dpra
ment and this was done by direct question and an
lie positively denied that the President had pv
er limited to him in any way that he should Use ora
in this matter He described his visits to the War d.
partment in a very amusing style. He told how N,
Stanton and he had taken an atftctionate drink IT,
gether, and how Mr. Stanton had embraced him yp7
endearngy, and how when there wasn't liquor cnoag
to go round, Mr.. Stanton sent out for full bqte
which soon furnished and out of which all ppser
took another drink. The matter and manner oFt
Generals narration combined to produce a vey Ie
laugh, which was repeated when Mr. Stanbery solemn
ly asked the witness if that was all the force he uh
get Mr. Stanton out, and the witness answered affirm,
lively The admission of Gen Thomas testimowe
to what the President said to him after be had CON-
misSoned him Secretary of War ad interim. Ka,d
jected to by Mr.. Butler, and the point was aeupln
considerable length by the counsel on both sides r
it was finally decided against Butler by vote of 2h
10. Even Sumner voted to admit it, 1t was also nm
ven by Gen. Thomas that the order issued by hinor
ah1 -O1i VI Sot u'i CIO6luS Ol Tie War De-
partment on the following day came originally from
Mr.. Stanton. This upsets part of the theory attemD
to be established by Butler, who has cited Gen Tbon
as action in the matter referred to as part of the e
spiracy, and proof that Gen Thomas was to t3ks
the entire control of the clerical force of the Dppy
ment.
On the crosse examination Mr. Butler was verv -
we're on Gen. Thomas, and did his best to nakebi1
himself or to get from him SOME admsg 4
that he contemplated the orcible election Of Mr. San
ton. Gen. Thomas admitted having talked to two
persons of using force, bat said that he spoke in ia
to one of them, and very soon repentcd of what hek
said to the other During the crosse examination The
sympathies Of the Senate and galleries were enre9
with Gen. Thomas, because it was felt that Butler Bg
sptefu
Those who know the history of the two men,
might have accounted for it by the fact tiB
the two have been personal enemies since an early
time in the war. Butler and Banks we're CON.
mssioned as Major Generals on the same day in 1861 .
zen. Thomas was Adutant General at that time and
n making the entry Of the two appointments nbs =
0hicc, the books gave the precedence to Banks oHr
Butler This greatly cnragcd Butler, who called is
AdJutant Generals office, to demand an explanation.
W hlle there, he called Gen. Thomas " a traitor and
Thomas Instantly returned the compliment by calling
Butler ga liar" and intimated desire for fght
which Butler did not crafty. This little unpha@
ntness has never been reeonciled, and Bntler took
advantage of his position to-day to pay off the Old
core. In part this explains the severity Of the
examination. The days proceedings were very inter
sting.