New-York tribune., 1868-04-11
The JMPEAOHMENT TRIAL.


LIAR MEMORY-GEN. SHERMAN TO TAM
THE STAND TO-DAY
NJ szLEsRkPH TRIBpSI .....
WASHINGTON, Friday, Aprn 10, 1868
notwithstanding the unfavorable weather the gar
ieries were crowded to their utmost capacity long oe
fore the court assembled and all day senators were
besieged for tickets which they conld not furnish
Az the trial progresses it becomes evident that so
tcurners and citizens at the capital take deeper inter-
est in the defense than they manifested in the prose-
eation The court opened with the usual ceremonies
number of distinguished persons were on tho hoot'
arong them Gems. Sherman and Hancock, who Wit
messed the proceedings throughout with profound IN
serest Judge Curtis resumed his speech Immediately
sfter the reading of the journal, continuing nom
where he left off yesterday He took mp the articles
of impeachment so'atim sndEdefended the President
against their charges with all the ability of great
lawyer He received the homage of very respectful
attention from both sides OF the Chamber, as well
As from the galleries When he was treating of
the circle" speeches he made an auson which was
well understood to be at the expense of Gen Butler,
and which created little merriment throughout the
Chamber The House of Representatives, he said,
had constituted itself a school of decorum and had
selected from its members certain gentlemen who
were fitted by theory and practice to come TO the
Senate TO teach decorum in speech. He concluded
his argument with mastery resume Of the whole
subject and an expression of confidence in the
auittal of the President 1t % o'clock when he
took his seat He was evidently very much fatigued,
audsOon afterward retired from the Chamber, and
did not again return during the day.
After recess of - minutes the Court was called
90 order, and it was generally expected that the
presentation of documentary evidence would occupy
the rest of the day. This belief was quickly dis
PEELED, however by Mr.. Stanbe1y who asked that
Lorenzo Thomas be called to the stand. Everybody
ondh hqor he
iste,im, who has figured so much in the important
events of the past month. He very promptly re-
tponded to the call and advanced in the full uniform
Of a Major-General, holding in one hand bis military
cap which was full to overlooking with documents
and copies Of orders which he thought might be
called for in evidence He stood straight ar
Fow told his name and occupation, and was about TO
sroeeed with his story when Gen. Butler objected TO
Mr. Stanbery's direction TO him to relate what the
President said TO him the evening of the 2lst Of
February. This was the occasion of n wrangle
among the counsel The prosecution held that it
not competent to prove the Presidents intention OF
what he said after he had committed the act charged
rs crime Mr.. Evarts and Mr. Stanbery replied
that the prosecution had introduced avenents which
were made by Thomas as late as the ninth OF March,
and it was certainly competent 10 introduce what
she President said as late the 21st February The
ChiefJustce submitted the question Of admissibhty
10 the Senate and by vote of 40 to 10 Gen. Thomas
was allowed to proceed. Dir. Summers vote in the
Affirmative occasioned many smiles. it being about
The FIRST since the trial began that gentlemen
has given which could be construed favOrable'to
The President. Gen. Thomas went to tell story
which is not new to the readers Of THE TRIBUNE:
What passed between him and the President on the
els and 22d how the President told him TO sustain
the Constitution and the laws, and how he replied
that he should certainly do that very thing. lie
described in q very humorous manner one Of
Ais interviews with Secretary Stanton. He told OF
himself and Stanton taking drink together In
the War ~Ofiee, while the Secretary gave him q
brotherly hug, and how, when there wasn't liquor
enough to go round, full bottle was promptly sent
for and obtained and how out of it the entire com
pany took q drink of reasonable dimensions This
drew from both floor and galleries peal Of laughter
which was repeated a moment later, when, Stanbcry
having asked Gen. Thomas whether that was all the
force he used, Gen. Thomas replied that it was. To
Che direct question. whether the President at any
tfne authorized him to use force, Gen. Thomas un-
hesitatngly replied in the negative.
/. On the cross-examination Gen. Butler was very
searching and exact, and the old Adiutant-General
oontradieted himself on several occasions He was
asked whether he did not say to two persons that he
intended to use force TO get possession of the War
Office. He replied that lie did, but that he spoken
lest to one person. but that he quickly repented OF
what he had said 10 the other. lie had abandoned
all thonght of coercion before the morning of the 2d
of February He described his visit 10 the President
on the morning Of his arrest and said that the Pres
dent told him in the presence Of the Marshal in
whose custody he was, that the arrest was good
thing as it would take the dispute to
the Courts which was precisely what be
wanted. Many of the questions that were
put to Gen. Thomas BY Gen. Butler were
suggested by the other Managers They were all
busly at work suggesting points and interrogatories
while Butler was prosecuting them, and doing all
that very astute lawyer could do TO get important
admissions from such an unimpOrtant witness. Gen
Thomas was abouthree hours the stand, and il is
pro bable that the counsel may cali him again to-
morrow. lis testinoiy was listened q attentveiy
and was made especially interesting by the manner
On which Gen. Butler put the questions.
1t was painfully evident all through Gen. ThoOas's
testimony that he attempting to shield the Pres
ident 1t was particularly noticeable that in ali ques
tions ayorableNo the President Gen. Tbomss's mem
DRY was excellent while on all points that might
possibly inure Mr. Johnsons case his memory utterly
failed. Gen. Butler, in his crossexmninatioD, was
exceedingly critical. He seemed TO completely use
up Gen. Thomas. lie made him contradict hm-
sell in several important particulars much
10 the disInay of Messrs. Staubery, Eyaris,
and their brethren of the Presidents counsel.
Gen Butler drew out from Gen. Thomas that when
talking to Messrs. Wilkeson and Ksrsner about kick
ing Stanton ont Of the War Department he was siIu
ply Dragging; but when he said the same thing 10
Mr.. Burleigh he was IN earnest The scene was hu-
initiating in the extreme There stood ueor Tbo,oas
dressed in the full uniform of ,os,o, 1eue,,I ~ IN.
cofafa