Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-04-04

duced stenOgraphical report OF the Cleve-
land speech, and also copy, an accurate
transcript of the report written out, anu
handed it to the agent of the Associated
Press, Mr.. Gobright. Witness put down d
portion OF the Interruption. 1t was impos-
siole to get all. There was great deal OF
noise and confusion. l think there were
expressions of ill feeling or temper on the
part of the crowd. The President was a
little excited. The crowd said: Don't get
mad, Andv.'' @
MIR. BUTLER-Did he appear considera-
bly, excited then?
Mr.. EVARTS-That is not part of the
presentiuquirv. .--4r-t In sst-r
Mr.. BUTLER R-The allegations deny
there was scandalOus and disgraceful
scene, the conditions being that counsel
for the President claim freedom of speech,
and we claim decency of speech. We are
now trying to show the indecency of the
occasion.
Mr.. EVARTS-T understand freedom of
speech in this country TO mean liberty to
speak properly and discretly.
speech in this country as freedom of the
private citizen to say any thing in decent
manner - ---
Mr.. EVARTS-Yes, it is the same thing,
and who is to judge of the decency?
Mr.. BUTLER-The court before which
man is tried for breaking laws. r.
Mr.. EVARTS--Did you ever hear of a
man being tried for freedom of speech?
Mr.. BUTLER-No, but 1 saw two or
three who ought to have been.
Mr.. BUTLER. repeated the question to
the witness, who continued: l could not
see the President; only heard the tone of
his voice. He seemed excited. ] do not
know what is his manner, from personal
acquaintance, when he is angry. 5.. .
On cross-eXamination, witness said he
had not reported the whole of the speech :;
left before it ended; btsides, certain sem
tences were broken off by the Interruptions
of the crowd; he only took the principal
explanations; could not hear all of them.
The transcript of the speech here was made
two weeks ago, from the notes of two years
ago; think them as accurate as IT tran
scribed then.
Edwin B. Stooke was examined by Mr..
BUTLER-Was formerly short hand re-
porter; reported the speech of the Presi-
dent at Cleveland the night of the 81 of
September, 1866, for the Cleveland Herald,
in short hand. 1t was published. The
notes are not now in existence; suppose
they were thrown in the waste basket. A
copy of the paper was produced. Witness
said in some places the substance was Civ
en- instead of the literal words; read
from part of the report just what
Johnson said I: s' Where is the man
living, or the woman in the community,
whom have wronged, or where is the per-
son who can place their finger on one sin
gle pledge that have violated, or one sin
gle violation of the Constitution of my
country? What tongue does he speak,
what religion does he profess? Let him
come forward and put his finger upon one
pledge have violated ?"
Witness continued-There were then in
terruptions, and varions remarks were
made, of which I have noted one, because
it was the only one Mr.. johnson paid any
attention to. That was voice, Hang
jeff Davis" The President said. Hang
JEFF Davis" "h hang jeff Davis ?" " Why
don't you?" There was then some ap-
plause and Interruptions, and he
repeated, Z" why don't you?'' There was
again applause and interruptions, and
the President went on, "Have you not the
court, have you not got the courts, have
you not got the Attorney General? Who
is your Chief Justice? Who has refused
to sit at the trial?" There were then some
Interruptions and applause, and he
said. II am not the prosecuting attor-
ney, / am not the jury, but l will
tell YOU what 1 did do. L called on yonr
Congress, which is trying to break up the
Government" Here were Interruptions
and confusion, and there may have been
words uttered by the President which
did not hear, but think not. Then the
President went on to say, "But let the
prejudice pass"
MIR. BUTLER-Go to the conclusion,
where you reported that accurately.
tness-Commencing a little before
where the specifications commence, he
says, 'sIu bidding you farewell here to-
night, / would ask you, with all the pains
that Congress has taken to calumniate
and malign, what has Congress done !?
anuthinn t0 tho
Union of the States? But to the contrary,
has it not done everything to prevent it !?
and because stand now, as did when the
rebellion commenced, have been de-
nounced as traitor. My cou1trymen here
tonight, who have suffered more than L :?
Who has run greater risks than y? Who
borue more than L? But Congress, fac
tious, domineering,t ,tyrannical Congress has
undertaken to poison the minds of the
American people and create a feeling
against me.'' So far these were Mr.. john
sons words.
Witness completed the sentence in this
fashion. "In consequence of the manner in
which have distributed the public pat
ronage" These were not Mr.. JOhnson's
words but condensation, summary OF
the reasons which he gave at that point tor
the maliguiug.
Mr.. EVARTS to Mr.. Butler-Do you
propose TO put then all in
MIR. .BUTLER-We do. 1 observe in the
answer OF the President that objection is
made that we did not put in all he said, and
1 mean to give all.
Witness cross examined by Mr.. EVARTS
In determining what part to give in full
and what parts to condense, he was perhaps
influenced somewhat by what he consider
ed would be a little more spicy or interest
ing to the reader.
Mr.. EVARTS-In what interest, of the
President or of his opponents?
Witnpss-I do not know that.
MIR. EVARTS-On which side were you
Witpess-I was opposed to the President
Mr.. EVARTS-But you did not know
where you thought the interest was wher
you selected the spicy parts.
Witness-I was very careful in all those
parts, where there was considerable excite
ment and interest in the crowd, to take
down carefully what the President said.
Mr.. EVARTS-Tbe part in which the
crowd was most interested you took down
carefully ?
Witness-Yes.
| Mr.. EVARTS-And the part in which
| the crowd seemed to have most interest
was the part in which they made the mos
out cry?
I Witness-Yes.
| Mr., EVARTS-Are you able to say
! there is a single expression in that part o
your report given substantially: when Wa
| used by the President, so that they are the
| words as they fell from his lips?
1 Witness-No, sir.
! Mr. EVARTS said-We object to this re-
port, as no report OF the President
MIR. BUTLER asked what were the poll
tics of the Cleveland Herald at that time.
| Witness-It was what was called John
son Republican. Some called it Postoffic'
Republican. The editor had the postoffice
| Mr.. BUTLER said he proposed to Offe
the Leaders report of the speech, as sworl
to by Mr.. Hudson.
Mr.. EVARTS objected, on the grount
that the managers are in possession of tn
original notes OF the short hand write
of the whole speech, and of his transcript
made therefrcm and sworn to by him. Th
substitution for that evidence of the state
ment of Mr.. Hudson, as testified to by hin