The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-04-16
EToHAssEN,
THE InIPEACHMENTTRIAI

4
THE IlIPEACHMENTTRIAI
On Wednesday. April 1st, long
argument was made by the Presi.
dent's counsel against the admis.
sion of the testimony of Mr.. Bur.
leigh relative to. a certain conver.
sation between him and Gen.
Thomas on the subject of the lat.
ter'a appointment Of. Secretary OF
War ad interim. The testimony
was admitted by a vote of the Sen.
ate-yeas SO, nays IL.
Mr.. Burleigh was then called,
aud said that on She evening of the
2lst Of February he went to see
Gen. Thomes at his residence.
Thomas told him he had been ap-
pointed Secretary Of War, ad inter.
i'm; had gone to the Department
and demanded possession. Stan.
ton asked him il he would give him
time to remove his papers. Wit.
ness understood Thomas to say he
had already issued orders us Sec
retary of War. He also said he
intended to take possession at 10
o'clock.
In reply to an inquiry by. the
witness, Mr.. Thomas stated that
he would use force to obtain pos
session, II it were refused him.
The witness subsequently stated
that he had asked General Thomas
last week, why the performance
promised had not como off, to
which he answered that it was
because he was arrested by the
Marshal early in the morning. 9th. !.
crwise he would have broken in the
doors, &c.
Samuel Wilkinson was then
called, and testified that he had
known General Thomas six or
seven years; had q conversation
with him on the afternoon OF Feb
ruary 2lst, atthe War Department,
in which Thomas said that since
the affair had become public. he
felt free TO talk about it without
reserve; he stated that he had de-
manded possession Of the War Of.
fee. and Stanton asked if time
would DO allowed him to remove h ia
papers, which be (Thomas) grant.
cd; he expressed to witness his in.
tention 10 demand possession on
Monday following, and. would, If
necessary, call on the General of
the Army tor assistance. which he
thought could not be refused.
At Willard's Hotel that evening
he reiterated the same intentions,
except that he would carry them
into effect the next Monday; he
seemed to mean what he said.
Thomas NJ. Terry, NJ. G. from
Michigan, was called and testified
-On the morning of the 22d OF
February, when General Thomas
came to the War Ofics, / was
present. and paid attention to what
occurred; l made memorandum;
have that memoranum now.
Witness here read from his Nom.
orandum al account of what was
said in the interview referred TO
which was pretty much as testified
to by other witnesses. Mr.. Stanton
asked Gen. Thomas il be intended
to use force. and replied TO by
Gen. Thomas that no Thomas did
not care 10 use force, but had
made up his mind as to what he
should do; witness was briefly cross
examined by Mr.. Stanbery and
dismissed.
Gen. Emory. commander Of the
post of Washington. testified that
he had q conversation with the
President in regard to the move.
ment Of troops in the Department
of Washington. Tho conversation
occurred long ego. l can only
give the substance of it. l told
him the strength of each fort.
There was some conversation as to
| whether more troops should be
brought here, and | made some
recon mendations accordingly
Something was said about the or
ganization Of a military force in
Maryland, and | said | did not see
the object Of it.
| was sent for by the President,
and again about the 22d of Feb
ruary, received q note from Col.
Moore. This note l road before
the Reconstruction Committee. ]
called on the President about mid
day, and found him alone; cant
undertake to state the conversa-
tion exactly. The President ask
ed mo II l recollected the eonver-
saiion I had with him when ]
took command Of the Department.
| / told him / did. He asked me
what changes had taken place, and
/ told himthere bad been no materi-
4 I
a change, and went on tostatc the
changes.
The President stated that be did
not refer TO those changes. but 70
some made within q day or two
| I assured him that the recent chan
ees had been made under Z law Of
! Congress. requiring that all orders