Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-04-02
FROM WASHINGTON.
Another Act in the Drama of I'M
parchment F. Butler makes
Speech. McArdle Case IN the
Supreme Court.
WASHINGTON, March 80, 1868.

Speeia! Despateh to he Baltimore Gasstts.
WASHINGTON, March 80, 1868.
Another act in the great national drama
came off in the Senate to-day; indeed, the
greatest trial of modern times may now be con-
sidered as fairly commenced. The interest
manifested by the public to witness the pro-
ceedings was far greater to-day than on any
previous occasion, and members of Congress
were perfectly overwhelmed with applications
for tickets of admission 10 the Senate gallery.
Long before noon every seat was occupied,
except those in the section especially appro-
priated to the foreign diplomatic corps. This
section remained nearly vacant during the day,
the reason assigned being that these represen-
tatiyes DO not regard it as entirely respectful to
the head of the nation to which they are ac-
credited to be present at what nearly the entire
corps regard a disgraceful party persecution of
the President The appointments in and
about the Capitol were the same as on the days
previous and liveried policemen swarmed on
every side.
The Radical side of the Senate was in high
glee, while all eyes were turned to Chief JUS
tice Chase in the expectation that he would
make some announcement TO the Senate as to
the course he should feel himself obliged to
pursue.
As anticipated in this correspondence, he
failed to meet public anticipation. He simply
gave rap of his gavel, and said the case
would proceed. The managers were all in
their places, as were also the counsel for the
President As the managers entered, no little
surprise was expressed at seeing Butler and
Bingham arm in arm, men known TO be at
swords points so far as their personal relations
are concerned. Butler regards Bingham as a
murderer, and Bingham would not trust But
Ter inside of his pantry door. Yet they prom
euaded up the aisle OF the Senate to-day as
closely attached as the SiameSe twins. Como
ver-Ashly came late and alone. His rule Is to
enter sollS, either late or early, with view, 1t
is said. of preserving bis conspicuous individu-
atty. Several times during the day he retired,
but always re-entered at the main door, where
! he would halt for a few moments and with in
imitable dexterity scratch his head as if he had
an idea. or something more troublesome, in it.
| Ashley is the vaineSt man in Congress Of his
personal appearance, next to Senator Conkllng
/ of New York.
At ten minutes before o'clock Gen. Butler
commenced reading his opening speech, pre-
| ceded by profound bow and Mr.. President.
/ As the speech itself has been sent you, COM
ment is unnecessary. Yet it may not be out
of place to say that the impression created by 1t
/ generally is bitter At times when he attemp-
| ted the pathetic he became ridiculous, and his
/ comic performance was much below the stand
ard Of Dan Rice. When he reached that por-
/ ton of his Grafton touching upon the PreSi-
/ ~ Tod
/ 10 play the mimic, and to repeat in manner and
/ voice the insulting remarks made to the Presi-
/ dent By Radical rowdieS in the crowd, such rs
Bully for you, Andy" Traitor &c, when
some one in the rear Of the reporters called ont
/ in Unison, "Spoons." Butler appropriated
much of his time to proving that the respondent
/ could not challenge Senators. But as there
had been no provision on the part of the res
pendent to challenge, few could see the pur-
port Of the argument. Having utterly denied
| that the Senate was exercising judicial power,
while trying case ofimpeachment, the speaker
| quoted from the speech of Mr.. Webster deliv-
/ cred in the Senate in 1885, 10 disprovc the eX-
| stence of the power of removal and trium-
| phantly asserted that Mr. Webster had fully
settled the question. This was, to say the
/ least of it, bold position to be assumed, in
view Of the fact that in the same speech Mr..
! Webster not only expressly declares that in
| cases of impeachment the Senate exercises jul
dical functions, but adds: II consideri it, there
/ fore, a settled point; the power Of the PreSi-
/ dent to remove is settled by the Constitution,
settled by precedent, settled by the practice Of
| the Government, and settled by statute" tSec
works of Webster, vol, p. 1857 Daring
the speech the Presidents counsel, as well as
the Hon Reverdy johnson, took copious notes
| At the end of the first hour lunch time seemed
to be generally recognized in the galleries,
which now presented the appearance of a
/ grand picnic. Everybody was eating, and all
seemed to be enjoying the change from labor to
| refrcshmelt.
! Senator's eyes flashed wistfully upwards to-
wards the long lines Of blooming fair ones,
while Butler continued to read on and badly.
| Finally unable to resist longer the infection,
I Senator Wilson moved for recess of ten min
utes which was granted. a lively scene fol-
lowed Boutwell, rushed up to Butler and
whispered something in his ear; Schenck and
Garfield followed, and after congratulating
Butler on what he had read, snatched up the
remaining portion of his speech and proceeded
/ 70 run through It.
1t being the first recess yet taken, Senator's
and members and lawyers mixed freely and
promiscuously. Cameron and Butler retired
to the lunch room below, arm-in-arm. Sum
ner approached Judge Curtis and engaged
some moments in conversation, evidently to the
great annoyance of the latter GroeSbeck con-
yersed freely with Senator johnson, and Stan
berry with Senator Williams Bayard had left
the chamber, and Davis, the HotSpur of the
Senate, retired in dignity to a distant sofa,
where no one approached him.
Justice Swayne was again on the floor in close
conversation with Schenck and several other
Ohio members General Lorenzo Thomas en-
tered the chamber and remained seated imme-
diatcly in front of Butler during much Of his
speech. \ Western Senator amused several OF
Buffers colleagues by relating an incident
which occurred at the great Park meeting in
New York. Butler was then addressing the
crowd. when some one called out Greeley"
Greeley Mr. Greeley came forward and az
ter searching out the individual who had cal
lei for him. inquired "what he wanted" con
" to tell You, sir. to keep your hand on your
watch, responded the stranger. The recess
having expired, Butler resumed his reading,
but he soon shocked the moral sense of the
Senate by exclaiming, Even Horton raised his
hands TO the Prince Of Peace, praying in the
language Of Stephen the martyr forgive them,
for they know not what they do Old Thad,
the Biblical member Of the committee Of man
ayers, begged Butler to consult his Bible oftener
- ! ~. -.