Nebraska advertiser., 1868-04-30
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Graphic Description of the Impeachment
Trial by an Eye Witness--A Nebraska
an AROUND Taking NOtes--Nebraska's
Delegation all Sound.
WAsHrroroS D. c., A

49,
every corner pictorial newspapers rep.
resent impeachment managers and Pres
dents counsel In every imaginable shape
and form-how the Chief Justice looked
when the Senate sustained bis decision,
and how he looked when it did nOt-how
the great manager looked during the de-
livery of his speech-how his face shone
in that happy ten minutes accorded him
by Senator Wilson, and the manner in
which he received his congratulations at
its close. Newspaper reporters have
we'll pictured the tones of the responses
of the different Senators-Sumner's deep
bass, Thayer's heavy undertone just fol-
lowing, and the shrill piping voice of
Upton to close the trio. All these are
read with apparent interest by the great
American people. for whom no descrip.
ton can be too minute Of this important
occasion-an occasion that will decide
for veal or woe the destiny of this ma.
ton, so hat everything said or done will
be remembered as having an influence
on its decision.
Friday and Saturday were about the
most interesting days we have yet had.
The witness for the defence told a
straight story, assisted by the learned
Attorney General; but when Butler was
called to the scene of action, things bore
a different aspect. Under the fierce,
gauling fire of his questioning. Thomas's
strong voice soon changed, and could
scarcely be recognized at its close as that
of the same man, Oh it was merciless
in its bitterness and much as my sym.
pathies were in the beginning against the
man and his ~misdeeds, | could but pity
the spectacle of an old gray-haired man,
fOrty-ive years in the service of his
country, so rulhlessly compelled to involve
himself in the tolls prepared for him, and
from which there was no escape. Truly
the graet arch.trai.or should be called to
account, that be has been the means of
causing an embesiIe old man to make
such a humiliating display of himselfs
After Thomas had practically shown in
what a position a man could place him.
self by trying to be too easy on his
friends, the hero of Atlanta was called
to the stand, and then came the tug of
war. Here Greek met Greek, and dia.
mond cut diamond, till the Senate Cham.
Der was filled with sparks of wit. Sar-
casms and invectives struck out, and The
great men of both sides met in open war.
All reserve was thrown aside. and every
nerve was strained TO gain ar advantage,
At no time since the beginning of the
trial had the ontes been so hot, and
over so certain a point. The question
was a plain one, on which heather party
tried to dodge the point. Buffers blows
were keen and strong-striking the nail
on the head every time, and his i~llustra-
tions driving it home with a force and
power felt by all. Bingham's clear sill.
very voice rang out eloquently through
the hall, and his beautiful language and
logical arrangement of argument came
up we'll 10 Buffers assistance. La vain
did Stanberry plead; fruitless was
Evart's keen, clear, incisive voice and
argument. But they were not the men
to be discouraged by one failure, and re-
turned again and again to the attack, and
like Banquo's ghost, they wouldn't down,
but failing at n poin, they came on
6ercer than ever to another, and charged
upon ii with all the fury that disappointed
men are capable of. After loiling and
struggling in vain the whole of the after
noon, as the shadows of evening were
lengthening, they reluctantly came to the
conclusion that they were beaten, and
Stanberry arose, with chagrin depicted on
every feature of his countenance, and
requested that they might be allowed to
recall the witness on Monday, as his tes-
timony was important to their case, and
they did not desire to give it up to the
last moment, so the Senate kindly gave
them forty.two hours in which to cOncoct
some scheme by which they might slip
in a question. despite the vigilance OF the
managers.
Monday morning they made their ap-
p%earance bright and early, (fOr Wash
ipgton), hoping evidently to secure the
advantage the "early bird" is said to
obtain. AS they came to time they
showed no effects of the fearful punish
ing they had received on Saturday. AT.
ter a short discussion as to whether Lo-
gan and Wilson were TO have an oppor-
tunity to gain glory in the great summing
up, Stanberry confidently put his ques-
ton TO the witness. and was evidently
quite annoyed at the inevitable-"Stay a
moment; l Object" After a sharp,
bitter discussion, this was also ruled out,
and it seemed as if the last straw had
been layed on the camel's back, and we
were finally to be relieved from this
much vexed question. But, alas, for The
uncertainty of human ~hopes-"The best
layed plans O. mice and men, gang aft
agile" The knot that five of the ablest
counsel in the country had been unable
to unite. was quietly cut by one of the
honorable court itself /; and the Senate,
after again and again voting that a ques-
ton should not be asked, on the recon-
mendalion of a man who has turned his
back on all his past professions of allegi-
anee to the Republican party and the
cause Of the country, solemnly overrUled
its previous decision.
The Chagrin and disappointment now
disappeared from the faces of the council,
and made its appearance on the other
side of the bar, and the managers brows
were darkened at the thought that in a
moment the unreasonable change of a
few votes had torn aside the barrier they
had so carefully raised. 1t was a matter
of surprise that some Republican Sena-
tors had been too week kneed, or too