The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-05-06
Impeachment.

more Gasette gives the following sketch
OF the exhibition in Washington, during
tue opening of gladiatorial exercises:
WASHINGTON, April 23, 1868.
The Managers of the Impeachmentand
the counsel for the President are now
fairly measuring swords, and the gladia,
torial exhibition is becoming one OF IN
tense interest. Boutwell, closed his isspeech
on the part of the prosecution to-day, and
was Immediately surrounded by num-
Der of Radical friends who warmly con-
graduated him upon his effort. Some of
them were so enthusiastic in their admi-
ration. that tthey patted him on his back
and head, and one Massachusetts men,
Der drew his cambric handkerchief from
his pocket and wiped the orators brow.
Boutwell, has enjoyed in Congress the.
reputation of scholar as well as law
yer, and his many fearful departures from
good taste are being excused by his
friends on the ground that" she feels strong
Ilv.and has allowed his feelings to control
his taste and Judgment" The use of the
word criminal by Mr.. Boutwell,, as APP
piled to man under trial, astonished his
friends very much. Mr.. Bingham's pet
expression has been "accused CRIMINAL "a
but Mr.. Bingham has no reputation as Il
scholar, and what might be eXcusable in
one of his stamp would be wholly mex
cusable in the composition of any one
pretending to be finished writer. But
it is fact that much was stricken from
Mr. Boutwcll's speech, even after it had
appeared in printed form. For instance,
he made reference to the counsel EN-
ployed by the President to secure legal
decision on the constitutonalty of the
Civil Office Tenure Bill, and drew an un-
favorable inference because of their hav-
ing been employed in the defence of Mrs.
Surratt. 1t is believed that this para
graph crcpt into the speech through the
management Of Bingham, who prosecuted
her, and who, according to the testimony
Of his colleague Butler. caused the hang
ing of an innocent woman. 1t was well
for the ereputation OF Mr. Boutwell, that
this was stricken out, and it would have
been equally as we'll if his scurrilous vul-
garity in dcnouncing Andrew Johnson
for everything which was vile, could have
been pruncd down. The speech at best
was weak one. A Massachusetts mem
Der paid it a doubtful compliment by say
ing it was the best speech Boutwell, had
ever made. The portion of the speech
delivered to-day, occupying nearly two
hours, was Il great bore in view of the
fact that, in his anxiety to get before the
country lie had given his speech to the
Radical press in advance, and the after
noon papers of yesterday had published
the conclusion in advance Of its delivery.
Mr. Boutwell,, therefore. appeared in the
attitude simply of reader, and one tho
Senate seemed very little disposed to hear,
as the matter was not new.
A recess was taken when Mr.. Boutwell,
had concluded during which the Senate
was the scene of much disorder and loud
talking The most interesting group no.
ticed on the floor during the time was
one in which. General Scklcs was the
centre figure The Hon. Thomas Ewing
was also on the foor Of the Senate and
heard the very uncomplimcntary alu-
sions made to himself by Manager Bout
well. Boutwcll's slanderous abuse Of
General Thomas was gross outrage upon
the common decencies of lie.
After the recess the Hon. Thomas A.
R. Nelson made speech in regular Ten
nessee style, that went straight to the
heart His reply to the personal abuse
heaped upon the President by the mana
gers had that ring about it which indica-
ted the fact that warm personal friend
ship prompted, while truth justified every
word ne uttered Mr. Nelson was dc.
Tending. not the President, bat valued
friend from the slanderous imputations
cast upon him by reckless and desperate
assailants. OF course he spoke warmly
enthusiastically. and by this gave offence,
it is said, to Radical cars.
But no one can deny that Mr.. Nelson's
cffort'thu far has been one OF great pow
ar and TO the point. He first told who
Andrew Johnson was, to show that he
was not the usurpcr, traitor, robbcr. mur
dercr, tiend, which Mr.. Boutwell, had rep
resented. He scorned the idea that the
Senate was not fair, impartial tribunal,
and begged them to view Andrew John
sons acts from a proper standpoint-sug-
costing the morning after the battle OF
Bull Run, when with blanchcd faces Sen
ators assembled in their Chamber-it was
then Andrew Johnson had offered the ia
nous resolution around which they all
rallied in defence of the Constitution and
the Union, declaring the war was not for
conquest or aggression upon the rights of
the States. This resolution was passed
without dissenting voice, and still stands
upon the Statute Books, and Andrew
johnson is now impcached before the
same body for believing the States have
any rights The Radicals made great
effort TO break the force of Mr.. Nelson's
homo thrusts, and eventually many of
them left the Senate Chamber. Yet there
sat the ten doubtful Republicans listening
| L Ill