Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-04-11

Wrnees.-l suppose so. saw Nj. Wilkeson
afterwards at Wizards hotel; don't know
whether he repeated il to him again. Saw Mr..
Burleigh, and told him that he intended to use
force.
MIR. Buuer.-was that Dragging
wnness.-No. f
Mr. Butler.-You meant il, then. did you
Wuness.-Yes; meant no rnodomontade by
that: Had gotten over the playfulness with
Wilkeson. Did really intend 10 use force then.
/ intended to beat down the doors if found
them locked. Changed my mind about that
because he thought II would create difficulty
and bIoodshed. Thought If he employed force
he W ould be resisted by force, and did not wish
10 bring on blcodshed. Burlegh left soon after
witness. Then went TO masquerade ball. Did
not go to the War ONCE. Came home about
midnight. The Marshal was there the next
morning. Had changed his mind in regard to
using force. Don't know what particular time
he changed N. Might have done il while he was
in bed. Is certain that he did not tell Mr.. Bur-
leigh that he had changed his mind in regard to
using force on account Of his arrest. but will
not swear to it. Burleigh must have misunder-
stood him.
Witness did say that Burlegh's testimony be-
fore the Managers was correct but Burleigh
must have misunderstood him; because witness
knows that be changed his mind in regard TO
using force before he was arrested; but does not
know the precise time when he changed his
mind. Told the President when he read his
order that he would obey it, but the act of using
force was his own act and upon his own
sponsbility. that if he found the doors locked
he would break them down; but he afterwards
made up his mind not to bring on bloodshed;
never told the President that he intended to u Sc
force; knew that Stanton would resist; and be.
lieved that he could not get the Office without
resistance; reported 10 the President the daily
refusals OF stanton TO give up the Office; never
asked the advice of the President on the subject,
or by what power he should take possession:
suggested TO him that the true plan to get pos
session OF the papers would be to call on Gen.
Grant; never reported TO him any means by
winch TO get possession of the building wrote
he draft of an order on Gen. Grant for the pur-
pose OF getting possession OF the papers: left il
with the President this was the morning after
he saw karsener and told him he would kick
Stanton out; considered this peacea BILE mode
of getting possession, and consulted the Presi-
dent; when he thought of using force he did not
consult the President; the President never gave
him any other order than TO go on and take
possession; never chided him for any means he
might use TO get the Office. although declara-
tons of witness were rumored and had been
published. Has never issued an order as Sec
rotary al interim Has attended the Cabinet
councils. and been recogni ICED continually as q
member OF the Cabinet down to this hour, both
by the President and the members of the Cab
met. Have never given the President any ad-
vice, although the President has several times
called on witness at these meetings if he had
any business, but witness had none The order
which witness had drawn up was for General
Grant 10 notify the heads of the bureaus of the
Department who Were military men 10 obey
the orders of witness. and also 10 require the
mails of he Department to be delivered to
witness. The President put the draft on his
table, and SAID he would consider II. Had once
spoken TO witness about it, and said that he
would not take action on n until the trial was
over The President had said that Mr.. Stan
ton was out of office. Had not told witness
continually that he (witness) was Secretary al
interim.
Witness had not heard Mr.. Curtis say yes
terday that Mr.. Stanton was not out of office
The members of the Cabinet had always recog-
nized witness as Secretary al interim since the
date of his appointment. The President had
told witness that he wanted some nominations
sent up from the War Department which were
on the table Of the Secretary. Witness could
not get them; told Mr.. Stanton about 1t, and
Mr.. Stanton said he would see about it, The
President, to his knowledge, had never yet re-
Ceived these papers.
Mr.. Butler. Well, what was the matter with
the Constitution and the laws that you and the
President Were so solemn IN your declarations
TO uphold them
Witness did not know that anything was the
matter 18th them.
Mr.. Butler. Well, why did they need your
support
Witness did not know that they did need up
holding. Had called the clerks together to ad-
dress them: had said that karsener's testimony
was correct General Grant had recommend
ed witness TO be placed on The retired list, and
the President had not concWrred in the sug-
gestion.
At 500 p. m. on motion of Senator Morrill,, of
Maine, the court adjourned.
The President pro tsHlDore took the chair, and,
on motion of Mr.. Conkling, the Senate then ad-
iCurned.