Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-04-18
The Impeachment.

Buffers haTangue or Ihursoay-tG WINCH We
have referred certain tabular statements had
been published which had not been read in the
speech, nor given in evidence, and, therefore,
ordering that such tabular statements should
not be, printed in the official account OF the
trial, These tabular statements were intended.
to reflect upon the Secretary OF the Treasury
and Mr.. Hen tricks pertinenty inquired wheth-
er it was in order for the managers to reflect,
upon the Secretary without allowing him to be
heard Mr. Butler spoke again and again, but
the resolve of Mr.. Ferry was carried without
O division. Ii j. Il - ~
Mr.. Villain w. Armstrong, editor of the
Cleveland Plaindealer, was the first witness
sworn. He heard President Johnson's speech
at Cleveland in 1866, and testified that por-
ton Of the crowd, all through It's delivery, were
very disorderly. There were number OF inter
ruptions. The effect and bearing Of this testi
mony went to show the difficulty of hearing
and reporting the speech. Nothing of interest
was elected in the cross-examlnatio save that
Mr. Butler asked the witness if the President
ala not saw, '"You cannot sec General Grant
tonight; be is ertremezy ILL.," These words
were recited with an emphasis that was intend
ed to convey suspicion as to the special cause
of this illness ..,-..-l,-.,r.
Mr. Barton Able, Of ST.. Louis, merchant
and collector of internal revenue, was at St,
Louis in September, 1866, and was one Of the
committee of reception appointed by the Mer-
chants Exchange. Mr.. Able was present at
the delivery: of the Presidents speech at the
Southern Hotel, but heard only portion,
though he was in the room adjoining. The
speech was made in answer to repeated calls
from the people, and upon request by Mr.,
Able and others Of the committee. The Pres
ident declined several times before yielding TOT
the request. MIR. Butler cross examined Capt.
Able at some length asking many trivial and
Irrelevant questions, and failing uttery in his
purpose TO confuse the witness. After the
latter had just expressly told him that he could
not see the President on the balcony, Mr.. But
Ter inquired 1T he saw any person cndcavOrlng
to deter the President from speaking" to
which Capt. Able sharply answered, that Elf
he could not see, he could not tell" This was
poser to Gen. Butler.
Mr.. George Knapp, one of the proprictors
Of the st. Louis Republican, was then sworn,
and gave his evidence in a candid and succinct
manner lie was present at the st. Louis
Hotel when the President went out on the
balcony to speak. The crowd had repeatedly
called for the President, and members Of the
committee urged the President to speak. The
crowd was at times disorderly, and there were
repeated questions by them. Mr.. Butler
cross examined Mr.. Knapp, and attempted his
usual style, but was completely foiled by the
composure and diiectness of the witness re
sponses. In answer to his queries, Mr. Knapp
stated that he did not hear the. passage about
John Bulr' or Judas, y read by Gen. But
Ter. The speech, he stated, was Incorrectly re-
ported in Sundays paper. ... .......'
Mr.. Zider was the regular reporter for
the St. Louis Republican, in September, 1866.
He had employed Mr. Walbridge to assist him
in reporting the speech at the Southern Hotel,
in September, 1866. The speech in Sundays
paper not being correct, he corrected it for
Mondays issue. Made only the changes call
cd tor by his own notes. There were some
corrections he made which were not printed
Between the report in Mondays Democrat
and that in Sundays Republican there we're
sixty differences. The witness had made a
memorandum of these, which Mr. Butler, af-
ter some opposition, had to suffer to be received
as evidence. ...i.g...a. ....s.
On dissemination, Mr. Butler nut a
great number Of interro gatorcs to Mr. Xider,
intended to confuse, mbarrass, and Involve him;
but all failed of effect, save as in the preceding
cases, to give a more special emphasis to the
testimony.
. Mr.. Curtis then put in evidence the commits
sion of Gen. Washington as Lieutenant Gcner-
al of the United States armies, signed by John
Adams, to show how these commissions were
worded in 1898. 1t was read. and contained
these pertinent words, ITO continue in force
during the pleasure Of the President for the
time being. :" After some additional important
documentary evidence, Mr.. Frederick Seward
Assistant Secretary ofState, was sworn, and
testified to the practice Of appointing vice con:
suls in cases of vacancies happening during the
session Of the Senate, by which it appeared
that, according to Mr.. BoutWell's doctrine,
this trial ought to, have, begun exactly thirty
years ago, the practice beginning in 1887. ..,''
Mr.. Gideon:Welles,: Secretary Of the Navy,
was then sworn. He stated that on the 2lst of
February bis son-in-law, who had been at an
evening party, returned, and stated to him that
all the officers of the 5th regiment there had
been called for and required to report at head
quarters. Mr. 'We1les went at noon next day
to see the President, and narrated these facts,
and asked the President what it meant" Mr.
Butler objected, and aiming to be very precise
as to time, got out the fact, soa7ery important
lor him to suppress, that the nomination Of the
new Secretary, Mr.. Ewing, was then prepared,
The question being admitted by the Chief
Justice, the witness proceeded to detail the
by which it appeared that the
charge in the Emory article was utterly idle
and frivolous. = I2.l - 80 E*.2sS.>..
After the usual recess, Mr.. Welles stated
that he was present at a Ca inet meeting on
the 2lst of February, at which all the Cabinet,
save Mr.. Stanberyi were present. MIR: Evarts
then offered to prove by the witness that on
The ,2lst Of: February about two clock, in :.
Cabinet meeting, the President had informed
his Cabinet of the removal of Stanton and the
appointment of Gen. Thomas to be al interim
Secretary Of War, and that in response toques-
lions whether Mr.. Stanton "aequesced, the
President said that he did, and all he: desired
was time to remove his private papers. .
TO this question Gen. Butler had the hon
or to object" in his usual fashion, and resisted
stoutly. the admission of testimony So fatal to-