The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-28
The Presidents Counsel.
PEN AND NE SKETCHES OF THE MEN WHO ARE TO
MEET THE IMpEAcHERs BEFORE THE BAR OF
THE SENATE.

THE SENATE.
The Washington Star gives the following
brief and interesting sketches of the great
lawyers who are to conduct the Presidents
case during the impeachment trial:
Mr.. Stanbery, who resigned his Office as At
torney- General to appear for the President in
this trial, sits at the head Of the table. Should
the President be acquitted, Mr.. Stanbery will
be re-appointed to tie Attorney -Generalship,
the Office being kept vacant meantime; but
should the President be convicted, why then
Mr.. Wade will have something to say in the
matter, ard somebody else will be made Attor-
ney-General, quite likely Mr.. Matthew d. Car
penter, of Wisconsin. NIr. Stanbery is the
most distinguished looking of the array Of
counsel for the defence-tall, graceful in bear.
ing, and with countenance indicative OF
thought and sagacity. His features are Of the
eagle order. Mr.. Stanbery was formerly q
Wing in politics, but for the last half dozen
years has been a Conservative, though never
partisan in any sense of the word. The proper
spelling of his lame is the bother OF all COM
positors. Our foreman finds it necessary to
placard the Star composing groom as follows:
'Spell Stanbery with one s, one y, one a,
one N, one B, one E, one r and one Y"
Next at the table is B. R. Curtis, of Boston,
presenting in his short, compact figure and
rather bull doggish expression Of face, mark
ed contrast to Mr.. Stanbery. In personal ap-
pearance he somewhat resembles President
johnson, from which fact arose the report 80
generally circulated on the day OF the COM
mencement of the impeachment proceedings
that the President had appeared at the Senate
in person. Mr.. Curtis maintains o leading
rank in New England for ability and learning.
He was for time q Justice OF the Supreme
Court during MIR. Fillmore's administration,
but resigned that place to return to the prac-
tice Of his profession. Like Mr.. Stanbery, ne
commenced Wing, and IS now a sort OF Con-
servative Democrat.
Mr.. W. NJ. Evarts, Of New York, is lawyer
like looking parsonage, thin, small OF size, and
with features giving the idea of quickness and
acuteness of thought. Mr.. Eyarts is q decided
Republican in politics, and one OF the foremast
members of the New York bar, MIR. Evarts was
q leading Republican candidate for the Senate
to succeed MIR. Seward in 1861, and was warmly
urged upon Mr.. Lincoln by many distinguished
citizens for the Office Of Chief Justice when it
became vacant by the death Of Judge Taney..
The fourth of the Presidents defenders is
Mr.. J. s. Black, of Pennsylvania, Democrat
OF the strictest school, who was Mr.. Buchan-
ans Attorney-General, and afterwards, on the
resignation of General Cass, his Secretary OF
State. His abilities have long been recognized
at the White House, and popular report has
assigned to him the authorship OF many OF the
ablest State papers of President Johnson. and
especially Of those veto messages OF the Presi-
dent that have been more successful IN selznS
upon weak points in acts vetoed. It is probable,
however, that Nh. Black has had much less 10
do with the preparation Of these papers than
has been supposed; but undoubtedly hls ad.
vice and suggestions have had great weight
with the executive. In person Mr.. Black ls
tall, raw-boned, angular in feature, and is said
to bear no little resemblance to Lord Brough-
am. AS lawyer he stands in the irst-class,
and he is noted for that audacity and fertility
OF resources which serves lawyer better Ill
many instances than all his learning and ex-
perience. Mr.. Black was not present at the
opening of the proceedings to-day.
Hon. s. Groesback, OF Ohio, who appeared
to-day for the first time as one Of the counsel
for the President, is o. lawyer Of fine stand
ing in the West. He was in the Thirty
seventh Congress from Ohio, and in politics is
war Democrat. His appearance indicates
force and self-possession.
Lastly, there is Mr.. T. a. R. Nelson, of Ten
nessee. Mr.. Nelson was in the early part Of
the war an earnest Union man, and was elect
ed to the United States Congress as such,
from his district in East Tennessee in August, |
1861; but being taken captive by the rebels on |
his way to attend the following session Of Con- |
eress, he recanted his allegiance to the Union,
and threw the weight Of his influence thence
forward in favor of the rebellion until the
end. AS Military Governor Of Tennessee, Mr.. |
johnson wGs pretty severe in his denuncia- |
tions of the political course Of Mr. Nelson, and |
it is noted now as a curious reverse Of circum-
stances, that MIR. Nelson should now appear
before the Senate as one of Mr.. Johnson's ad-
vocates. The conceded ability Of MIR. Nelson |
among those by whom he is best known, has
doubtless caused his retention by the Presi- |
ident as one of his counsel. In appearance |
Mr.. Nelson is rather solid than brilliant, and |
the peculiar deliberate manner in which he |
enunclates his words, while drawing upon his
head the blessings Of the reporters, tends to
make his speaking monotonous and tiresome.
Judging from externals, Messrs. Stanbery |
and ESarts will do the scalpel work OF the trial,
and Messrs. Curtis, Black and Nelson, the
sledge-hsmmer business.