Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-03-20

effected everything else in this world ;
telegraphs have brought places together
that were thousands of miles apart; 1t
takes infinitely less time, if l may use so
strong an expression, to bring witness
from California now than it took TO send
to Philadelphia for one in the case ofAthe
trial of Judge Chase; and therefore we
must not shut our eyes to the fact that
there are railroads and there are tele-
graphs to give the accused the privilege
of calling his counsel together, and of
getting answers from any witnesses that
he may have summoned, and to bring
them here. 1t should have an important
bearing on the course we are to take, that
l submit, is not to be overlooked. Rail-
roads and telegraphs have changed the
order of things. In every other business
of life we recognize that fact. Why
should we not in this? Passing from that
which is but an incident-a detail, per-
haps-will you allow me to suggest that
the ordinary court of Justice, the ordinary
delays of courts, the ordinary time given
in ordinary cases for men to answer when
called before courts of justice, have no
application to this easel; not even, Sir,
when cases are heard and determined be-
fore the Supreme Court Of the United
States are the rules applicable to this
particular case, for this reason, if no
other, that when ordinary trials are had,
when ordinary questions are examined at
the bar of any court of justice, there is
no danger to the Commonwealth in de-
lay the Republic may take no detriment
if the trial is delayed. To give the ac-
cused time interferes with nobody. To
give him indulgence hurts no one, and
may help him. But here the House of
Representatives have presented at the bar
of the Senate, in the most solemn form
the chief ruler of the nation, and they
say-and they desire your judgment upon
the accusation-that he has ursurped
power that does not belong to him that
he is at the same time breaking the laws
solemnly enacted by you and those tina t
have sent you here, by the Congress of
the United States, and that he still pro-
poses SO to do. Sir, who is the criminal ?
| beg pardon Of the counsel for the re-
spondent-he is the Chief Executive OF
the nation. When | have said that !
have taken out from all rule this trial.
Because | submit with Difference, Sir,
that, for the first time in the history OF
the world has nation brought its ruler
to the bar of its highest court under the
rules and reforms provided by the con-
stitution, above all rule, and all analogy
all likeness to an ordinary trial ceases
there. say that the Chief Executive,
who is the commander of your armies,
who claims that command, who controls,
through hissubordinates, your Treasury ;
who controls your navy; who controls
all the elements of power; who controls
you1 foreign Relations who may oompli-
cate, in any hour of passion or of preju-
dice, the whole nation by whom he is the
respondent at your bar And, mark me,
Sir, / respectfully submit that the very
question here at issue this day, this hour,
is whether he shall control beyond the
reach of your laws, and outside of your
laws the army of the United States. That
is the one great question here at issue
Whether he shall set aside your laws, sci
aside the DEGREES of the Senate and the
laws enacted by Congress-setting aside
every law-claiming the Executive pow
er only that he shall control the great
military arm of this Government anc
control it, if he please, to your ruin, and
the ruin of your country. Again, Sir, dc
we not know, may we not upon this mo
ton assume the fact, that the whole bust
ness of the War Department of thi
country pauses until this trial goes on
He will not recognize, as we all know
the Secretary Of War, whom this bod,
has declared the legal Secretary of War
and whom Cong .ess, under power legiti
mately exercised, have recognized as tn
legal Secretary of War. And do we no
know also that while he has appointed
Secretary of War, ad intcr.n,, he dare no
recognize him; and this day and thi
hour, the whole business of the War De
partment stops? Mr.. Butler reminded
the Senate that o gallant officer of tn
army, if confirmed by them to-day, VIII
by right ought to have his commission
and his pay commence Immediately whe
disappointment reached him, would hav
to wait, if this notion prevailed, for A
days-as long as it took God to destro
the world by flood. [laughter.J An
for what, wonder? That the intelliger
and able counsel might delay the tris
still longer, when one department of tn
Gnuarnmopf ,ro. a,J,, Al.