Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-04-11
The IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
ConcIusicn Of Yesterdays Preceedia.


In the Senate yesterday. after rreess. MAJOR
General Lorenzo Thomas WAS sworn. He first
testified as 10 services daring the war, and read
the letter dated, February 81. comm tndiug him
TO abstain from issuing any order other ian in
Ms capacity as Adiutant General of the army.
signed BY Edwin NJ. Stanton, Secretary Of Var:
[as stated in yesterdays starr
MIR. Stanbery then asked the wi.ness.-Did
you the President after that interview A.
j did.
q Whist took place.
Mr.. Butler. Stop moment. / object now,
Nr. President and Sepators, TO the con servation
between the President and General Thomas
after this time. L would not object as you will
observe, to any order or directions which the
tween the President and General Thomas mt
the time of issuing the commission; but now the
commission has been issued tina demand has
been made; 1t has been refused the peremptory
order given TO General Thomas to mind his
own business, TO keep out Of the War Offica,
has been put in evidence. None suppose the
President, by talking to General Thomas or
General Thomas by talking to the Pres ident,
can put in his own declarations for the purpose
of making evidence in favor Of himself
The S+nate has already ruled by solemn vote,
In consequences, believe, of n decision of the
presiding officer, that there was such evidence
of criminal intent between these parties as to
allow us to put in the acts of either to bear on
the others, but challenge any authority that
can be shown anywhere that where we are try
ing man for an act before any tribunal,
whether judicial court or any other body of
uldi-l Cndllenge an yDOCy. say, TO show that
testimony can be given of what the respondent
said In his own behalf, especially to his servant,
or tOTttGT, 10 his co-cons pirator. The conspi-
racy being presumed, can it be that the Presi-
dent can call up any officer of the army. and by
talking TO him after the act he has done, Justify
the act The Act that we complain of was
the removal of Stanton and the appointment
of Thomas. That has been done. That is, If
he can b. removed at ALL / understand the
argument just presented to us by the learned
counsel to be that (even after having delivered
ms argument) there was no removal al all, and
no appointment at all; and that as to this case
there has not been anything ar all done, and we
may as well stop here. But the point of his ar
gument, to wit: That the only powers OF re-
moyal remained In the President, or in the
President and the Senate. If that be true, then
all that IL wanted TO be gu. tie right depended on
Stanton's legs IN walking out; because every
thing had been done but that. We insist that
there was a removal: that there was an ap-
poiniment. and that is the act which is being
inquired about. whatever the character of that
act IL, be II better or worse but after that act,
say that Gen. Thomas cannot make evidence
by talking TO the President. nor can the Presl-
dent by talking 10 Thomas.
After argument on this point by Messrs
Stanbery, Butler, Evarts, and Bingham the
Chief Justice said he would submit the ques-
ton 10 the Senate, and the witness was allowed
10 answer the question by vote of AZ yeas TO
10 hayes.
Witness then resumed and said he had stated
AT the second interview that he had delivered
the commun ication to Mr.. stanton and he then
told the President what transpired there, and
the President replied ~ cry we'll, you 90 aud
take charge of the office and perform its du-
ties" This was after W itnesS got Stanton let
or fOrblCding him 10 issue orders "a Secretary
of War.
Witness then proceeded to detail the fact of
his arrest by the Marshal the next morning af-
ter the above Interview. and he was about 10
give another conversation with the President
when on his way to tie courthouse (htving
stopped at the White HOuse.) when Mr.. But
Ter objected.
Tho direction WAS no. sustained and ypi,rass
said he simply informed the President of his
arrest. At the courthouse witness was re-
CURED 10 give bail, and ne asked Judge Cartier
If that suspended any of his functions and
Judge Cartier said IL did not. After giving
bail witness went 10 the War department, and
found number of gentlemen in Dir. Stanton's
room. Witness demanded possession of the
War Office, and Mr.. Stanton said he would not
give il up. Witness then went into General
ShrIyer's room, and was sitting there when
Mr.. Stanton came in, accompanied by General
MOrehead, and he asked General MOTehead TO
note what passed. After General Morehead
had reIiTed, Mr.. stanton remained in the room.
and i said TO him that the next time he had me
arrested nor to do ii so early; that / could get
nothing to eat or drink. as / had had nothing
Yet that Ifdning. Laughter Mr.. Stanton
seem. d TO oesIn good humor, and putting one
hand upon Inv shoulder, and running his fin
gers through my hair. remarked "a Sh-iyer
has bottle here; let him BRING il out" Shriyer
laughed and brought out a small phiaI, and we
divided II INTO three parts and drank II together
Renewed laughter
q. Was that all the force you exhibited that
day A. That was all. lGreat laughterl
q. Have you a. any time a'tem pied to exer-
else force to get into that Office A. never
have.
q. Have you at any time had orders from the
President to use force 10 get into the office
Mr. Butler objected.
Pending a discussion of the question. Mr..
Manager Stevens was understood 10 remark TO
the Managers that there was use appealing
TO The Senate after the decision just made by
this body.
Mr. Eyarts at once asked if that was the re-
mark Of the Manager.
Mr.. Butler replied that the remark was in.
tended for the Managers, and for them alone.
The question was put, and then the Senate,
by q unanimous vote. allowed the question to
be put, and witness said the President had never
Instructed him to use force.
Witness was then asked with regard TO his
conversation with MIR. Burleigh, and said Bur-
leigh came 10 his house on the evening of the
21st, and after some conversation witness said
something about breaking the door open. Wit
meas told Burleigh that he (witnessl would be
At the War Office at 10 o'clock next morning.
Witness did not ask him TO go. He said he
would go. Knows nothing about Mr. Karsener;
saw him in the spring of 1867, if his attention
had not been called to it would have said that
he never saw him. Witness was gong out of
the door at the leyee when this person rus he'd
forward and seized him by the hand; he was
surprised al the mans manner; man told him
he knew his father and mother, and was from
his native town of Newcastle.
MI ButeT.-otopi you need not tell about
your surprises.
Mr. Stanbery.-Go on, General Thomas
Witness cOntinued.-Went away from the
man, wht he seized his hand .gain, and said
the eyes of Delaware were upon witness, and
for witness TO stand firm, flaughter:l witness
r. piled that h. would
Mr.. Sianbery.-WLo first said an ythIng about
kicking QUIT
Vitness.-He did. L used the words ocular
ly: they were put into my mouth by Mr. Kar-
seBer; the expression was used by me ocular
ly.
Mr. Stanbery-DId you ever kick Mr. Stan
ton for any purpose!
WItness-No, sir.
Mr.. Butler.-When did you leave the Adiu-
tant Generals office!
General Thomas.-It was on the 2lth of
March, 1-63. From that time until the 18th of
last February did not p~rform the duties of the
Adiutant Generals Office. Was engaged in
other duties. Mr.. Stanton knew he was the
only map who could perform those duties
Never asked MIR. stanton TO restore him to the
Ad Iutant Generals office. Supposed Mr. Stan
ton did not want him there.
MIR. Butler-Iet you were on the most
friendly terms with him, and never wanted to
kick him.
Mr. ThCmas.-President sent for him on the
18th of February last; can't tell the time he re.
ceived the information that he was to be made
Secretary OF War; might have sworn that ne
had received the iltimation at q certain date
before the Committee of the House. but he
had asked leave to correct his testimony as
he had the two things on his mind-the Ad-
iutant Generals Office and the appointment As
q War first cd intir