The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-06-17

House of Representatives, and demand
ed an investigation upon vague and au-
dacious charges, in order to divert pub
lie attention from their downfall. These
very men kad refused all inquiry into
their own conduct. with the proof glar
ing before the world, and still confront
ing then, OF having used their position
as managers, after impeachment had
been voted and the trial commenced, to
persuade or i~ntimidate the President
into the support of a speculation in
volving several millions of dollars.
The inquiry was ordered, of course,
and it was. substantially put into hands
of Butler, the chief Of the guano con
spiracy, who drafted the original re-
commentator, which Stevens, Bing-
ham, and Logan sfgred with him. He
attempted an inquisition into the pri
vate affairs of various witnesses, of
bank accounts, of the telegraph Offices
and, we suppose, if the whole truth was
known, of the post Office also. Fooled
in an effort to extort some expected rev
elation, he reported to the House, aud
demanded arbitrary power over the wit
ness who refused to divulge his private
business.
1t is worthy of remark, that the re
port presented to the House is signed
exclusively by Butler, and that the ties
timony submitted is made up of extracts
collated by him, and prepared to suit a
particular purpose. We have no faith
whatever that these extracts state the
whole truth, or represent the case with
any degree of fairness. They are made
up by an INSCRIPTIONS expert, who is
capable of the worst perversion, and
who cannot be abashed by any expo
sure, however damaging. His allega-
tions were frequently disproyed during
the impeachment trial, while his bare
faced endeavors to misrepresent the ev
idence excited general Indignation on
the part of all unprejudiced minds. W.
believe, candidly, that his sham eles'
effrontery, wilful disregard of truth
and abuse of the propriety of the body
did as much es anything else to offend
and even disgust Senators like Mr.
Fcssendsn, who saw in the case moth
ing but the unworthy tricks and reck-
less "dodges" OF a vulgar attorney
whose proper sphere was before a po-
lice court.
There is an abundant reason TO dis
pute the statements in Buffers SO cali
ed report of testimony, upon which the
Imprisonment of the witness Woo!ley
was ordered. 1t will be remembered
that when Mr.. Nelson brought the Al
ia Vela speculation to the notice of thu
Sen ate, Butler, after several days o
preparation, asked leave 20 make &
statement in reply. in which he sale
emphatically "Thisr(the recommend
alton which he and the three othel
managers signed) "I believe TO have
been in the early part Of February
certainly before the act was committed
| by Andrew johnson which brought or
this impeachment" He was seconded
by Logan. one of the parties concern
| ed, who stated "The counsel for tn
respondent is mistaken about this let
ter having been signed after the i'm
parchment commenced by either Gen
eral Butler OF myself. l know vel
phen I sign:d it. = I signed thu
letter long before there was anything
thought of iupeachment."
These positive, direct, and unqualif
ed contradictions of a fact, which hat
only taken place a short time before
were met by Mr.. Nelson in the mos
efectual way. He produced before the
court the original paper, signed BY
Butler, Bingham, Logan, and Stevens
bearing date the ninth of March; ant
after the President had been summon
ed for trial. Their own sigma ures es-
tablished the falsity of their own state
ments, and thus impressed everybody
with the belief that fraud and falschoot
were the chief props of Impeachment
In preseneo of this proof, we have
the right to assume that no repor
made by Butler is entitled to any cred
it or respect whatever. The House
by refusing TO require the whole testi-
mopy to be produced, in order to guild
its decision, and by directing the i'm.
prisonment Of the witness upon an e.
parte statement of an individual mem
Der, in whose uprightness no confidence
is entertained, have assumed the re-
sponsibility, and will be held to &C.
count for tho outrage which they hav'
authorized.
Let it be borne in mind that the wit
ness, when brought before the Ho use
announced his readiness to ausxer an,
proper question" which it might pro-
pound, even though the interrogation,
should invade the domain Of reeogniz
ed privacy. He stands ready to do ST
now, and has never hesitated in tina