Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-30
uMPEACHMENT!
THE COURT TO-DAY.
GENERAL BUTLER DELIVERS THE
OPENING ARGUMENT OF THE
HOUSE MANAGERS.

report, and this consumed time until half past
twelve o'clock, when Mr.. Wade vacated the
chair, and the Chief ustice called the Impeach.
meDt Court to order. The Board of Managers
and the House of Representative then entered.
The journal was then read.
At ten minutes to one o'clock, Gen. Butler
commenced reading his speech. He will occu-
py the attention of the Court for three hours at
least in delivery, and it would fill about fifteen
columns Of this paper. His speech commenced
by referring back to old English law which
governs impeachment, and quoting authorities
to sustain his views.
Up to the moment that General Butler COM
menced his speech, all eyes had been directed
to Chief Justice Chase, in the expectation that
ne would make some announcement to the
effect that he should feel himself authorized to
make all legal rulings; it having been given
out that he would do so, but public rumor in
this case proved to have been badly advised,
for he said not word. Disappointed in this
expectation, the audience settled down to give
close attention to the speech Of General Butler
pretty sure that dry legal document as it might
be, it was sure to contain some Butierian
touches; as it did.
The opposing counsel gave the reading care.
full attention. Mr.. Nelson occupied himself in
taking coplous notes throughout Messrs
Groesback and Curtis took occasional notes
Mr.. Evarts sat for the most part with his head
dropped upon his thin chest now and then
dropping his pen upon the paper before him
Mr.. Stanbery, at the head of the table sat
twisting bit OF red tape, listening smilingIy,
and occasionally whispered a word to Mr.
Curtis.
Mr.. Stevens, during the reading, sat with his
face resting on his long, wasted fingers; Mr.
Bingham comOed his thin locks iInpatiently
with his fingers until every special hair stood
on end; Mr.. Williams occupied himself in
writing Messrs. Wilson and Boutwell, stub.
bled their chin whiskers in an distracted fash.
ion, and Mr.. Logan sat with his arms folded,
giving good 8ttention to the speech.
The Senators sat up quite primly at the COM
mencement of the reading, but after two or
three hours began to collapse. Senators Con.
ness, Ramsey, Sumner, Fessenden, Morrill, of
W., Morgan, Cragin, Conkling, Howe, Ere.
hnghuysen and Norton leaned their heads on
their left hands. Senators Morton. Patterson
OF Tenn, Buckalew, Dixon, DooIittIe, Ed.
nunds, Anthony and Stewart ditto on their
right mauleys. Senator Wilson suspended him.
self over his chair by his left arm. Senator
McCreery turned a prodigious jack-knife end
for end With great perseverance,. Senator Eow.
Ter peeled an orange. and afterwards absorbed
its juices with apparent relish. Messrs Trum.
bull, Sherman, Grimes, Sprague, Hendricks,
Buckalew, Garrett Davis, and Henderson slid
forward in their chairs and sat on the small of
their backs; and other Senators disposed them
selves In various "gIn eout'' attitudes and DO.
stions.
The hs at of the crowded chamber caused
general discomfort and lassItude, and General
Butler, at the end Of three hours reading in a
Key which rendered every word audible an.
peared the freshest man in the room His
speech was concededly ia vigorous, clearly
stated argument
At 81 p. IN. he had not concluded.
PoLITICAL.-The New York Herald saws the
Democratic party is most lamen tably deficient
in Presidential timber in acceptable statesmen,
popular heroes, or available politicians, anC
thinks they wilt have to fall back on the Old
ticket Of Mcclellan and Pendleton
- The Democracy seem inclined to give the
President the cold shoulder in his Impeach
ment troubles. The Baltimore Gazette for in.
stance says:
"The issues involved are so serious that, to
superficial observers, it seems surprising that
the popular feeling in regard to the result
should be that OF languid curiosity rather than
OF intense excitement. That the greatest act
known to the COnstitution-the trial of a Presf-
dent OF the United Statss--should awaken less
Interest in the public mind than the repart of
prize ngnt, indicates either that the audaeity of
the onspirators has paralyz zed opposition, or
that there Is but little real sympathy for the
victim OF their malice. 1t is most probable that
Whlist the former is true to some extent, the
latter Is the chief cause Of the prevailing apathy
The course Of Mr.. Johnson since his Succession
10 the Presidency has been one which has en-
blttered his enemies whilst it has aliensted
those who might have been his friends-so
that he stands before the country in the
anomalous position Of President without a
party"
every district Of South Carolina, and Demo-
cratic State Convention is called TO meet at Co
lumba April 2.
"A Washington dispatch to the Cincinnati
Gazette says 1.-THE statement has had general
circulation, through the Democratic press that
Hon. John A. Logan had written a letter 10 a
friend in indianapolis, since the trial of An
drew johnson, saying that he had little faIrh
in the impeachment business, and did not be.
neve the president would be convicted. His
attention having been called to this statement
by the editor Of the Quincy Whig Gen Logan
has written a letter to that paper in which be
says that he has written no letter to IndIanapo-
Hs since the trial commenced, and that in none
OF MS correspondence has he expressed a doubt
OF the conviction Of the President. He has the
ISles, prnss5 confidence OF the impeachment of the
President at an early day"
The Democratic convention of Cook
county, illinois, has elected forty.eight dele
gates TO the State Convention, and unanimously
passed resolutions for Pendleton as first choice
The Conservative Con vention in North
Carolina has nominated Thomas c. Fuller, of
Cumberland, for Congress in Sd district
The Louisiana Democratic State Central
Committee having considered the impending
ele cton on the proposed lew constitution and
for officers hereunder, submit that all citizens
sympathizing with the Democratic party, who
are entitled and registered to do So vote against
the adoption Of the constitution and recon-
mend that the present incumbents of all State.
Congressional, judicial, parochial and muni-
c1Pal omces, so far as they are known, who act
in harmony, with the special purpose of de-
feating the constitution, be placed in nomina
tion and voted for candidates for their re-
spective Offices.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. IA, just issued from
the War Department, and signed s.By order of
the Secretary Of War;" promulgates the act of
Congress amendatory of the act to provide for
States, providing that hereafter any election
authorized by the act of March 23d, 1857. shall
be decided by majority Of the votes actually
cast, de."- Appended to the order is the fol-
lowing note by Secretary Seward: ssThe fore.
going act having been presented to the Presi
dent OF the United States for his approval and
not having been returned py him to the House
Of Congress in which ii originated within the
time prescribed by the Constitution of the
United States, has become q law without his
approval
INTERNAL REvKNUE.-The receipt from this
source to-day were $685., ,239.69.