Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-04-10

which one of the counsel did not under
stand. [Laughter.l
A little further on in this testimony
and the following occurred:
The CHIcF JUSTICE, interupting
Manager do you understand that the
witness is to read the speech?
Mr.. BuTLER--No Sir: he is skipping
whole paragraphs, and he is only read
ing where the Interruptions come in. ITO
witness Just use the latter words Of the
President.
Witness-When the President remark
ed that he came here for the purpose of
ascertaining what was wrong, there were
cries of" You are"-long continued cries;
the President inquired later in his speech,
who could put his finger on any act OF
the President deviating from the right +?
whereupon there were cheers and coun-
tercries of New Orleans long-contin-
ued that cry was repeated after break
ing the sentences of the President into
paragraphs then there were cries OF
"Why not hang jeff Davis ?" the Pres
ident responded. "Why not hang jeff
Davis ?" then there were shouts of "Down
with him p' and other cries of "Hang
Wendell Philips" The President said
why not hang him p The answers
were: "Give us an opportunity" The
President then went ON to ask, Have
you not court and an attorney general,
who is the Chief-Justice, and who is to
sit on his trial." Laughter in Court
There was then interruption by groans
and cheers. He then said "Call upon
your Congress that is trying to break up
our own Government" Then there were
cries of Lies among the crowd. Then
there was voice; Don't get SO mad.
The President then said: 81 am not
mad Then there were Kisses and two
or three cheers for Congress; after anoth-
er sentence of his, n voice cried out.
"What about Moses p when there was
laughter in the crowd; the next inter-
ruption | recollect, was when the Presi-
dent inquired, "Will you hear me"
then the cry was taken up and continued
for some minutes; all this time there was
great confusion-cheers by the friends of
the President, and counter-cheers by
those apparently opposed to him; the
President repeated his question, asking
the crowd to hear him for his canse and
for the constitution of the country. There
were then cries of " Yes, yes" $50 on"
In the next sentence he inquired When,
under any circumstances, he had violated
the Constitution of his -" to which
there were cries in response of "Never,
never" and counter cheers. The next
interruption was when Mr.. Stewards
name was mentioned, and there were
cheers for Mr.. Seward. The President
said he would bring Mr.. Seward before
the people. He asked who was traitor?
There were cries of "Thad. Stevens"
The President asked, why don't you
hang Thad. Stevens and Wendell Phil
ips?" Then there were cheers and Kisses.
The president proceeded to say that hav-
ing fought traitors at the South, he would
| fight them at the North. Then there
were cheers and Kisses. There were also
cries when the President said he would
do this by the help of the people, there
were cries that we won't give it. The in
terruption continued in the shape of
cheers, Kisses and cries of some sort
throughout the speech.
@. Was there anything said about his
not getting mads A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did the crowd caution him about
not getting mad A. Yes, sir.
@. Did he appear considerably exeit-
ed at that moment when they told him
not to get mad?
Mr.. EyARTs said that that was not
part of the present inquiry.
Mr.. BUTLER remarked: | want to get
as much as can from the memory of
this witness, and as much as | can from
his notes, that, with both together, we
may have perfect transcript of the pro-
ceedings. The allegation denies that there
was a scandalous and disgraceful scene,
the conditions being that the counsel for
the President claim freedom of speech, !
and we claim decency of speech. We
are now trying to show the indecency of
the occasion.
Mr. EyARTs-I understand that free
dom of speech in this country to mean
liberty of speech properly and discreetly.
Mr. BUTLER-I respect freedom of
speech in this country, as the freedom of
the private citizen, to say anything in
decent manner
Mr.. EvARTs-Yes, it is the same thing
and who is to judge of the decency?
Mr.. BUTLER-The Court before which
a man is tried for breaking the laws.
MIR. EvARTs-Did you ever hear of a
man being tried for freedom of speech +?
MIR. BUT1ER-No: but / saw two or