Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-17
LATEST I'ELEGRAMS.
MIDNIGHT DISPATCHES.
THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

Senate. iH 1stf,F
WASHINGTON, April 16.-Mr. Sumner
offered an order to admit all evidence which
may be offered.
On motion Of Mr.. Conness the order was
tabled by % to II. aF
Mr.. Stanbery was not present, but Mr..
Evarts said they would proceed as far as
possible without! him.
Walton s. Cox, of Georgetown, was
called by the defense, and asked when his
connection with the case of Stanton Va.
Thomas commenced, aud when and by
whom and under what circumstances he
was employed
Mr.. Butler objected, but the Chief JUS
tice overruled. He might answer the first
part of the question. -tiit.
Witness said he was sent for February
22d, and went to the White House at Eve
O'Clock. He was proceeding to state what
the President said to him, when Mr. Butler
again objected, and demanded the counsel
to put in writing what they expected to
prove.
The Counsel proposed to prove that the
President employed Mr.. Cox to procure a
judicial decision by filing few warrants.
After some further argument the Chief
Justice ruled the evidence to show
that the President employed lawyers to
obtain decision if the constitutienality
of the tenure of Office act was admissible
in support of the denial of the first arti-
cles in accordance with former votes Of the
Senate, and with principles of law and
right. The yeas and nays were called,
which resulted go to 81. Evidence was
therefore admitted and the witnesses re-
summed. The President told witness that
he desired to have the proceedings institu-
ted to test the act of constitutionality, and
wished him to consult with Stanbery, who
had been too busy TO look into the matter.
He left General Thomas with the Presi-
dent and concluded that it would be best
to apply for habeas corpus after Gen.
Thomas should be committed by the Grim
inal Court, which course Mr.. Stanbery
approved.
Q. What did you toward getting out the
habeas corpus by direction of the Presi
dent? A. Tried to have Thomas commit
ted 10 prison, but Stanton's counsel applied
for postponement Chief Justice Cartier
said he should not be held in custody
witness moved his discharge, expecting to
force his committal, but the motion was
granted
The Senate refused to allow a statement
to be made of the conversation with the
President the same evening, and the coun-
sci then asked:
After repeating this to the President did
you do any other act in pursuance of his
previous instructions to test the constitu-
tionality of the tenure of office act, if so,
what were they?
Objected to, but the Chief Justice over
ruled il and the Senate sustained his rll-
ing; q to %.
Witness resumed: The next day | APP
piled TO the District Attorney 10 sign in
formation in the nature of quo warranto,
which he declined to do without authority
of the Attorney General; visited Mr.. Stan
ton and gave him his opinion, which was
not allowed to be stated, and nothing else
was done in the matter.
Mr.. Cox was cross-examined by Mr. But
Ter: He considered himself as counsel for
the President, but appeared before Judge
Cartier as counsel for Gen. Thomas, and did
not tell the court, or the opposing counsel
in court, that his purpose was to get the
case in trim to test the constitutionality Of
the tenure of Office law, and supposed they
OWNED the object. Mr.. Bradley, senior,
was advisory counsel for Gen. Thomas the
papers which he prepared to obtain a quo
warranto were returned to him few days
ago by Mr.. Stanbery, with verbal mes
sage for himself and Mr.. Merrick to use
them at their discretion he has never re-
ceived direct authority from the Attorney
General or the President TO use them; Gen.
Thomas was discharged from custody on
motion Of the Presidents counsel; r. T.
Merrick, lawyer of Washington was en-
ployed by Gen. Thomas; on the morning
of the I'D of February, after the action
of Judge Cartier in chambers, witness
went to see the President about noon and
told him what had occurred in the case,
Gen. Thomas and Mr.. Stanbery being
present. The Attorney General, in the
presence of the President, told witness TO
see if he could carry up the case to the Sd
preme Court on a writ of habeas corpus
and few hours afterwards wrote the At
torney General a note on the subject
Monday he communicated the result of his
investigation to the Preridents counsel,
Mr.. Cox, and they agreed to work together
in order to accomplish the purpose sug-
gested by the Attorney General Tuesday
night had an interview with the Attorney
General relating to the conducting of the
case next day. Question objected to.
What did you and Cox do in order to
accomplish the result?
Referred, but held TO be admissible by
the Chief Justice
Answer: All We did we did in court
Wednesday morning.
The wltaess commenced in detail to re-
count the circumstances already briefly
narrated by Mr.. Cox. Il
Mr.. Butler interrupted him to say that
he wished TO clear his skirts of all, as this
matter was going in against the objection OF
the managers, and under ruling OF the
Chief Justice, whereupon the Chief Justice
rose aud said that it goes in by the decision
OF the Senate of the United States.
The witness resumed his minute nara
ton, and at the close of the cross-examina-
ton by Mr.. Butler, testified that Thomas
was not at the White House when he ar
rived; did not know whether he was at
the War Department or not.
Mr.. Il. O. Perrin, of Long Island, was
then called has been personally aequaint
ed with ths President for about fourteen
years was in this city during the month
of 1 February, in company with Mr.. Selye,
a member of Congress, from New York.
Had an interview with the President, Feb.
81 about two o'clock P. NJ. took Mr..
Selye to introduce him; neither he or
Selye had any knowledge of the removal
of Mr.. Stanton.
The counsel then offered 10 prove that
the President informed them that he had
removed Mr.. Stanton and would send into
the Senate good name for position that
he did not anticipate Their would be any re-
sistance, and regarded the arrangement as
temporary.
Mr.. Butler objected, and an argument
ensued on both sides. The question was
ruled out by the Senate.
Mr. Evarts had nothing more to ask in
that view, and suggested an adjournment.
Mr. Butler opposed it 10 long speech,
after which the Senate adjourned.
Democratic state Convention.
sPRTNGFIELD, April 16.-The Demo
cratic State Convention met in this cify tc-
1ay The folIoWing ticket WAS nominated : |