The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-15
GL1MpsEs OF THE GREAT TRIAL.
TRAITS OF THE MEN WHO CONDUCT
THE CASE.

TRAITS OF THE MEN WHO CONDUCT
THE CASE.
Correspondence of the Boston Advertiser.]
WASHINGTON, April THE most prominen
feature in the impeachment trial, which strikes
the habitual attendant upon it's sessions, aftel
the sensation of novelty has worn away, is th'
leadership which has fallen to General Butler
To those who remember the incidents Of hi
entrance into Congress only a year ago, wher
his apparent arrogance and disposition 20 push
himself forward received decided and EN-
phatic snub from the majority in the Republi
can caucus; and to those who remember thai
much more recently, when impeachment wal
decided on in February, he had no place or
the committee to prepare the articles, and thai
the additional articles which he recommended
were promptly rejected by the House upon al
almost contemptuous hint from Mr. Bingba
to those who know how his avowed and per
sistent hostility to General Grant and his
unfortunate financial manifestoes have caused
him to be regarded with disfavor by the lead
ing men of his party here; this is especially
remarkable and almost incomprehensible.
For in the trial of the impeachment pre-.
ferred by the House OF Representatives against
Andrew Johnson, General Butler is the man oi
the hour. He not only opened the case; he
has managed the case since it has been opened.
in number; they differ from the other mem
bers Of the House mainly in being exemplary
in their attendance at the trial. The sergeant
alarms gives them special announcement as
they enter; and the sonorous voice of MIR. For
ney, as he reads the journal, informs the as
sembly that ''Mr. Bingham, MIR. Thaddeus
Stevens, Mr.. Butler, Mr. Boutwell,, MIR. Logan,
Mr. James F. Wilson and MIR. Thomas Will
iams entered and took the seats assigned
them" But here the part taken by six out
of the seven, so far as the Senate or the pub
lie in the gallery can see, substantially
ends. Mr.. Butler calls for the Witnesses, MIR.
Butler examines the witnesses, MIR. Butler ex-
plains the purpose Of testimony, MIR; Butler
answers the objections OF the counsel on the
other side, Mr.. Butler supplies the amusing
retorts which enlven the occasion, MIR. Butler
bulies the Chief Justice, Mr.. Butler announces
that the case is closed. The Presidents coun-
sel-whether. Mr.. Eyarts, Mr.. Curtis or Mr..
Stanbery is speaking-say "we;" MIR. Butler
says ST." If Mr.. Butler has not finished his
oysters when the fifteen minutes recess is
over, the case waits for him; if he is ready the
lIldi pIUCc0uS, Mutlue1 uhu VIC cSudlOiS dl %
in their places or not. In short, SO far as ap-
pears TO the locker on from day to day, it is
the people of the United States proceeding
against an offending President through Benja-
min F. Butler, their spokesman and prose-
cutting officer.
BuTLER's TRAITS.
When thus much is understood, it is easy
for those who are familiar with General But
lers traits to imagine many Of the aspects Of
the trial in which he has made himself The
central figure. He is remarkable for positive
ness and aggressive disposition, for readiness
in an emergency and never.failing, resource;
no fatigue, and for that quality which, for the
lack OF a gentler name, must call impudence,
he is not remarkable for grace, for fairness, or
for any smenity or courtesy Of manner in pub
lie life. Hence his relation with those he con-
siders opponents is that Of unmistakable, open,
unrelenting war. He never loses an opportu-
nifty to fire shot at the Presidents counsel,
styles ANDREW Johnson" with no ornamental
title), at Chief Justice Chase, whom he Sc
lects as an especial targe!, or at Nh. Reverdy
johnson. whom he has singled out from
among the senators for sharp thrust when
ever the occasion serves. I have tele-'
graphed you some samples Of his method
Of treating Mr.. Chase. I recall one or two
with the counsel on the other side. When
the direct examination Of Colonel Moore
Mr.. Johnson's private secretary, was COM
pleted, Mr.. Butler turned to the inspection of
some papers upon his table. Colonel Moore
patiently waited on the stand. care you
through with the witness?" inquired courtly
MIR: Stanbery at length. 'When I am through
able manager, 81 will let you know" and then
after silent pause of about ten seconds, 81
am noao through with the witness" $50 are
we," said Mr.. Stanberv-but the premeditated
terseness Of his dismissal lost all effect in the
sensation caused the unpremedtatedro rough
ness Of the gentleman from Massachusetts,.
During the examination of one of the reporters
as to the Cleveland speech, Mr., Butler inquired,
"Was there bandying of epithets back and
forth between the President and the crowd 2"
.sWe object to that sort of question:" said MIR.
Evarts, 'the witness can state what was said"
Mr.. Butler repeated his question with emphasis.
''We object that that is not proper question"
persisted Mr. Evarts; ''the witness is asked
whether there was bandying Of epithets.
Nobody knows what baDdying means,
nobody knows what epithets means. The
said.' ''I withdraw the question for q
moment" said Mr.. Butler. "Now, sir, Ito
the witness), do you know what bandying
means?" There being some sign OF further
ob]ectlon, Mr.. Butler Sharply continued, II am
simply asking you to explain word the Presi-
dents counsel do not understand" Again,
this morning, the reports OF the Cleveland
speech of the President having been received
es evidence, in spite of good deal Of remon-
STRANGE from Mr.. Evarts, Mr.. Butler introduced
proof of a newspaper report Of the st. Louis
speech, and at its conclusion said, 81 propose
to offer this paper rs evidence, if there is no
objection, and, also, if there is objection"
There is more in the manner Of these Incl
dental displays than in the words; but those
of Your readers who have seen Mr. Butler in
criminal court can supply the manner from
their own imaginatlons, with the assurance
that none of the sharp points are polished off
IN the present trial on account Of the magni-
tuie of the occasion. Whether such little
corruscations are anything for the people of
the loyal States to be proud of in the conduct
of their case against their Chief Magistrate,
it is not for me to say. but strive to mirror
the scene as it exists rs faithfully as can.
I have limited that Mr.. Butler is lacking in
grace. Fortunately els not sensitive nor BASH
full and does not mind the deficiency very much.
Yesterday heavy bound file of the Chronicle
newspaper was brought into court, in the
course of the examination as to one OF the
Presidents speeches therein reported. Mr..
Butler set the huge volume slanting deskwise
on a chair. Searching for passage in the
speech, during a momentary lull in the pro-
ceedings, he stopped into the open pages in
such angular fashion that his head, arms and
shoulders were entirely hidden from view.
should need to call in the aid of a special art
ist to give you the precise attitude; but it was
something like huge bumble-bee working his
way into a gigantic flower; and the effect was
90 comical that ripple OF laughter ian all
.a,,l &ho no llarioc op1 aven n, 6o 1too1f n