Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-04-24
Impeachment.

1 impeachment.
The impeachment trial bids fair to
close probably within week.
The testimony was all in the first of this
week, and verdict may be expected on
OF before the first day of May.
On Friday last the defence put in their
testimony on the circle speeches, and
among the witnesses was Mr.. Zeider
who reported for the St. Louis Republi-
can. The defence attempted to show by
him that the speech, as presented by the
prosecution, was much more disgraceful
than as delivered but i'll this they fail
| ed. \ comparison of the two reports
disclosed only trifing differences, not in
the least altering the sense of any sen
tence. This witness was inclined to be
insolent to Manager Butler, but was ia
ken in hand and handsomely subdued in
an early stage of stestimony. He was
very curt and smart-indeed, saucy for
a time, and Initiated his standing as a
witness by intrusively manifesting his po-
litical bias and seeming too willing de-
fender of Mr.. johnson. After be had
made two or three impertinent replies to
Manager Butler, the General handled
him with severity, and several times
turned the laugh on him. This closes
the inquiries concerning the circle
speeches.
The Presidents counsel next introduce
ed another installment of documentary
evidence in regard to the form of appoint
ments, and called Frederick w. Seward
to the stand, to make known the practice
of the State Department in the appoint
ment of consuls and diplomatic officers.
This gentleman,s testimony did not seem
to be regarded by either the Managers or
the Court as very important The Man
ayers admitted it, reserving the right
however, to object to certain portions of
Vt, if they should prove, on investigation,
to be irrevelent.
At little before two o'clock Judge
Curtis created buzz of excitement on
the floor and in the galleries, by asking
the Sergeant-at-Arms 10 call Secretary
Welles. Prompt to the call, the old gen.
tleman appeared at the stand, and stood
straight AS a ramrod while he took the
oath. The Ancient Mariner was fore
warned by the counsel that he must ele-
vate his voice a little if he desired to be
heard Profiting by this admonition, he
gave the Senate no occasion for cries of
=" louder" with which so many witnesses
in this trial have been interrupted. He
was first Intercepted upon the date of
his commission asSecretary of the Navy.
He replied that it was March, 1861. He
had been in the Cabinet ever since, but
had not been re-appointed. He then de-
tailed the occurrences which induced the
President to send for Gen. Emory on the
ed of February. His (Welle's) son
was at ball on the Dist, and Tiers
learned something Of certain movements
of troops in the vicinity of Washington.
When Welles, senior, learned this news,
he thought it expedient instantly to com
municate it to the President. He told
the President on the 22d, and thereupon
Gen. Emory was summoned to the White
House to explain these military move
ments. lie sent his son over on the night
of the Dist to tell the President what he
had heard, but it was too late to see that
functionary. Secretary Welles called on
the President the next day, the 23d, at
noon. At this point, Gen Butler ques-
toned Mr.. Welles critically as to the ex-
act time, and the Secretary was positive
that it was 2 meridian on the odd Gen.
Butler then produced Gen. Emory's tes-
timony, showing that the President sent
for him at ten o'clock thesame morning.
This spoiled the point which the Presi-
dents counsel wished to make, namely:
that Mr.. johnson sent for Gen. Emory
on Mr.. Welle's report about the troops.
Judge Curtis then asked the Secretary
what took place in the Cabinet touching
the removal of Secretary Stanton; but
Gen. Butler pricked up his ears at this,
and entered very decided objection.
The Chief-Justice was very clearly of the
opinion that the question was admissible,
but Senator Drake demanded the yeas
and nays. The Court sustained the
Chief-Justice by 26 to 90. During the
roll-call each side did its best TO muster
its full strength from the lobbies and
cloak rooms. Messrs Chandler and Nye
were temporarily absent, and did not
vote. The result was regarded as favor
able to the Presidents cause.