Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-05-08
Alta v.la and tn. Impeachment Managers.


Certain American citizens claim the
guano island Of Alta Vela, estimated to
Be worth not less than one million Of
dollars. They are not, however, in pos
session Of the island, which is held by a
foreign power. The claim Of these citi-
zens has been for years before the State
Department, which has more than once
decided the claim to be unfounded. Mr..
Jerre Black is one Of the claimants
attorneys He was also the principal
of the Presidents counsel 10 the i'm
peachment trial. Mr.. Black, after the
impeachment had got fairly under head
way, urged the President TO disregard
the decision OF Secretary Seward, which
was adverse to his clients, and make
the proper order to sustain the claim he
represented. The President declined,
and Mr.. Black notified him that he with.
drew from his defense, and would no
longer be regarded as one Of his counsel.
But that does not yet touch the impeach-
ment managers, nor explain the cause
Of the debate in Congress. We now
come to that branch OF the subject.
The House resolutions, impeaching
the President, we're adopted February
"a. The articles Of impeachment we're
made up March,. The service upon the
President was made March 7. He was
required to appear on the 18th. While
the impeachment was thus pending, the
following letter was gotten up, addressed
to Col. J. w. Shaffer, formerly of Gen.
Butlers staff, and one Of the attorneys
for the Alta Vela claimants:
"wAsHKGroS. March 9. 1s6s.
"Col. ]. W. Shaffer. Washington, D. c..
"DEAR SIR: In answer to your ques-
ton relating to the validity of the claim
of the United States to the jurisdiction
over the island Of Alta Vela, upon con-
siderable consideration of the subject, l
am clearly of opinion that, under the
claim of the United States, its citizens
have the exclusive right to take guano
there.
"This is clearly indisputable, both by
the law Of nations and our municipal
law. have never been able to under
stand why the executive did not long
since assert the rights Of the govern
ment and sustain the rightful claims Of
its citizens to the possession of the
island in the most forcible manner con-
sistent with the dignity and honor of the
nation. lam, yours, truly,
benz. +. BUTLER"
81 concur in the opinion expressed
above by Gen. Butler. j. A. LOGAN"
"And we concur.
81. A. GARFIELD,
Nv. Fl. KooNT8,
"W. MocREHEAD,
"THADDEUs STEVENS,
81. G. BLAINE,
John A. BINGHAM"
1t will be seen that four of the signers
of that letter are of the House managers
to prosecute the impeachment before the
Senate, viz Benjami f. Butler, John
A. Logan, Thaddeus Stevens and John
A. Bingham. And another of the signers
was Congressman Moorehead, of Penn
sylvania, he who did the unmanly part
Of hiding himself conveniently to hear
the conversation between Stanton and
Gen. Thomas.
The letter was laid before the Presi-
dent by son of Jerre Black, and Mr..
Black himself subsequently called the
attention of the President to the same.
Here, then, two weeks after impeachment
had begun, the letter of these managers
was laid before Mr. johnson. When
Mr.. Nelson, of the Presidents counsel,
referred in his speech to this matter, and
charged Butler & Co. with an attempt to
coerce the President iato sustaining the
claim of Mr.. Jerre Blacks clients to the
island of Mia Vela-carrying the dag.
ger of impeachment in one hand, and
the claim for his Endorsement in the other
Butler Indignantly denied that the let
ter was gotten or signed by him after the
impeachment had begun. Nelson pro-
duced the document, and put Butler to
shame. So glaring and outrageous was
this attempt of the managers to coerce
the President into doing what the State
Department had repeatedly decided
against, and which involved over one
million of dollars, that Mr.. Brooks, of
New York, offered resolution for
committee of investigation.
The frmness and honesty of the Pres
ident under the circumstances must
elicit the commentator of every true
hearted man. His own friend and legal
counsellor was urgent, and four of the
managers of impeachment we're pressing
for favorable decision from him. But
his convictions of duty were not so easily
overcome. He was willing to lose his
most powerful advocate, and brave the
malignity of the impeachers sharpened,
rather than do what he considered pub