Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-04-14
Statesman,
FROM WASHINGTON.
rcorresp0ndenoe of the Ohio Statesman j
WASHINGTON, April 10, 1865


est, and as a consequence the largest
and most appreciative audience yet in
attendance, was present. Many dis
tinguished lawyers from all parts of the
country were present to witness the
opening of the case on the part of the
Presidents counsel. Amongst the emf
nent lawyers of your State, l noticed
the venerable Thomas Ewing, who
seemed to manifest intense interest, and
listened for more than three hours to
the masterly and unanswerable argument
of Judge Curtis. Gen. Sherman sat
near his aged father-in-law, and also
seemed intensely interested in the pro-
ceedings.
1t was understood here at the date of
my last letter, that Mr.. Stanbery would
make the opening argument, and 1 SO
stated; but that prominence was given
to Judge Curtis. 1t is wholly impossi-
BILE for your correspondent to give any
thing like correct impression of the
intense and earnest attention paid to
Judge Curtis speech, which occupied
over three hours, and then not concluded
by at least an hour, as learn. This
very able argument, will, doubtless, be
read by all who wish to form correct
and impartial opinion of the merits of
this new and extraordinary trial in our
country, and it is needless to repeat any
of the points made, l will simply say,
for dignity and force of argument, en-
tirely free from that partisan hatred and
malice, which SO distinguished the har-
angue of Butler, this speech of Judge
Curtis will long remain the ablest of le-
gal arguments upon the disputed ques-
tions involved in this controversy, of
this and succeeding generations. 1t
seemed to me as the Judge went along
in his argument, which, by the way,
was entirely from short notes, he wiped
out, as with sponge, the schoolboy
marks made by the managers. in their
charges against the President. Butler sat
in dogged silence. with his hand over
his crookedest eye, like wounded cock
with his fine feathers all down, whilst
Bingham and his small fry associates
were anon whispering in each others
ears. l can't imagine what the subject
of consultation could have been; but l
presume they were intensely exercised
upon grave matters, of course. Such as
how shall we do it now, for these things
never occurred to us before "after this
Sort" Poor old Thad.sat silently by, hands
over his face, and seemed sullen and dis
hearted in the extreme. He had to
leave long before the conclusion of the
argument. If the impeachment project
fails, it is predicted the old oracle of the
Radical party will soon give up the
ghost, and ego to his place." 1t was
quite manifest what class of Senators
paid earnest attention and heed to
Judge Curtis argument amongst the
Republicans, and what class seemed un-
easy and indicated unmistakable symp-
toms of disposition to be somewhere
else. Wilson, Sumner, ct i'd omni genus,
were of the latter class, whilst such law
yers as Fessenden, Trumbull, Sherman,
Frelinghuysen and others of that stripe,
paid earnest and marked attention to
every word that was spoken. These
things to my mind indicated well for the
defense.
The election news from all parts of
the country is quite inspiring to the De-
mocracy here, and is much more favora-
BILE than was expected by the most san
-guine. The result of the election in
Michigan is the severest stroke to the
Radicals, for they are " sot" on Negro
Suffrage as the only hope of the party,
and this lick back" in Michigan, where
they felt assured of success, is intolera-
BILE to them.
see the Cincinnati Commercial comes
out with a terrible protest against drunk
enness in high places, personating his
party friend Senator Yates of Illinois
strongly as guilty of this high crime"
Now. Poor Yates has this infirmity to
his hurt, and probably to the detriment of
the public interests; but why make poor
Yates, who is otherwise clever fellow, an
exception to his malediction? Yates only
takes an occasional spree, and then gets
sober and conducts himsef genteelly,
and everybody says "what pity" But
does not this prescriber of morals and
propriety to his party friends. know of q
more shining light, and one a0hom he daily
mges his party friends to eleuate still
higher, acho drinks more aohisky than
Yates, and of whom it was not long since
said, by Radical of the purest stripe,
that the said individual was seen on
Sunday "reeling through the streets of
Washington" Why does not this vir-
tuous editor direct some of his good
advice to this eminent Radical and pros
pective chief in the camp? By the way,
it is said that an eminent temperance
General has quite recently prescribed
more abstemious regimen for this shining
liz ht of Radicalism, and that promise
was made, privately, to walk more up
rightly in the future. So mote it be.
l regret to see communication in the
| Cincinnati Enquirer, from the eleventh
Congressional G district of Illinois, urging
the nomination of Judge Bryan of that
district, as candidate for Congress in
the place Of the present very able and
distinguished member-Judge Samuel
S. Marshall. Judge Marshall has been
the Representative from this district for
two terms, including the present, and is
a gentleman of fine talents, and one of
the ablest of the Democratic members
in general debate. 1t is a great mis-
take that prevails, that "fair dealing and
able advocacy of Democratic principles"
requires change of men every four
years. just the reverse, in my opinion,
should be the practice, provided good
man occupies the seat. No man, how
ever exalted his talents, can, even in
four years, become proficient in legis-
lation, and consequently, become use
full and influential member of Congress.
Who. amongst our greatest statesmen,
ever attained to great eminence in so