Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-04-04
THE IMPEACHMENT.

In the Senate, as a court OF lmpeaclment,
yesterday, Mr. Tinker was the first witness, and
testified touching the transmission of thespeechs
of the 18th Of August, 1866, by telegraph
Mr. James B. Sheridan, stenographic reporter,
took notes of part of the Presidents speech
of the 18th Of August, 1866.
MIR. danes 0. Clephane, a Dhonographers
took notes at the same time, 18th of August,
1867 and made two reports-one- corrected by
Colonel Moore, and another to suit the special
views of the Chronicle. Gen. Grant stood by
the President when he made his speech. Wit
ness had only made slight changes in his report.
Mr.. Butler here undertook to examine file
of the Chronicle, and unconsciously assumed an
attitude which set him off to great advantage,
and to the mirth. of the Court and gallery.
Mr. Clephane then was put up to prove the
report in the Chronicle Of the 10Th Of August,
and discussion arose whether this testimony
was admissible. There was some sharp spar
ring between the counsel here, and all through
the day.
Mr.. Tinker here came back to the stand and
stated that q document sought to be put in
evidence by Gen. Butler as the speech Of 18th
August, 1866, was not that speech at all, but
the speech of 22d February, 1866. This reve-
lation created considerable sensation, and tor
moment Gen. Butler was somewhat abashed
and Disconnected Mr.. Tinker being desired to
identify his manuscript by a mark, proceeded
to put thereon what appeared to us to bea
pencil mark, and other witnesses, we think,
did the same thing l,.@t H..
Mr.. Francis H. Smith, stcnographcr, was
armed cop.a.pie, both with original notes and
transcript. He had made 'changes' as he
went along, both in grammar and structure Of
sentences. -.,f =. ..,..,..
Here Mr. Clcphane, with whom Mr.. Butler
seemed 10th to part was brought back and
shown his corrected manuscript, which he
could not say was correct copy after all He
had changed forms Of expression, improved
grammar, as he considered, &c. . %. 49,.
COL VIM. G. Moore, major and paymaster,
detailed as the private secretary to the Presl-
dent, was next sworn, and was intcrrogated by
Gen. Butler in very insolent, angry and Of
fcnsive manner. On being asked if he had paid
any body, COL Moore replied mot out Of
Government funds" and at this there .wasa
laugh at: General Buffers expense. Lie had
corrected the President speech as written by
the reporters, but had no special authority to
do so for that occasion. This act had not been
condemned by the President The testimony
OF this witness was given in cordial and direct
manner which seemed to give great offence to
General Butler. He was not cross examined
at all. s,r,.-. ..-.....-..
After tie recess, Mr.. Butler read the report
as made by Mr.. Smith, to the great edilication
of Messrs. Washburne, Garfield, Mcpherson,
and Blaine, and offered it in evidence. -....
Mr.. Hudson, editor Of the Cleveland Leader,
radical undertook totestify to the Presidents
speech. He was very bold and free in his
examination in chief, but his cross examination
by Mr.. Eyarts left him in woefu plight At
every answer he plunged deeper and deeper in.
the mire, his merciless inquisitor following him
through every shift. 1t appeared in cross ex-
animation, that he had taken down what he
could in long hand writing on his knee, and
that this report had been doctored and reduced
afterwards to fit into the columns of partisan
sheet. t"tj .tg% A.se., d: ia
Mr. McEwen was an excellent contrast to
the last witness, answering every question with
candor and fairness. He had taken full notes
of the Cleveland speech; did not write them at
the time; has lately written them out; but ad-
mits that such transcript is liable to errors.
Mr. Stark, reporter for the Cleveland Her
aid, a Radical paper, wrote out "spicy facts"
for that paper. His report had been cut down.
There was then some keen debate whether
the report for the Leader should be admitted.
The Chief Justice ruled the document to be
inadmissible, but "a vote of the Senate overruled
this decision. This vote was not a party vote.
The yeas and nays were taken yesterday on
no important question.-Natt Int.