New-York tribune., 1868-04-04
THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

GREAT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, lhb
now or sPEECH-THE EXECUTIVES PECC-
LIAR GRAMMAR--TEsTIMONY BY COL. JAMES
r. SHERIDAN, MEssRs. ID. G. MEWEN, j. D.
CIEPHANE, w. C. MOORE, AND OTHERS.
~ rutsRIPH TEE TEIBUNs.
WASHINGTON Friday. April s. 1865.
The Senate met to-day precisely at II O'CLOCK
After short prayer by the Rev. Dr. Gray, the Chief
Tns;ce onened the Court by directing the Sergeant
alarms TO make the usual proclamation. Inc Man
ayers of the House were then announced, and at the
invitation of the Chief.Justice, advanced ana TOOK
their s.ats inside the bar The members Oh the
House Of REPRESENTATIVES then announced. and
Mr. T. b. Washburne, the Hon. Schuyler Coliax MI
McPherson Clerk of the House, and ten members
entered For some unexplained reason the Rep
resentatiyes appear 10 be losing interest IN
the proceedings for their attendance becomes
simmer aud simmer each day, and should the tlal
last much longer and they continue to diminish at
their present rate, the probabilities are that the
lower branch of Congress will have dwindled down
to the Speaker. the Chairman of the Committee OF
the Whole. Mr. f. b. Washburne, and the active
Clerk Of the House, Mr. Mcpherson. Not more than
20 jOmembers were in tho chamber at any time during
the trial to-day. During the first hours proceedings
the galleries were only partially filled, though the
applcants for seats were as numerous ever.
Immediately after the reading of the journal by
the Secretary Of the Senate, Mr.. Drake moved that
the Senate take up his motion Of yesterday. Which
wasan amendment TO the seventh rule proVldhg tnat
Onc-iifth of the members present shall Dc necessary
10 n call of the Yeas and Nays, and the amendment
was passed without division. The trial was con-
tiuned by Gen. Butler, who offered the Presidents
message inolOsing the report of the Secretary OF
STATE relative to the Fourteenth Constitutional
Amendments and the mode in which it was submit
ted 10 the State Legislatures, in the Summer of 1866
To- Cd OOCumppt before
WIS read. and said that he would not object TO its
admission although he could not see its relevancy.
Mr. Charles A. Tinker. the telegraph operator who
Was examined yesterday. was recalled. He testified
that speech by the President was filed at the ohce
Of tho Western Union Telegraph Company IN this
v on the 18th of August last and sent to the Asso-
,iated Press of New-York. Gen. Butler handed the
witness over to the opposing counsel. Mr. Eyarts,
Mr.. Stanbery and Judge Curtis held short con
,ultaton and decided not TO submit him to q cross
examination.
The next witness. Col James B. Sheridan, Official
thonouapher for the Superior Court OF New-fork,
testified that he and two other gentlemen were en-
eloyed to report speech made by the President at
the White House, on the 18th of August 1856, which
vas the famous gem of lachrymOse oratOry delivered
by the President in response 10 the address of the
Philadelphia Bread-and- butter and arm-in-arm Con-
yent!on Col Sheridan was directed by the counsel
10 examine a bundle Of manuscripts which puTported
10 be a report of that remarkable speech and see
whether he recognized his handwriting. Mr. Tinker,
thro, yh a mistake which he afterward explained,
had handed in the wrong document, in consequence
Of which Col Sheridan was unable TO find any of his
writing among the papers He testified that the re-
por; was handed to Mr. Moore the Presidents private
secretary. for revision. and that he did not know
what became of it afterward Gen. Butler then sur
., ,Iop nj Mr.
Evarts, who subjected him to severe crOsSexamina
tOn in which the whole system of Pttman's short
hand writing was developed and much instruction
on that occult science given to the learned coun
sel and tbe'SenatOrs and spectators Col. Sheridan
answered clearly and to the point, aud the counsel
for the defense failed TO dsprOye The accuracy OF the
report.
Mr. James O. Clephane The next witness, testified
that he assisted in the reporting of the same speech
He. too, failed to recognize his handwriting in the
papers submitted. This also arose from the mistake
Of Tinker alluded TO in the case of the last witness
He reported the speech for The Washington Chronicle,
snd the report for that journal was nearer literal and
correct than the speech revised by Col Moore, the
then editor of Tie Chronicle. Mr. Mcfarland wanted
hespeech with all its imperfections The speech, as
it appeared in that newspaper, was the President
delivered it, except that the reporter corrected few
grammatical bunders, such rs you and have
saw This drew out a burst of laughter on the
floor and in the galleries.
A large bound volume of The Chronicle was then
Produced aud this Mr. Butler proceeded 20 examine.
The learned Manager assumed n very undignihed
position. with his back to the Chief-Justice, in his
eageness 70 hunt up the speech This, again. set the
Iisbles Of the audience in motion. and a general
grin was visible all through the House. Cen Butler
looked mp, very much like boy caught in the perpe-
taton of something naughty, and at this the specta
tors laughed again. He handed the volume to the
witness. Mr.. Eyafts objected on the ground that
they were entitled to the best kind Of evidence
Shch was not the newspapers
Gen Butler replied that they should take the world
IS they found it, and that there was 40 question
concerning the degree Of evidence. lie maintained
That shorthand writing had been so far per
feced as to be trusted Tor all the purposes Of life
Even in the present case, no counsel, except one,
troubled himself about taking notes on the trial.
preferring TO trust TO the busy fingers OF the reporter
at his side He quoted from the state trial of 0Con
NELL where the principal evidence was newspaper
reports In view of all this he held that he had the
right to ask the witness the question Mr..
Witness, looking at this report, can YOU testify
that il is q correct report Of the speech Mr.. Evarts
said that TO admit such report would be in great
measure violation OF the freedom of speech, the
objection was not merely technical. StenOgraphy
said he is trusted daily 10 is true but speeches are
revised by speakers, so that they may not be mis-
represented and in this case that right was denied
the President by the editor of Tile Chronicle who
wanted it with all its imperfectiOns Sr Butler in
teupted to say that the editor of The Chronicle did
not object the Presidents speech but to the speech
Of his Secretary, Mr. Eyarts continued insisting
that the original notes shohh be produced; but,
before the question decided, Mr.. Tinker again
DO II