Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-04-02
THE EVENING STAR,
THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

order 70 enable Mr.. Butler TO reduce 20 wrftinx
question which he desired TO AK the witness,
Hon. w alter Burieigh, which question Was OBJ
Jected 70 by the Presidents counsel.
After the Senate reassembled. Mr.. Butler
said he would withdraw the question. and put
Jected TO-
(To the witness.) Issked you whether any
thlne was said by Gen. Thomas Is TO orders he
had received from the President A. During
tne conversation, Gen. Thomas stated. In reply
10 my question, that he would use force, IL ne
essay, ana stated that he was required by the
PRESIDENT TO take possession of the War De-
partment, and that he was bound 70 obey the
President as his superior officer
u shortly before tins conversation 10 which
you have testified, and after the President re
stored Major General Thomas 10 the office of
AdJutant General, n you know the fact that he
1sn,T,m.nS and s,d Won ySa bss ese ninth IN the War
any statement T. TO the officers clerks or either
OF them belonging TO the War once As 70 the
rules or orders Of Mr. Stanton. or OF the once
which he, Thomas, would revoke, release, or
resclnd in favor Of such officers OF employees
when he would have control of affairs there
IL so, state when IL was that such con versStion
occurred. and state all he said as nearly as you
cant
Mr.. Evarts, on behalf Of the President. OBJ
lected, and was replied TO by Messrs. Butler
The secrtarey read, by direction Of the Chief
Justice, the question TO which objection had
been made, and the Chief Justice put the ques-
ton 10 the Senate whether that should De al
lowed to oe proposed 10 the witness.
The vote was taken and IL resulted, yeas, 2s;
nays, -. So the question was allowed, and the
examination was continued, Mr.. Butler, how
ever, modifying his question a follows:
q. Were you present at the War Department
on the occasion referred 70 A. was.
q. Did you hear Gen. Thomas make any
statements 10 the officers or clerks, or either Of
them, belonging TO the War Ofnce, as 20 the
rules and orders Of Mr.. Stanton or the fice,
which be (Thomasl would revoke, relax. or
rescind in favor OF the Government employees
when be got control Of the Department II so,
state what that conversation WAS a nearly as
you can. A. The general remark was made ky
him that he had made arrangements for all the
heads of divisions in the ONCE to step in that
morning, as be wanted TO address them. He
stated that the rules that had been adopted for
the government Of the clerks by hls predecessor
Were of very arbitrary character, and that he
was disposed TO relax them. i suggested 10 him
that eIhaps L had better 60 out. He said.
{" Not at all; remain" sat down, and four or
five officers brought their clerks into his ONCE,
and he made an address TO each company as
they came in, stating TO them that he did not
propose TO hold them strictly TO the letter OF
their Instructors; that when they wanted 20 go
out they should 60 out, and that when they
that he would regard them ali as Gentlemen
who would do their duty. / waited until he
completed the thing, and then we took a walk
i told the General that he would make a very
fne politician, as thought he understood hu-
man nature.
q. Have you h. any converse ton since the
nrst Tune, ana since hls appointment as Secre-
thing about the course of getting into the War
Office, or in any way or manner reasserted ms
former conversation; and ifso, what did he sayl
Mr.. ENarts-We o1)ect TO that question IL
the Court please. Mr.. L. argued the objection,
and was replied to by Mr.. Butler, when the
objection was oyeTruled, and witness said that
IN the forepart OF last week, on meeting Gen
Thomas, be talked over the question: Thomas
said the only thing that prevented him taking
possession of the War Department was his ar
rest by the United States marshal; witness did
not recollect hat he said to Thomas.
cross-examination by Mr.. Stanbery failed
10 elicit any new facts.
Samuel Wilkinson sworn.
Witness knows Lorenzo Thomas, Adlutant
General of the United States army and has
known him between six and seven years. Had
conversation with him relative TO the change
IN the War Department on the 21st day of Feb
ruary between one and two O'Clock in the af-
ternoon, al the War Department in his Office
asked him to tell me what had occurred that
morning between HIM and the Secretary of
War IN his endeayor TO take possession of IS
War Department. He hesitaied 10 do So TIN n
told HIM that the town was filled with rumors
of the change that had been made. md the re
moNal OF Mr.. Stanton and the appointment of
himself. He then said that since the affair had
become public, he felt relieved 10 speak to me
freely about D.. ne drew from his pocket
copy OF ,ne original order Of the President of
me Usited States directing him TO take possess
sion OF the War Department Immediately. He
told me that be had taken a witness Of his
action General Williams, and gone up into the
War Department, and has shown TO Edwin M
| Stanton the order Of the President and had
! demanded by virtue of that order the pos
session OF the War Department and It's books
and papers. He told me that Ed win M STAN
ton, after reading the order, had asked him il he
would allow him sufficient time to gather to-
gether his books, papers, and other personal
property and take them with him. that he told
him be would allow HIM all the necessary time
10 do, and had the n Withdrawn from Stautop,s
room. III further told me that day being FRI
| day, that the next day would be a Dies nesu be-
ing saturday, the anniversary OF Washing
ton birthday, " hen he had directed that the
war Department should be closed; that the day
thereafter would be Sunday, and that on Mon
| Gay morning he should demand possession of
me ar department and ats property, and II
that demand was refused or resisted that he
should apply to the General-in-chief OF the
army for force sufficient TO enable him 10
iake possession OF the War Department: and
he added that he didn't see how the General OF
the army could refuse 10 obey his demand for
that force. He then added that under the or
Ger which The President had given hIm he
bad no election 10 pursue any other course
than the one that he Indicated; that he was a
subordinate officer directed by an order from a
superior officer, and that he must pursue that
course. Saw him afterwards that evening at
WIZARDS Hotel He then Sid that he should
the next day, demand possession of the War
Department, and that If the demand was re-
sisted, he would apply 10 General Grant for
force 10 enable him 10 take possession; and he
also repeated his declaration that he couldn't
see how General Grant could refuse to obey
that demand for force.
Witness was eross-examined by Mr. Stan
berry.
George W. Karsener sworn ana examined
was citizen OF New Castle county, Delaware;
knew Gen. Thomas; had known him a great
while, since shortly after he left West Point:
lived In the same county with him; saw h,m
about the 9tk of March, in washington at the
Presidents House, in the East Room, about A
quarter after 10 O'Clock in the evening, during
levee; thought il was Monday evening: wit
ness told Thomas that he was a Delawarean
and supposed he could recognize him, which
be did, but could not remember his name; gave
Thomas his name, and told him he knew hun
many years ago, as well his father and
BROTHER be said be was Delaware boy, and
witness said, 'sHe asked me what we were do
ing in Delaware" and don't remember the
answer gave; but, says L TO him, ss(ieneral,
the eyes OF Della ware are on you" rlaughter.l
L told him that Delaware would require hun
TO stand firm; be said he would-he was stand
ing firm daughter, and wouldn't disappoint
ms friends; and IN a day or TIVE, or three DAVIS
or a short time, he would kick that fellow ont
lLaugbter.l repeated again TO MIN what the
expectations of Delaware would be- Laugh
teri He said needn't give myself any con-
cern about that; he was going 10 remain firm
and keep That fellow out fLaughterl He
didn't mr. nfion any names, but witness Thought
he referred TO the Secretary of War
Witness was cross-examined at great length
The Court then adjourned. and the Senate
went into executive session, and soon afterward
adjourned.