Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-04-16

made it TIE 2lst of February instead OF the
22d that he received the letter from Mr. STAN
ton declining IN give up the Office Of Secretary
Of War, and having also stated that the PTe'i-
dent told him to go on and take possession,
whereas the Presidents words were " take
charge Of the Office There was much bad
gering of the witness by General Butler, as on
the day previous. and useless impertinencies
amounting to trihng.
General Sherman was called 10 the stand
Immediately afterwards. when from the outset,
objections werc interposed ~ every form OF
question asked him with the view of bringing
out the conversations which took place between
the President and himself when he was, on
two different occasions, the 25th and the 3lst
Of January. rendered the position OF Secretary
Of War al interim. The purpose OF the de-
Tense was TO show the intent Of the Pre''-
dent at that time, and that he had declared to
General Sherman that his object was TO get
the matter before the courts. But this the
managers did not want done, basing their o5-
iections on its being antecedent conversations.
The Chief Justice, however, thought the proof
Of a conversation occurring before the transac-
ton better evidence Of the intent Of an act than
conversation occurring after the transaction,
and ruled in favor ofits admission, but be was
overruled by the Senate by vote Of 90 to %.
To every possible form afterwards in which the
counsel endeavored 10 bring out light on this
subject, objection was made and sustained by
the Senate, the Chief Justice being overruled
second time by vote Of 90 TO 2S On an IN
quiry propounded BY Senator Henderson, Did
the President, in rendering to you the Office Of
Secretary Of War, express to you the object Of
50 DOING" the vote was yeas %, nays 81
MeSsrs. Sumner and Morton, as well as MessrS.
Johnson. Fessenden and Trumbull being among
those willing to allow the inquiry. In another
instance, however, where the question was too
leading, Mr.. Johnson voted nay. 1t remains
to be seen what further yet will come out Of
General Sherman'S testimony. as the counsel
indicated that they had not concluded their eff
forts in that connection.
WAsHINGToN, April 13.-The time of the
in arguments as tn the question admitting the
testimony Of 1t. Gen. Sherman, the impeach-
ment managers taking exception to every ques-
ton put by the counsel, and the Senate gene
rally sustaining them, and again everything the
decisions of the Chief Justice.
General Sherman was again called to the
stand to reply to question put by Senator
Johnson and the counsel for the President took
legitimate advantage of this opportunity to slip
| in question; then several more were pro-
pounded by Senators, on allowing all of which
the yeas and nays were called, and most Of
them were admitted, but by very close votes,
Senator Sherman voting in favor Of allowing
his brother to open his mouth.
In this way much Of the valuable testimony
Of General Sherman, which Messrs Butler e.
| Co. fondly imagined they had shut out, was
introduced General Sherman was very
straightforward and manly in his replies, and
completely vindicated the President from the
charges of having attempted toimproperly use
him, and from any design to use force in the
removal of Mr.. Stanton.
The testimony Of Mr. Meigs, the clerk Of the
District Supreme Court, showed that after
Judge Cartier got up ont Of his bed at midnight
70 issue the warrant for the arrest Of Gen.
| Thomas, he discharged him Internationally
and no entry of the reason was made on the
| docket
In consequence Of the illness ofMr Stanbery
nothing was done in the Impeachment Court
on Tuesday.