The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-05-02
a Hair Hour In the High Court OF
Impeachment.

" ASh1NSIONt " C.I ~ pEllt 1909
Editors InteHigencer:
Riding into Washington one cold De-
eember night, four years ago. on an
extra" from Harper's Ferry, did not
put one In mood to form an acquaint-
ance with its people or Its situation.
And we are comparative strangers here
as the night train from New York lands
us under the shadow of the capitol one
bright morning this April. We expect
20 spend the first day in finding rest
for the night, supposing this "city OF
magnificent distances" to be in the
situation of a counting town during Fair
or Conference week, crowded. A mis-
take. Although we find Pennsylvania
Avenue vieinR Broadway in its roar
and crowd. The boarding house tables
are grooming under a want of more
boarders. Reason why, Washington is
one vast settlement of boarding houses.
And we wonder how people live in the
absence OF our legislators. Yet they do
live marVelously, and from some pecu-
liar attraction, once located, they never
leave Washington is comparable in
this respect, and probably only in this
respect with your town of West Liberty.
Business before pleasure-and two
days spent in this, brings us ready to
attend to the high court of Impeach-
ment. In procuring tickets we find
that our representatives have gone lust
where we came from. Now we feel
indeed stranger in strange land.
Yet Washington must not be left in
April, 1853, without visit to the SEN
ate Chamber.
A friend in need is u friend indeed,
and to them we apply. Through the
kindness of Gen. De FL. we have two
for the morrow, and-only whisper
this-the promise of another from a
Democratic lady friendl We wish to
enter today. Repair to the Capitol
bnilding-fve minutes there with the
assistance of our good fortune and
good appearance! place tickets in our
hands, and we are soon seated in the
grand "sweep of galleries" at the point
from which Frank Leslie represents
the imposing scene.
The first figure we recognize is the
one whose features are most highly
priced by the American people-vide
Rreenback. Accustomed to think of him
as the most solid man on the continent,
we arc little disappointed, and i'm.
agine we have hnanciers in common
business, with as mature talent.
His is rather OF the fine oilstone
composition, than OF the foundation
granite, and we find that II will not be
his "solidness" that will draw him TO
conservatism. We scrutinize the fault
less outline of that fine shapen head for
the reason of his rumored change of
political opinion.
The spell of thought is broken by,
"Do you object, sir ?" from the lips of
the hero OF New Orleans. Repeated two
or three times and directed to the coun-
sell for the respondent, who il seems
have intimated an objection to u ques.
ton put to a witness, and were in con-
sultation whether to urge the objection.
The delay causes Impotence on the
part of the "pink-eyed monster"
At length he is told, half confidently,
that objection is made. Butler appeals
to the Senate. The Chief Justice an
nounces the point to be decided. De-
bate commences. Butler quickly sup
poses "the point is to be decided upon
without debate.
The Chief Justice rises for remarks;
inaudible, although the thousands az
sembled make such an effort to keep
silence, that we hear the "clink" of G..
Davis silYery locks as he passes his
fingers through them,n
The vote is Immediately taken by
call, resulting in the managers favor
by "strict party vote"
We listen for a response as each SEN
ator's name drops from the smooth
who combs his hair of glossy black
diagonally across massive spherical
forehead. So quickly done we recog-
nize but few, among them, Sumner by
his gruff and decisive mo" which
suggests our schoolboy days when we
would have reminded him that he
"need not get so mad about it." And
we smile, for in the same manner bad
come out Garrett Davis AYE" The
lips under an immense nose belonging
to Ben Wade move not. Roscoe Conk-
ling, we imagine, thinks that the reason
people do not view him as the coming
man" is his failure to inform them Of
the fact. lie looks, as he is reported to
be, the handsomest man in Congress;
but he certainly appreciates the fact.
Sherman seems but an edition slightly
abridged of the man who Marched
Down to the Sea"-has changed but
little since he told us in the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Depot, nearly SIX
years ago, that he ''would draw line
high as heaven and deep as hell be-
tween loyal men aad traitors ~
Van Wrinkle is not asleep, but some,
which may be not half stability, are
more wide awake. We take him as
solid man, in a pretty complete sense.
As the roll closes with Yates, who fails
to respond, and of whom we have heard
in the fore part of the day, we feel a
shade of sadness creeping over us, and
feel that even "Smith's Old Cham
Magnet could never tempt us again.
Explanation resumed after some
mumbling-we shall call II; Counsel
again object, and Court besides by call,
And again the same. and same result
Counsel questions. Presently the nero
objects-no mumbling, but objection
quickly made; then turns to ms ieii .os
managers for assent. Another ques-
ton, and "Do you object" from the
Counsel; "No objection, sir W and again
turns for assent from his colleag ues.
We have been with Mr.. Butler IN tnS
field, always "master of the situation,
when acting under orders from be ~:
f. Butler. We have heard him on Ihe
stump as careless before thousands, as
the divinity of self-possession himseli,
clinching every argument with Lnas
peculiar twinkle OF his wonderful couh
Now, among large dogs We see him him
the largest-a brute, you knowI Know as
ever Perfectly calm when all are In
tarror and onIy excited when others