The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-04-14

morning drink in the War Department, and 1t
was particularly gratifying to the Court as 1t
will be to the country to learn that the bibu-
Ious old gentleman was not deprived of his
sustenance" that morning in consequence Of
his arrest. On the whole, his testimony
amounted to nothing either way, and must
have been put in by the counsel for the
same purpose that Shakespeare introduces the
facetous grave-dggers in the most mournful
part o. Hamlet-to relieve the general same
dess of the play by little merriment and buff
foorery.
At the close of Mr.. Curtis's argument yes
terday the Democrats were 10 high glee, boast
ing that it was unanswerable and that there
was no longer any doubt OF acquittal; but the
managers say that its sophistry will be made
so apparent before the close of the trial that
there will be little occasion for jubilation in
that quarter, They have also several impor-
tant pieces of testimony of which they were
not in possession when the case was opened
and which they claim will eonclusively prove
the guilty intentions of the President In
some quarters the result of the trial is still
considered doubtful. If the President can Sc
cure seven votes on the Republican side he
will lot be convicted. and his friends claim
far more than that number. 1t is confidently
asserted that Senators Sprague, Van Wrinkle,
Cole and Fowler will vote to acquit and that
several more are wavering, but such state
ments can be little more than conjectures
Generals Sherman and Hancock were on the
floor of the Senate yesterday and were the
centres of attraction. General Sherman was
seated in the main aisle near the main en-.
trance % the chamber, by the side of his ven
cradle father-in-law, Hon. Thomas Ewing. AS
write the General is on the stand giving his
testimony and the managers and counsel are
having lively debate as to the admissibility
of certain portions Of it. .Er5s
SWINGING ROUND THE CIRCLE"
Tne derense have summoned several wit
nesses from the West to testify in regard to
the harangues delivered by the President on
his Western tour of observation, with the ex-
pectation of proving that the newspaper re-
ports made at that time were incorrect. 1t
may not be generally known that the article
in relation to this subject was drawn by Hon.
John Lynch the night before the final action
on the impeachment articles, and adopted by
the House almost ver6atim. They have also
summoned quite a number of newspaper re-
porters who have from time to time been IA
vorea with the Presidents calculations of the
Constitution and his intentions in the matter
of impeachment, and they are now on hand
and anxious to pass the ordeal of Buffers
cr0Ss-examination. $3.50. ts US +. D. 81 .
THE KU-KLUx KHAN. -eN
This abominable band Of malefactors seems
to be ON the increase, if we may judge from re.
ports from The South. In Virginia they are un.
der full head of steam and are committing all
sorts of depredations on the colored people
and loyal whites. The organization has ever
extended to this District, and I am credibly
informed that it numbers here over hund red
desperadoes who are ready to "avenge the
wrongs of the South" at any moment. Threat
ening letters, bearing certain mystical signs
h ave been sent to several Senators, intimatins
what they may expect in certain contingencies
and Gen. Butler has received several of These
polite missives. The thorities however arr
on the alert and will make short work will
them if they attempt any of their pranks.
| - PERSONAL.
| General Francis Fessenden U. S. A., is il
| town by order of the War Department., and
expects to be assigned to active duty.
General Steedman haze arrived here from
New Orleans to testify bsfore the Court Of
Impeachment. 90. -.ts ...- CAsCo.