Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-04-02
THE IMPEACHMENT.

upon the Chief Justice for voting the day pre-
vious when the Senate was tied, and denying
his right to vote at all hereafter. On this Is
sue the Senate sustained the Chief Justice by
.avote Of ytwenty-seven to tWenty-one. y}Messrs.
,Edmunds, Fowler, Ferry, FessendeD, Wiley,
and other Radicals. helped to makeup this ma
jority, and Messrs Trumbull and Howe were
in the minority.
Mr.. Burleigh being the witness under inter-
rogation, Mr. Butler proposed to question him
concerning his conversation on the 2lst of Feb
ruary with Gen. Thomas, touching the means
by which the latter proposed to obtain posses
| sion of the War Office. This query, put in
writing, led to irregular debate, and was ear
nestly resisted by Messrs. Stanbery and Curtis
in speeches of great ability,the points of which
| it would be injustice to attempt to reclte. The
main objection was that these conversations
we're, made in !, the absence of the President;
that the latter was not bound by any decara-
tons of Gen. Thomas, but only by the express
orders he had given him, which orders did not
authorize or contemplate the use of force. 1t
was argued that there was no groundwork laid
for these interrogations, and that this ground
work was necessary. The promise of the
managers was to- show this connection here
| AFTER" to which word Mr. Butler excepted j;
| but Mr.. Stanbery demonstrated that an expec'
tation to prove must refer to thereafter"
Mr.. Butler replied to MIR. Stanbery, and the
argument of Judge Curt was succeeded by
one of Mr.. Bingham's harangues.
The question of admitting this evidence was
| treated by both the managers and defence, as
| of grave importance, and the vote was takon
| bv ayes and noes " Itresulted In the afirma-
tive by strict party vote, and SO the testimony
was let In. ...: Wa. g..5 -....
Mr.. Burleigh was then called, and gave his
testimony stating that in conversation at
| Gen. Thomas house, on the 2lst of February,
the latter had declared, in answer to q question,
his purpose to use force, if need be, to getfin
| the War Office. "A recess was here taken, and
| alter the Court resumed its session, Gen. But
Ter proceeded to interrogatc Mr.. Burlcigh-=
| who appeared to have had a good many private
conversations with Gen. Thomas in relation
to talk concerning Gen. Thomas purposes
anterior to his appointment, when he was made
Adutant General Thel admissibility Of this
| evidence led to fresh debate between Mcssls.
Evarts and Butler, after which the vote of the
Senate was taken again by ayes and noes. The
Senate decided to ALLOW the qucstio?nn:-ayes 2S'
| noes %. Mcssrs. Edmunds, .Williams and
|
The evidence did not turn ont to be Of any
consequence Gen. Butler could only compare
Gen. Thomas conduct to the case OF Absalom,
who, rcbeIliDg against the Lord anontcd, had
promised great things to the people ''when he
came into his kingdom y 80. ~ :.
When Mr. BurIcigh had untoldcd his tale, it
| did appear that Gen. Thomas, in assuming his
duties of Adiutant General, had foundin force
sundry regulations by which for d clerk to come
in five minutes late, or to 60 out for five MIN
| utes in office hours, was made an offence. -
This pretty tyranny did not suit o gentleman
| like Gen. Thomas, and so calling his officials
| together, lie notified them that while he cxpcc
ted them to perform their duties faithfully, he
meant to treat them like gentlemen, &c., not
putting spies upon their track, or docking them
for moment lost. This view Of the subject
strikes Gen. Butler and Mr.. Stanton so
strangely that they can regard it as nothing
short of conspiracy in the first degree. This
witness was only briefly cross examined.
. Mr.: Wilkerson, journalist, was the next
witness. He testified that Gen. Thomas had
told him of his purpose to use force, itneed be,
to obtain possession Of the War Office. tie
testified that Gen. Thomas had said thathc had
the Presidents order to take charge of the War
Office and that he considered under this order
IL was HIS uuty W use duy HCCchSdly f4olSC. LII
a very brief cross: examination, 1t appeared that
Gen Thomas referred simply to his letter Of
appointment, already put in evidence, and to
no other directions of the President. a .sI
Mr.. Karsener was the third and last witness
introduced by Gen. Butler He did succeed
in CONFUSING Ewith laughter Court, bar, spec
tators, reporters everybody,in short, but Gen.
Butler. Mr.. Karsener was an honest country
| gentleman, who labored under a delusion that
he had an intimate acquaintance with General
Thomas because they both came from Della
ware Accordingly, he sought an interview at
once, informed Gen. Thomas that the eyes Of
all Delaware were upon him, and implored him
to stand firm. Upon receiving an assur-
ance to that effect, the witness Departed his
soul full of content, to narrate the glad tidings
to one Tanner, his friend and companion, and
subsequently to Mr.. Smith, who he was sure
was not surnamed John, but he rather thought
rejoicedin the less common prefix Of William.
Upon the whole, We regard Mr.. Karsener as
the great success of yesterday, and we are not
surprised that Gen. Butler should regard bis
testimony as important, if true . =
All day yesterday Gen. Butler was the great
central luminary of the impcachment.-Nat.
Int. ..ts.-s..,.. -. -" s.-E.....:..s. -