Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-27

utmost respect and kindness. il VIII appaar from
the record, PIP. ssS TO eel both Inclusive tbat an
deavored to say little a possible 70 tie prejudice
Of Jndge Black, and would not havs aludei 10 him
at al II be had not been referred 20 u he injury Of
tne respondent and that on ?. 600 81 I'D express
" that had not made, and would not --ake any
/ imPutaton whatever upon the honorable a uagefs
Ia the cause" Tf ] had been animated by l. 9ther
or better motive in 60 expressing rivgelC a. de
quate reason existed in the isct Chat I had bc.a
member with Mr. Bingham and General Logan
two Of the managers, through The stormy period O.
the Thirty sixth COngress; That Mr.. Bingham and
myself had served together Oh lac Judiciary Com
mittee during both sessions. that although there
was no especial intimacy, there was at least no
want OF friendship between us, and that both of
them bad met me In a kind and cordial manner soon
after came here to defend the President, and that
had not the rernotest idea Of wounding the sensi-
/ btles OF either of them and, in consequence of
my kind feelings towards them, took especial pains
10 enter disclaimer which enured 10 the benefit of
all the managers. II is true that said the Presi-
dent was determined not ~ be used as an instru-
msnI in the hands Of any body CT any set Of meE
under heaven to carry on speculation which he
believed might be carried on with dishonor to The
/ Government or with disgrace TO himself if no con-
scented 90 be concerned in t. but made no special
charges as to the supposed speculation aud nil ht
by this time have conClgded that the idea of thee1-
istence OF any desire 30 speculate was altogether
chimercia had il not been for the terrible futtering
which the yerH mention of Alta Nels had created.
As a lawyer, ] have always found il an excellent
rule 10 practice 70 'et nell enough alone and il
those managers who assaiiod me 60 unustly had loft
the matter where placed it, and had not possessed
the fatal facility OF manifesting 50 much extra
senstiveness. think il quite likely thew would have
found it 70 their advantage 60 adhere TO The rule
AZ it Is, Alta Vela looms up from the ordinary level
OF the impeachment proceedings ike the small
rocky island OF that name looms Gp from the sea,
and the inquiry Is everywhere being made what is
the real true secret Of lie attaining with its
otherwise small proportions, height SO wonderful
and exalted
Mr. Stevens in The close Of his tslspofel and IN
reed remarks, thus deliberately expresses himself
The only regret which feel in the matter is
that in the conduct of great cause before great
tribunal equal in dignity bearing aud purity to any
in the country, upon whose whole movements the
eyes of the civilized world are fixed, il should be
thought that counsel it TO intermiRgle in the
high debates who could descend 10 such Irrelevant
impairment and vulgar assaults upon She legal pro
fession.
I think the honorable manager must have found
his warrant for this ungTacious philippe somewhere
in that boundless domain outside Of The Constitu-
ton, Of which it may be Supposed that be was the
first diseoverer, and in which It may be imagined
he delights to revel monarch Of all he surveys
but thinking and reflective will be apt TO con-
cude that the high court Of impeachment acting
within the limits Of the Constitution, was and is
quite as good Judge the honorable manager of
what is irrelevant, impairment and vulgar and
that u may be able to sustain its own dignity with
out the aid Of his correcting care or censorship So
far rs my Standing in the profession is concerned
OF which il would be unbec5ming IN me D. sav any
thing, but for NJ Stevens imputatioHs-I am quite
willing il shall be compared with that o The veteran
manager who has had practice Of iorty weary
years l was never Gncd but once in all the courts
il which ! have practiced and that was long ago,
when | quite young The dOcxets of my
circuit viii probably show that have attended TO
quite as many causes, in proportion to the amount
of business IS Mr.. Stevens ever was engaged in ;
and the last twenty-five or thirty volumes Of Ten
nesee reports will doubtless exhibit my quite
as often the Pennsylvania reports contain his
IF needed any additional eUidsnce to satisfy
Mr. StsUsls and the country that my professional
Uhon u is best ki,o10n II loU be found III tie fact
that am, at this very moment Of the counsel IN
causes Of importance Of tUo distinguished citizens
a0ho differ IN their opinions cldsly The poles,
and both Of iyhaa hare kHolga personally eUcr
since the committeeman Of iy professional career
w. G. Bro,CHloie, Senator elect from he State Of
Tennessee.
9Ir sleyoas has been pleased to express. q very
unfav ofaoie opinion Of my speech 10 the Presidents
cause and says
" Il numbers through tive mortal days md thinly
veneerg very great number Of subjects lying in
different hsmspheros out never touches The subject
at issue. How, then, could he avoid bedsubing ne
with his greasy career
Preteraiittng the beauty and elegance Of tLis most
unctious compliment, ! may be permitted 10 say 10
M. Stevens that in the course Of a long practice
but few years briefer than his own have generally
found that when my adversary was prolific in his
praises Of my arguments, had said but little that
really worthy Of attention; but when he re-
sorted 10 satire ridicue and abuse had invariably
hat o1 ma do
Every attentive reader Of the impeachment trial
will remember that l had for weeks labcred under
the impression ths under the rules Of tie court and
the arrangements Of counsel / would not be per-
mitted to address the Senate and that the rule
not altered until the day before | commenced the
address when had no sufficient time within which
to arrange my crude notes and memoranda, or TO
condense the argument as lawyers and public speak
ers are often enabled to do by thought and re1ec-
ton. Weary and fatigued after l had spoken, il
out CT my powey 90 make corrections, and left
it 10 the Senate reporter TO make IS I believe he
most faithfully did, UeybatjB! repor. Of the speech
lust as il was delivered In looking over it, ] can
perceive many places in which / might have APP
piled the pruning hand Of correction, and have
ample reason 10 regret that it is not half SO good
speech as 1 would have wished 20 make in SO great
a cause. 1t was intended, however just as much for
the people, the great common ErbiLer, for the
Senate; and while am sensible that IL falls below
the exquisite standard Of sublimsted criticism, l
fatter myself vita the belief shat the abuse and
ridcule which have been heaped upon il by Mr.
Stevens and others viii cause Il 10 begeneraly read
and understood by the common people Hoe and that
il may, even hereafter, survive the carefully pre-
pared written address and tho eiune patitudes and
chronic denunciations Of Mr.. Stevens himself |
shall certainly be obliged TO him and his news
paper associates in criticism and ytuperatOn for
few more advertisements of the same sort and,
with a view 70 The interests Of my distinguished
client earnestly invite them % renew their enor
as often as possible 10 disturb his safe anchorage at
Alta Nela. IHos, a. K NELSON.
Washington, May s, 1865.