The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-04-03

| Witness: Yes.
} Mr.. Butler: When you were summoned
before the Impeachment Managers, was
your testimony taken down in shorthand
Witness: 1t was.
| Mr.. Butler: Did you hear that General
Thomas was to be summoned?
Witness did; saw General Thomas after
he had given his testimony.
Mr.. Butler: What did he tell YOU in re.
gard to your testimony?
Mr.. Evarts ! object.
| Mr.. Butler proposed to show that Mr.
Burlcigh's testimony was read to General
Thomas, who stated that it was exactly
correct in every particular, and after
wards told Mr. Burleigh that it was cor
rect.
| The Chief Justice: Reduce the ques-
ton to writing.
Mr.. Butler, after short consultation
with the other Managers, said he would
withdraw that question. 1t would take
too much time for argument.
| Mr.. Butler: What has General Thomas
said subsequently to you about his testi-
mony?
Mr.. Evarts: object.
| Mr.. Butler would withdraw this uues.
ton for moment.
To Witness: When have you seen &C.
neral Thomas since?
| Witness: see him nearly every day.
MIR. Butler: Have you had any CONVEX
sation with hm3
Mr.. Evarts: With reference to the adj
dress to the clerks?
Mr.. Butler: No; about breaking down
the doors of the War Department..
To Witness: Has he restated any Dor
ton of his testimony
Mr.. Evarts: object.
Mr.. Butler To save all objections, what
conversation had you with him in refer
ence TO breaking down the doors Of the
War Department
| Mr.. Evarts: object.
Mr.. Butler with soAo heai) repeated &
the reporters gallery, and said that he
should not attempt to further alter his
| questions.
Mr.. Butler submitted question in wri-
ting whether witness had had any CONVEX
.sation with General Thomas since the first
| one in reference to his breaking down the
door of the War Office TO get possession
| Mr.. Evarts objected. He did not see
how it could AFFECT the case. All that
TRANSFERRED between Thomas and Stanton
at the War Office could be given in evil
dencc. This is nothing but an alleged re-
petition after the transaction had been
complete, and as to Thomas's intentions,
and 1t was not admissible.
| Mr.. Butler said he understood the Senate
had decided that Thomas was so far the
| agent Of the President that his acts and
| declarations were evidence, and this deci-
| sion he understood was to cover all acts
| and declarations. 1t is in evidence that
| Thomas threatened to go up with axes and
break down the War Office. 1t is also in
evidence that he did 60 up there, but in a
very mild manner, and the counsel for the
| President say that nothing was therefore
| accomplished, as no overt act was at
| tempted. But now we want to show that
| he asked Burleigh to 90 up and see him
break down the War Office doors; that
| Burleigh went there and did not see the
act, and it was now proposed further to
show that Thomas gave his reasons why he
| did not use force.
| The Chief Justice ruled that under the
previous ruling of the Senate the testi-
mony was admissible.
| Witness then answered, and said Thomas
| then told him (witness) that the reason he
! did not use force was that he had been
| arrested by the marshal Of the District.
| Mr.. Butler asked witness to detail the
| whole conversation.
Witness could not recollect all, but he
remembered that General Thomas gave as
Il reason for not using force that he had
| been arrested.
! Cross-examincd by Mr.. Stanbery: Wit
ness, at the first interview referred to,
went to see General Thomas as Adjutant-
| General, on business. While there Gene
raj Thomas sent out for the heads Of bu-
reaus and clerks. General Williams first
came in, and others followed. General
Thomas told these heads Of bureaus that
he proposed, by order of the President, to
assume control Of the Adiutant Generals
office, and that he would relax some Of the
stringent rules. General Thomas said to
! the heads Of bureaus connected with the
Adiutant- Generals Office, that he had
again assumed his position as Adjuta Mt
General. At that time saw nothing i'm
proper in Adiutant- General Thomas's con-
duct or language he addressed the clerks
simply in his Official capacity as Adjutant-
General.
Samuel Wilkeson called and sworn, and
examined by Mr.. Butler know Lorenzo
Thomas. and have known him between six
and seven wears; had conversation with
him on February 2lst in relation to a
change in the War Department; this was
at the War Department, in Thomas's of
fee I asked Thomas to tell me what had
occurred that morning between him and
the Secretary of War; he hesitated to do
so, and witness told him the town was
filled with rumors, and Thomas then said,
as the matter had become public, he would
speak freely Thomas then produced the
order Of the President; said he had shown
ii to officers in the War Office, and had
demanded the office General Thomas
then said Stanton had asked permission to
remain there to arrange his private pa
pers, and he had withdrawn from Mr..
Stantons room; Thomas then said that the
next day would be dies non, but that on
Monday he would apply to the General OF
: the army for force if Mr.. Stanton refused
to give up the office; he said he did not
see how he could do otherwise than as ne
proposed, under the order of the Presl-
dent, and that he did not see how the &C.
neral could refuse TO furnish the force re-
auired. Witness testified that he had a
similar conversation with Thomas on the
evening Of the same day.
Mr.. Butler asked if General Thomas
seemed to be earnest in his language.
Witness replied that if the meaning OF
the question was whether Thomas meant
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