Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-02

and told him he had been appointed Sec
rotary of War ad interim had gone to the
Department and demanded possession Mr.
Stanton asked him if he would give him
time TO remove his papers; witness under.
stood Gen. Thomas to say he had already
issued orders as Secretary of War; he also
said he intended to take possession
at 10 o'clock. In reply to the inquiry by
the witness, Gen. Thomas said he would
use force to obtain possession, if it were
requested of him.
Mr.. Butler asked the witness if he had
any conversation with Gen. Thomas while
he was acting as Adjutant General.
Mr.. Evarts asked what date the question
applied to?
Mr.. Butler said this appointment to
that Office was made about a week before
he attempted to gain possess ION of the War
Department.
Mr.. Evarts asked what was the purpose
of the testimony?
Mr.. Butler said it was to show that Gen.
Thomas had attempted to seduce his
brother officers from their duty. Just as
Absalom bad sat at the gate and tried to
draw off the people from their allegiance
to King David.
Mr.. Evarts; Do you intend to put Absa-
lom into your question?
Mr.. Butler: No, used him as an illus
tration. Laughter.
After a recess of fifteen minutes, Mr..
Butler read the question he proposed to put
to the witness as to what he had heard
Gen. Thomas say TO the clerks of the War
Office during the week prior to February
Dist.
Mr.. Evarts objected, on the ground of ir.
relevancy.
Mr.. Butler made short reply.
Mr.. Evarts rejoined, denying that
the ruling which permitted the in
PRODUCTION of the declaration made
subsequently to February 2lst allowed the
presentation of the declaration made pre-
vious to that time. There had been no
proof adduced in support of the aspersions
and villifying remarks made about Gen.
Thomas, and they were uncalled-for GER
tainly at the present time.
Mr.. Bingham argued briefly in reply,
and cited authorities in support of the
position of he-managers.
The Chief Justice ruled that the ques-
ton could not be put, no evidence having
been offered of conspiracy before Febru-
airy Dist
The question was submitted by yeas and
nays, and resulted in % to %, and the
question was then put.
Witness heard Mr.. Thomas make an ad-
dress to a number of clerks in the War
Office about a week or ten days prior TO
February Dist, in which he said he intend
ed to relax the harsh and arbitrary rules
made by his predecessor and regarding
the clerks as gentleman, they could go out
and come in when they pleased, if they
were absent only a reasonable time.
Mr.. Butler asked if Stanton had ac-
knowledged that the testimony given by
witness before the House committee was
true? The question was objected to and
withdrawn.
Mr.. Butler then asked if Gen. Thomas
had, since February 21st, reasserted any
portion of his conversation with Mr..
Burleigh on breaking down the doors
of the War Department? Objected
to by Mr. Eyarts, as were also several mod
of the question, which was finally
put as follows: Have you had any CONVEX
sation with Gen. Thomas since his appoint
ment as Secretary of War ad interim,
wherein he said anything about using
force in getting into the War Office, or in
any other way reasserting his former con-
versatioa if so, what was said?
Witness replied that he had asked Gen.
Thomas last week why the performance
promised had not come off? He answered
it was because he was arrested by the Mar
shall early in the morning, otherwise he
would have broken in the doors, etc.
Cross-examined by Stanbery: Witness
said he went to the Department on bust
ness with Adjt. Gen. Thomas; he made
some address to each of the four or FIVE |
clerks as they came into the Office; that he |
would not hold them to a strict accounta-
bility about coming to work precisely at 9 |
clock, but that on resuming his position |
as Adjutant General, he was disposed to
relax somewhat the severe rules made by |
his predecessor; he should, of course, ex-
pect faithful performance Of their duties
he spoke only TO employees of his own de-
partment.
Samuel Williams was then called. He |
testified that he had known Gen. Thomas /
TX or seven years; had a conversation
With him on the afternoon of February q,
It the War Department, 10 which General
Thomas said that since the affair had be-
,ome public he felt free to express him
elf without reserve. He stated that he
lad demanded possession of the War Office,
md Mr.. Stanton asked if time would be
Flowed him to remove his papers, which
le (Gen. Thomas) granted. He expressed
0 witness his intention TO demand posses
ion on the Monday following, and would,
f necessary, call on the General Of the
rmy for assistance, which he thought
ould not be refused. At Willard's Hotel
hat evening he reiterated the same inten-
ions, except that he would carry them
nto effect next Monday. He seemed to
1ean what he said.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Evarts: Is
onnected with the press General Thomas
Did him on Friday he had issued an order
, close the War Department on Saturday.
Witness did not know whether he issued
he order az Adjutant General or as Secre-
Try Of War. On direct examination
ieard Gen. Thomas say he claimed to be
ecretary Of War.
Geo W. KarseneT: Had known General
homas many years; saw him at the levee |
the President on the 9th inst. said to | ;
i'm, the eyes Of Delaware are upon you
lie people ask you TO stand firm he re-
lied that he intended to, and in a short
me would kick that fellow out did not
y who it was he intended 10 kick out. |
fitness understood him TO refer to Mr.. Q
anton. /
Cross-examined BY Mr.. Stanbery: Saw
en-. Thomas before the last time in New
asile, Delaware; did not speak to him T
en does not remember when or where /
ever spoke TO him before did not come
ON Delaware to see Thomas; when in the
asst room he felt desire to see him and 4,
e rest Of the Cabinet being from the
me State he wished TO pay his respects to