Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-04-14
The Impeacl.ment.

The business of the trial opened yesterday
with the consideration Of the application to
allow all the counsel on each side to speak. 1t
was we'll understood that the counsc! for the
President desired no change Of the rule; The
proposition sprung from the ambition Tor dis
play of the seven House managers--ive OF
whom were doomed to inglorlous silence under
this Procrustean rule.
Mr.. Manager Williams, who has heretofore
not said word, save in whispered Sclntlllatlons
for the private ear of General Butler, now rose
and made his maiden speech. MIR. Stevens
next opened his mouth, and spoke. lie wan
ted chance to speak on his one artlcle--the
''olla podrida' artcle--hls special produc-
ton and eve lamb. The article had been
objected to by less sagacious men in the House,
and he now wanted opportunity to justify his
"pertinacity'' in insisting upon 1t.
Now came various propositions. MIR; Sher-
man to give each side three additional hours;
MIR. Boutwell, pleading for the House managers
in body to have the closing OF the debate
Mr., Freiinghuysen wishing to allow only one to
do so Mr. Sumner proposing to carry out
Mr.. Boutwelps idea; Mr.. Stanbery begging
not to have hour rules applied 10 such case
az impeachment of President; Mr. Evarts
asking nothing, but ready, if necessary, to put
M four men against six on the other side MIR.
Conkling insinuating his finger into the pic
and lastly came motion from Mr.. Williams 10
Law the whole business on the table. This mo-
ton, if adopted, would act as an cXtlngulsher
upon the eIouuence of MessrS Williams, Ste
vens Logan, and Wilson Strange to say, it
was adopted-yeas 38, nays 10.
/ liz the calling of the roll, Mr.. Sprague was
stated to be absent, having been summoned to
| the bedside of "a dying friend.
Gen. Sherman was the first witness: and the
question was put to him, whether, after the
restoration of Mr.. Stanton, he formed an opln-
ion that the good Of the service required an
other person to be at the head of the War De-
partment, and did he express this opinion to
the President. -
The object Of this query was TO elicit the
| President. and to rebut the allegation of the
MANAGERS, that the President had acted with
out advice from the highest quarters.
Mr.. Stanbery spoke. very ably 10 favor OF the
| question. Mr.. Butler, in reply, cited the open
| ing passage of Cicero's speech upon Catllne,
| but prudently omitted any reference to the ora
ton against Verres and yet none will contest,
we presume, the superior application OF this
latter argument to the debate. Gen. Butler
also insinuated. that General Sherman's opin-
ion of Mr.. Stanton grew out Of a quarrel with
Mr.. Stanton, and wish to sget rid of an
enemy" Mr. Evarts spoke effectively in res
ponse, and was succeeded by Mr.. Bing ham,
who called General Sherman an "outsidcr.
The term was not felicitous The Senate,
however, were tender Of Mr. Stanton reputa-
tion. They voted down the question by 80 to
| Is. Among those willing to allow it were
Messrs. Anthony, Fowler, Grimes, Ross
Trumbull, and Van Wrinkle. -i
The next question was prepared by MIR. Rev
erdy johnson. 1t was: Did you at any time ID
these interviews, and before the removal or Mr.
Stanton. advise the President to appoint some
other person q? This query also pressed on the
managers toes, and was objected to by Mr.
Butler 1t was ruled out-aycs is, noes 81
Messrs. Fessenden, Edmuuds, and Henderson
voted to allow this question. But a majority
of the Senate we're resolved, il possible, to keep
from the country and the record the pregnant
fact that in removing Mr.. Stanton the Prcs
dent had carried out the earnest recommends
ton of the Lieutenant General OF the army
| So General Sherman was forced, for the time,
| TO stand aside. ,.-..-l
Mr.. r. J. Meigs Clerk OF the Supreme Court
| of the District, was next sworn. He produced
| the warrant and affidavit on which Gen. Thoma
ives arrested The clerk had been walked UP at
two O clock in the morning to aflix the seal to
the warrant Mr. Butler is kcd if this was not
done in 'extrene cases OF crime, and Mr.
Stanbery asked the witness what became OF this
| sscxtreme case" An introductory debate OF
some length here ensued. The object OF the
Presidents counsel was to spread on the record
all the facts relative to the arrest OF General
Thomas and how he was discharged ond set
| G.oo bot T,,1r II
the President and Gen. Thomas proposed to
carry the matter up to the Supreme Court
| These facts arc notorious, but to keep them off
| the record was vital to the managers, and so
| they fought a stout battle against the question
The Senate, however, allowed the evidence to
come in by vote OF Sd to IT, much to General
Buffers annoyance. @..4
| At this stage the proceedings became cspc-
! cially interesting. Mr. Revcrdy johnson put
| written question to General Sherman, (vho
was still in the chamber inquiring 'it the
| President, in rendering to him the Office of
| Secretary of War, stated to him at that time
what was his purpose in so doing" This ques-
ton was admitted by twenty SIX yeas to twenty
two nays-Messrs. Cole, Frelinghuysen, Nor
ril, of Maine, and Morrill,, Of Vermont, who
! on Saturday voted against Mr.. Henderson s
| query, now voting to allow this question.
Gen Sherman answered the question in the
affirmative, and was about to detail the ''pur-
pose" of the President when Mr. Butler again
resisted the question. On the question whether
Gen. Sherman should state the purpose OF the
President as disclosed to him, the ayes were
twenty-six to twenty. five noes. Messrs. Morrill,
and Morrill, went over to the nays; but Messrs.
Cole, Henderson, Sherman FrenghuyseD,
and Sumner stood fast; and now Gen. Sher
man. lips we're unsealed as to portion of his
interviews with the Presid ent.
Gen. Sherman proceeding 10 answer vas
again interrupted by Mr. Butler. The Presi-
dent had stated to him (Gen. Sherman) that
the relations between Stanton and himself, and
between Stanton and the rest of the Cabinet,
were such that he could not attend to the inter
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