Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-04-16
The impeachment.

J
was the nomination of Mr. Ewing to be}Secre-
tary of War, sentin to the Senate the day af-
ter Mr.. Stanton's removal Mr. Clark, The
Executive Clerk Of the Senate, testified that it
was actually received on the oath of February,
and had understood from COL Moore that it
had been brought here on the 22d, but the
Senate had then adjourned
On this question of the 'date Of delivery Of
this nomination, Col. Moore was placed on the
stand, and examined by Jude Curtis. The
President gave him the message between -
and o clock on Saturday, the 22d of February,
and instructed him to deliver it to the Senate.
On arriving there about quarter past one,
the Senate had adjourned. On Monday he
went up again by. the Presidents order, and
delivered the message.
The managers having put in evidence the
resolve of the Senate of 2lst of February, in
respect to Mr.. Stanton removal, the counsel
for the President offered also in evidence the
message of the President in answer to this re
solve, sent in to the Senate on the Oath of
February. This led to quite long and ear
nest discussion between counsel, portion OF 1T
having personal bearing-Mr Butler con-
Guiding one Of his usual harangues by asking
IF the Presidents counsel dared to do this
thing. = Mr.. Evarts put him down complete
ly by remarking that they were not in the
habit of considering 'dares' in forensic dis
cussion On matters OF law and evidence they
would be ready to contest with their oppo-
nents; "but as to daring, never" Mr.. Bing.
ham also came in for well-deservcd rebuke,
elected by his hundredth iteration that the
proposition by respondent counsel was with
out colorado pretext," &C. This evidence,
was declared by the Chief Justice to be tech
nically inadmissable.
What was Of much more Importance than
this testimony was the exposure Of one Of Mr..
Buffers frauds. Arguing to show that the
message OF the Oath OF February was decIara-
ton of party after indictment, he proceeded
to assert that the impeachment was ordered on
the 22d of February aud stated that this was
the recollection of all the seven managers. Had
vote been then taken. on this question, the
Senate would have voted on this statement
from seven persons presumed to know. At the
very moment these managers thus spoke, three
reporters in the gallery, of different politics,
comparing notes, all remembered and agreed
that the House referred the matter to COM
mittee on Friday, the 2lst of February recciv-
ed its report on Saturday, 22d; debated that
day and Monday, oath, voting the impeach-
| ment resolution late in the afternoon OF Mon
day, 24th The House Journal Was brought,
and revealed the facts as we have given them.
Judge Curtis offered, not as evidence, how
ever, paper showing the various class OF Off
GERS, by what; law created, tenure, &c, a paper
prepared in the Attorney Generals office. On
motion Of Mr. Trumbu!I, the paper was order
ed to be printed -
Next came the evidence of the appointment
OF Hon. John Nelson, appointed Secretary OF
State ad interim during the session of the Sen;
ate. Also similar appointment Of General
Kelly by President Buchanan. Also the ap.
pointment of Caleb B. Smith by President
Lincoln, to. ''hold during the pleasure of the
President tor the time being ..
A contest was made against evidence Of a
removal during the session Of the Senate by
McClintock Young, Acting Secretary Of the
Treasury, by order of the President, in the case
of an appraiser at Philadelphia; but this was
ruled to be admissible by the Chief Justice.
The most serious contest, however, came
upon an offer Of a statement prepared at the
Navy Department. of removals made during
the session Of the Senate. Over this there
was an earnest debate. Mr. Butler objected
to the document as not technically in form,
although be confessed it was precisely similar
to a document from the State Department
which he had himself put in evidence, and
this he tried to get out of by saying that the
other side had not objected. The yeas and
nays were taking on this testimony, and it was
admitted yeas, SO; nays, Is. +.
Alter this came a quantity of like testimony,
all Of serious bearing on the trial. Mr.. Butler
made two Intellectual contests, and was Worsted
each time. At one stage he declared that he
would not accept the Executive acts Of Presi-
dent Buchanan and Attorney General Black as
any evidence of the practice of the Govern
ment, but magnanimously remarked shat
Senators might do so if they pleased"
Judge Curtis announced at the close of yes
terday that the Presidents counsel had conclu-
ded their documentary evidence. Nat. Int.