The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-04
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SPEECH OF MR.. RVARTS.

The Washington correspondent of the
Boston Post, after detailing the Nelson-But
Ter affair says;
This episode greatly annoyed Mr.. Evart Is,
who was waiting to commence his speech.
Order having been restored this frail human
being, this intellectual giant, arose, seeming
ly unconscious that all eyes were upon him,
and went straight to his work, occasionally
casting a glance at the manuscript before
him. Expectation was high, but Evarts far
surpassed il. Groesbeck's was great
speech, but Eyarts has taken larger view
of the subject. His discussion of the pow
ers Of government, personifying them and
bringing them all within the walls of the
Senate Chamber there, in deadly strife, was
picture of rare grandeur and beauty. Who
is not familiar with the Presidential oath
And yet, when Evsrts described its nature
and character, senators were observed TO
exchange glances, and several ventured TO
whisper their comments "The President
was sworn to protect, defend and preserve
the constitution. The people had required
him to swear that he would do this thing,
| and yet he had looked upon congress as vio-
| lating that sacred instrument in the attempt
| to throttle the supreme court in order TO de-
| feat great public interest, as well as to deny
protection to individual liberty" This in
dictment made some of the impeschers loo k
wild, but when he reached the question,
whether the senate was q court, Manager
Butler made it convenient to leave the cham
| Der, and the other managers looked like
poor men at frolic. IF the altar around
which they had gathered was not an altar OF
| Justice, then, said Mr.. Evsrts, it is an altar
l e L. Id I,,r a.
what divinity it hsd been erected, whether
to base party passion and prejudice. The
| speaker here introduced the opening para
graph of Judge Spencers speech when act
| ing as a manager IN the impeachment OF
Judge Peck, and it was perfect bomb-shell
Judge Spencer said that no party feeling
had entered into the consideration Of the
case by the house of representatives, and
had it been otherwise he would not have
| been present as one of the managers, as he
! should have scorned himself if he could al
| low party feeling 10 influence him On such
an occasion. Mr.. Evarts, leaning forward to
wards the managers, repeated, ayes, scornet
himselfif he could have been biased BY party
considerations" The honorable managers
in their pitiable condition were fit subject:
for sympathy, but Mr.. Evsrts continued
commenting on the argument of Manage
Butler that the senate was not q court and
stepping forward, exclaimed IF this ii
not court it is a scaffold, and you, sena
tors, are the headsmen to do the bidding o.
the house." A feeling of awe ran through
the whole chamber and thrilled every nearer
"Oh, senators, you are told BY the honorable
manager (Butler) that you are not bound II
observe your judicial oaths: but / tell you,
said the speaker, sand tell you upon high
authority, that thou shalt not take the nam
of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lore
will net hold him guiltless that taketh Hi
name in vain.'" The effect of this quota
ton can better be imagined thnn described
A more solemn scene was never witnesses
In court or senate, and under it's influence
the enate adjourned