Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-04-02

Dir. Butler continued. and cited suthori-
ties TO support his views regarding " c &C
instability of DECLARATIONS in proof Of con.
spiracy made hv one consPifaior IN the All
eence Of nnofher He proceeded 10 state
that they proposed 10 show through the
o, i,ener urGer discussion that they were
intend NJ to ne force but were prevented.
Mr.. Bingham followed, denying that
there was ptoGGd for the assumption that
tue Senate was restricted in considering
this mat'er ~ question whether il had
proven hat force WAS intended to be used
by the FTe.i5ent He claimed that tie Pres
ideui bnJ Gen. Thomas could not shelter
themselves b. asserting that their action
~as a matter 0i obeying military order
The Manage. 90 lot rely merely upon the
declaration . Ger. Thomas 10 show tie IL
terlion u the President they would show
from his own written confessions that his
long meditat.d purpose had been To violate
q law OF Congress. The arguments OF his
counsel had been more plausible and inge-
NOUS than sound. Gen. Thomas did not
act that day a. Adjutaut General, but as the
Secretary of War I'D interim, whom he
cl4imed 70 be- The desire Of the counsel
was not simply TO have this testimony ruled
out, but TO obtain some sort Of decision
by the Senate Of the question OF the guilt
or innocence Of the President.
Alter some further debate the Chief Jus
tice stated the question TO be ss TO whether
the question OF Mr. Butler should be put TO
the witness, Burleigh
The yeas and nays being demanded re-
suited 39to II
Mr.. Burle,ch Was then called, and said
that on the evening of the 2lst Of February
he went 10 see Gen Thomas at his residence.
Gen Tholnss told him that be had teen
appointed Secretary of War od interim, and
had gone To the Department and demanded
possession DIR. Stanton asked HIM II he
! would give him time 10 remove bis papers.
| The vi ness understood Ger. Thomas u
say that lie had already issued orders o.
J Secretary Of War. he also said that nc IN
tended a. take possession at ten O'clock. II
reply TO an inquiry by witness. Thoma'
stated tha, he v Guild use force TO obtain pos
session, il it were necessary.
Nh Butler asked witness il he had Ia,
any conversation with Thomas while h
was acting as Adiutant General.
In reply to question by Evarts Butte
SAID ,ha, The question TO witness was to sho'
that Ger. Thomas had attempted - sedue'
brother officers from their duty.
Mr. Evarts objected, and debate followed
The Chef Justice ruled that the question
could not be put, evidence having been OF
. fered on proof OF conspiracy before Febfu
AIRY 2ls'
The question was submitted and resulfe
yeas 20, nays %. So the question was pu
Witness heard Thomas make an address
, a number Of clerks in the War office abou
week or ten days prior to the 2lst day {
February, in Inch he said he intended
t relax the harsh and arbitrary rules made b
his predecessor, ard re gsrding the Clerks a
gentlemen they could 20 out and IN rs the
pleased il they were absent only reasons
bic time.
, Mr.. Butler asked il Mr.. Stanton had &C
. knowledged that the testimony given b
witness before the House Committee va
true Question objected 10 and withdrawn
Mr.. Butler asked if Gen. Thomas, sine
February 2lst, had restated any portion
his conversation with Burleigh abot
breaking down the doors OF the War d.
partment Objected TO by Evarts, as wei
also several notifications of the question
which WAS finally put as follows Have 70
! had any conversation with Gen. Thoms
, since the LIST of March, and since his al
, ppintmcnt rs Secretary of War dd intern
|, wherein he said anything about using tore
in getting into the War Office or any otht
way ftiseclllnS MS luliDtI CohNriSat non,
so what he sala?
The witness said he asked Gen. Thomi
q last week why the performance promise
had not come of He answered that II ws
. because he had been arrested by the Ma
:. shall early in the morning. otherwise
4 would have broken in the doors, \
v Cross examined by M Stanbery.
q Samuel Wilkinson was called. He test
fed that he haa known Gen. Thomas 81
. or seven years. and had u conversatie
: with him on the afternoon Of February 81
~ he War Department, in which Generi
Thomas said that since the affair had b
:, come public he lelt free 10 talk about
y without reserve. He s,a.ed that he ha
d demanded pc session OF the War oi,ice IN
i Mr. Stanton asked il time would be Above
lnm 10 remove his papers. which he ,ei
Thomas) granted. lie expressed 10 the wi
ness his intention to demand possessio
on The Monday following, and would
J. necessary cell On the General OF the Arm
!. for assistance, which he thought could nc
q be refused At Wiilaris Hotel that ever
= ing he reiterated the same intentions G,
/ cept that he would carly them into effe,
. the next Monday. He seemed to mea
what he said Cross examined by NJ
= Evarts
Il connected with the press. Mr.. Thomi
> told him on Friday that he had issued a
!, order to close the Department on Saturda
!, Witness did not know whether issued
Il from Adj't General or Secretary of War.
D. George w Corzener had known &c
Thomas for many years. Saw him at Il
d levee III the Presid, Mt on the 9th inst, al
o said - him: General, the eyes Of DelawG
are uron you-the people ask you to star
= firm" lie replied that he intended 10. nj
:, in Il short time he would kick the tello
out. lie did not say who it was he won
kick ont Witness understood him to ref
10 stanton.
Cross examined by Stanbery-Fh, III,
y OF kicking cut did not come from witness
did not know whether lie approved o. Il
9 line OF conduct which Thomas spoke
. taking. Witness communicated the CO
4 versation 10 others that night and mt xt da
Mr. Bu,ler-Did Gen. Thomas thereupC
! admit that what YOU had sworn was truti
Objected to, and the Court adjourned
5:l0 y. m, the Senate going into execute
session.
llousF.-Thc House met at IL o'cioc
The reading Of the journal was dispcns
with I he House resolved itself into Coz
) mittce al the Whole aud proceeded to 4
Senate.
y The House re assembled al a quarter pa
!, five o'clock. and after receiving the repo
J. of tho Chairman tho Commi.fee rf 4