Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-04-17
Inneachnlcnt.

venerable du-thteffHt, VINO mas HSureu 81
much in the important events of the pas
month. He very promptly responded tt
the call, and advanced in the full uniform
of Major General, holding in one hand
his military cap, which was full to over
flowing with documents and copies of or
ders which he thought might be called
for in evidence. He stood as straight as
an arrow, told his name and occupation,
and was about to proceed with his story,
when Gen. Butler objected to Mr.. Stan
bery's direction to him to relate what
the President said to him on the evening
of the Dist of February. This was the
occasion of wrangle among the counsel.
The prosecution held that it was not
competent to prove the Presidents inten-
ton or what he had said after he had
committed the act charged as a crime.
Mr.. Evarts and Mr.. Stanbery replied
that the prosecution had introduced aver
ments which were made by Thomas as
late as the 9th of March, and it was GER
tainly competent to introduce what the
President said as late as the Dist of Feb
ruary. The Chief-Justice submitted the
question of admissibility to the Senate,
and by vote of AZ to 10, Gen. Thomas
was allowed to proceed. Mr.. Summers
vote in the affirmative occasioned many
smiles, it being about the first since the
trial began that gentlemen has given
which would be constructed as favorable
to the President. Gen. Thomas went on
to tell story which is not new to the
readers of the Tribune: What passed
between him and the President on the
Dist and Odd; how the President told
him to sustain the Constitution and the
laws, and how he replied that he certain
ly should do that very thing. He de-
scribed in very humorous manner one
or his interviews with Secretary Stanton.
He told of Stanton and himself taking
drink together in the War Office, while
the Secretary gave him a brotherly hug,
and how, when there wasn't liquor
enough to so round, a full bottle was
promptly sent for and obtained, and how
out of it the entire company took drink
at reasonable dimensions. This drew
from both floor and galleries peal of
laughter, which was repeated moment
later, when, Stanbery having asked Gen.
Thomas whether that was all the force
that he used, Gen. Thomas replied that
it was. To the direct question, whether
the President at any time authorized him
to use force, Gen. Thomas unhesitatingly
replied in the negative.
On the cross-examination, Gen. Butler
was very searching and exact, and the
old Adj't. General contradicted himselfon
several occasions. He was asked whether
he did not say to two persons that he in
tended to use force to get possession Of
the War Office. He replied that he did,
but that he spoke in jest to one person,
but that he quickly repented of what he
had said to the other. He had abandon
ed all thought of coercion before the
morning of the 22d of February. He
described his visit to the President on
the morning of his arrest, and said that
the President told him in the presence of
the Marshal in whose custody he was,
that the arrest was good thing, and it
would take the dispute to the Courts,
which was precisely what he wanted.
Many of the questions that were put to
Gen. Thomas by Gen. Butler were sug-
gested by the other Managers. They
were all buisily at work suggesting points
and interrogatories, while Butler was
prosecuting them, and doing all that
very astute lawyer could do to get i'm
portant admissions from such an impor-
tstiit NithCSS. oCl. lUOildS WAS ABOUT
three hours ON the stand, and it is prob
able that the counsel may call him again
tomorrow. His testimony was listened
to attentively, and was made especially
interesting by the manner in which Gen.
Butler put the questions.
1t was painfully evident all through
Gen. Thomas's testimony that he was at
tempting to shield the President. TWAS
particularly noticeable that in all oues-
tons favorable to the President, Gen.
Ihomas's memory was excellent while on
all points that might possibly injure Mr..
Johnson's case his memory utterly fail
ed. Gen. Butler, in his cross-examina-
ton, was exceedingly critical. He seem
ed to completely use up Gen Thomas.
He made him contradict himself in sew
eral important particulars, much to the
dismay Of Messrs. Stanbery, Evarts, and
their brethren of the Presidents counsel.
Gen. Butler drew out from Gen. Thorn
as that when talking to Messrs, Wiki
eson and Karsner about kicking Stanton
out of the War Department he was sim.
| ply Dragging: but when he said the