Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-04-13
CONGRESSIONAL.

~nnsnt as they thought proper, was oo'
;an,sd m and laid over until Monday.
J e1Gssr Thomas examination was con-
,;nned BE explained that the President
had instructed him to take charge out
n n N lake possession Of the War Once.
He.assented to the general correctness
of Burleigh's testimony before the mouse
Committee. M.
Cross Examined by Twas
nositiye the President only told him 10
take charge of the War Office; admitted
calling Karzner a liar; never said we
will have that fellow out of it," had not
talked with General Townsend and others
about his testimony given yesterday
He corrected certain portions OF his tes-
timouy given before the Congressional
General w. T. Sherman testified that
he had several interviews with the Presi,
dent regarding the difficulties before and
after Stanton's removal.
Mr.. Stanbery-"What conversation
took place between you and the Presi-
dent on the l4th Of January in regard to
Stanton's removalY
The managers objected and the Chief
Justice ruled that the question was ad.
missible, and decision was called for
by the Senate, and the yeas and nays
being taken, resulted % to 2S, so the
ouestion was not allowed,
Mr.. Stsubery--" What do you know in
regard 10 creating the Department Of the
Atlantic?"
Butler said there would be no objee-
ton TO this, provided the Chief Justice
would instruct the witness not to give
hearsay evidence.
Mr., stanbery declined to give assn.
rance that the witness would not be cues.
toned about what the President had said.
The Chief Justice submitted the ques-
tion of admissibility, and the Senate,
without division, decided in the mega
tive. -,
Mr.. Stanbery then asked if the Presi.
dent had rendered hip the position Of
Secretary of War ad interim.
Butler said this was another attempt to
bring in the conversation.
The Senate decided that the question
could be put, and the witness testified
that the President had rendered him the
Office of Secretary of War dd interim on
two occasions, viz; the 25th and a0th of
January, and that he replied to them in
writing on the 27th and 3lst. Stanton
was in office at the time.
Stanbery asked if anything else &C.
Cured between him and the President
when the offer was FIRST made2
Butler objected, and warned the
Senate against this attempt to bring the
conversation in under the pretense o.
proving an set
Byarts called attention to Butler
shaking his finger in warning to the Sem
ate. and said nothing was palmer than
the fact that the circumstances explain
inc an act we're admissible as evidence
concerning it.
Butler replied, and the question was
submitted to the Senate, the yeas and
nays being demanded, and resulted, yeas
%. nays2s. So the question vac decided
inadmissible, and, the examination was
resumed.
At the second interview, when the offer
was made, there was further conversation.
Mr.. Stanbery then asked if the Presi-
dent had in any interview stated that his
intention in offering the witness the APP
pointment was to bring the matter before
the Supreme Court, which was objected
to. Tie counsel said they only wished
the ruling to appear on record, The
question of its admissibility vas then
submitted and decided in the negative
by vote of 7 to A.
Stanbery then offered the question
modified, "was anything said in that
conversation as 10 any purpose OF bring.
ing the matter before the Courts z
Butler said he objected to it as being
outrageously leading, and said 1t was
designed to gain time.
Mr.. Stanbery said this was too grave
and solemn a proceeding to allow Of low
personalities, and said he repealed with
scorn the insinuation that be had resorted
10 the tactics of an Old Bailey practi-
toner, and with regard to the leading
questions he had put, he said they were
not. as the managers admitted, intended
10 elicit anything the witness wes not
about to say, without their leading form.
Mr.. Henderson offered a question as
to whether, in any interview, the Presi-
dent had expressed any intention with
regard TO making the appointment. OBJ.
lection was made to il, and the yeas and
nav. being taken, it was not admitted by
% 10 81. The Senate then refused to
adjourn BY q vote Of rs to n, and Stan
berry asking the question whether at
either interview was anything said in re-
ference to the use Of force, intimidation
or threatening, to get possession OF the
War Department, or to the contrary,
objection was made and sustained with
out division.
The Senate again refused to adjourn
by 20 to 30.
MIR. Stanbery said that under these
rulings the counsel we're not prepared al
present to ask further questions Of Gen
sherman, but perhaps they would desire
to receive him upon Monday, where
upon at 4:40 o'clock the court adjourned
In the House, Woodward introduced
bill 10 test the constitutionality OF thu
questionable acts Of Congress, which wa
referred 10 the Judiciary Committee.
The frst section provides that when
ever aHy act Of Congress shall be vetoeS
nv the President on the grounds OF thu
pnconstitutionAlity Of any Of its pro-
visions. and shall afterward be enacted
into 3 law over the veto, i shall Be law
mi for the President 10 order the Attor'
rev General 10 fle in the Suprem.
Court a feigned issue TO test the consti
,utionulity Of such parts Of the enact
ment as we're specially objected TO b
/ ks.