The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-04-02
violate The Law Of Congress. The a

innocence of the President.
Mr. Bingham reviewed the circum-
stance of the suspension of Mr.. Stanton
and the subsequent action by the Pros
ident, which he said was III accordance
with the tenure-of-office law.
Mr.. johnson asked question wheth-
er the Managers proposed to prove that
the President authorized General Thorn
as to use force if necessary, and whether
the President endorsed the declarations
ofMr. Thomas after they were made.
Mr. Bingham said the Managers must
decline to answer SO general a question.
Mr.. Evarts rose to speak, but Mr..
Bingham called attention to the rule
limiting thesdebate on each side t. one
hour, which time, he said, had already
expired
The Chief Justice made an inaudible
remark, and Mr.. Butler wished to
know whethr these questions would
ever be decided, 50 that the Managers
m light know what to rely on.
The Chief Justice stated the effect of
the rule.
Mr.. Drake submitted the point of or
der that the decision must be made by
yeas and nays.
Mr.. Conkling moved the COUNSEL for
the President be allowed time for fur
Their remarks, as they had been under
misapprehension as to the bearing of
the rule.
Mr.. Evarts said they had not yet ex-
hausted their hour, and Mr.. Conkling
withdrew his motion.
The Chief Justice stated the question
to be "Whether the question of Mr..
Buffers should be put to the witness,
Mr.. Burleighp
Mr.. Drake again made his point of or
der and was not sustained.
Mr.. Johnson called for the reading of
his question to the Managers.
Mr.. Boutwell, stated they had de-
clined to answer it, considering it too
much in the nature of an argument.
The yeas and nays being demanded,
the result was 80 to IL.
Mr.. Burleigh was then called, and
said that on the evening of the 2lst of
February he went to see General
Thomas; Thomas told him he had been
appointed Secretary of War ad interim;
had gone to the Department and de-
manded possession; Stanton asked him
if he would give him time to remove
his papers; witness understood Thomas
to say he had already issued orders as
Secretary of War; he also said he in
tended to take possession at 10 o'clock;
in reply to an inquiry by the witness,
Thomas stated that he would use force
to obtain possession, if it were refused
him.
Mr.. Butler asked the witness if he
had had any conversation with General
Thomas while he was acting as Adju-
tant General.
Mr.. Evarts inquired what date the
question applied to.
Mr.. Butler said his appointment to
that office was made about a week be
fore he attempted to gain possession of
the War Department.
Mr.. Evarts asked what the purpose
was of the testimony.
Mr.. Butler said it was to show that
General Thomas had attempted to Sc
duce his brother officers from their du-
ty, just as AbSalsm had sat at the gates
and tried to draw off the people from
their allegiance to King David.
Mr.. Evarts-Do you intend to put
Absalem into your question.
Mr.. Butler-I use him as an illustra-
ton. (Laughter.)
After IL recess of - miRuteS, Mr.. But
Ter read the question he proposed to
put to witness as to what he had heard
Mr.. Thomas say to the clerks of the
War office during the week prior to Feb.
ruary 2lst.
Mr.. Evarts objected on the ground of
irrelevancy.
Mr.. Butler made short reply.
Mr.. Evarts rejoincd, denying that the
ruling which permitted the introduce
tion of the declaration made subse
quent to February Dist allowed the pre-
sentatiOn of a declaration made pre-
vious to that time. There had been nc
proof adduced in support of the asper'
sions and villifying remarks made about
General Thomas, and they were uncall
ed for, certainly at the present time.
Mr.. Bingham argued briefly in reply
and cited authorities in support of the
position of the Managers. The Chic
Justice ruled that the question COZ
not be put, no evidence having been ;,
fered in proof of the conspiracy before
reDTuaTy 2lSC.
The question was subRitted Yeas
and nays, which resulted Is to %, and
the question was put.
Witness heard Thomas make an adj
dress to q number of clerks in the Wal
Office, about a week or ten days prior
to February 21st, in which he said he
Intended to relax harsh and arbitrary
rules made by his predecessor; and re.
garding the clerks as gentlemen, they
could go out and come in as they pleas.
ed, if they were absent only a reasona
BILE time.
Mr.. Butler asked if Stanton had ac
knowledged that the testimony given
by the witness before the House com
mittee was true.
The question was objected to and
withdrawn.
Mr.. Butler asked if General Thoma.
had, since February LIST, restated any
portion of his conversation with Bur.
leigh about breaking down the door o.
the War Department.
Objected to by Mr.. Evarts, as were
also several notifications of the ques
ton, which was finally put, as follows
Have you had any conversation with
Thomas since the first one, and since
his appointment as Secretary of Wal
ad interim, wherein he said anything
about using force in getting into the
| War Office or in any way reasserting
his former conversation; if so, what he
said
Witness replied he had asked Genera
Thomas last week why the Performance,
promised had not come off; he answered
it was because he was arrested by the
Marshal early in the morning, other
wise he would have broken in the doors
&c.
On cross-examlnation by Mr.. Stan
berry, witness said he went to the De.
partment on business with Adiutant
General Thomas; made the same address:
to four or i've clerks as they came into
the office; that he would not hold then
to strict accountability about coming
to work precisely at 9 o'clock, but that
on resuming his position as Adjutant
General he was disposed to relax the
severe rules made by his predecessor;
he should of course expect a faithful
performance of their duties; he spoke
only to employees of his own Depart.
ment.