The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-04-02
The Courtof Impeachment.

The proceedings in the Court of I'M
parchment ON Tuesday are circumstan-
tally described by the Cincinnati Com
mrcidr, Washington correspondent.
A. may be seen, the cause of the Pres
.Irnt has decidedly the best showing,
both in the examination of witnesses
and in the decisions of the Chief JUS
t.tr as sustained by the Senate.
WASHINGTON, March l3.--To-day's
proceedings in the Court of Impeach-
mrnt were exceedingly interesting aud
important. Promptly at 1870 the Chief
Justice took the chair.
Manager Wilson submitted number
OF documents which the prosecution de-
sired to offer in evidence. Among them
was tie commission of Mr.. Stanton, is
sued by President Lincoln, in 1862. 1t
reads that Mr.. Stanton shall hold the
office of Secretary of War during the
pleasure of the President.
At few minutes before / o'clock,
General b ltler called the first witness,
J. W. Mcdonald, Chief Clerk of the
Seua'e Tie was sworn by John W..
Forney, and testified only as to the cor
rectness of the return made upon re-
solution informing the President of the
action of the Senate in refusing to con-
eur in the removal of Stanton. He was
the person who served copy of this
resolution upon the President.
The next witness called was John W.
Jones, nominally one of the Clerks of
the Senate, but better known about the
Capitol as "Forney's man." He came
10 the stand in a state of trepidation
which would scarce have been justified
aad he been ascending the gallows in
stead. His testimony could not be
heard three seats off, until half dozen
Senator's, reinforced by the Presidents
counsel, shouted Louder" and protest
ed they had not the remotest idea what
lie was saying. Mr.. Jones put a little
more voice into the subject, and re-
peated the testimony so that it could be
heard, to the effect that he had served a
copy Of the Senate resolution in the
Stanton case upon General Lorenzo
Thomas, whom he found at masQuer-
ade ball at IL o'clock p. NJ. Mr.. Jones
was not cross-cXamined.
The next witness was c. Z. Creery,
appointment Clerk of the Treasury.
HIS was the most important testimony
ot the day. 1t made the Presidents
counsel prick up their ears by proving
that the President had recognized the
validity OF the Tenure-of-office Act, by
changing the form of commission in the
Treasury Department since its passage
10 make them conform to its provisions.
u was shown that before the passage of
'hIS law the commissions read, during
'Ae pleasure of the President" but had
since been altered to read, until a sue
'eSSor shall have been qualified"
lac Presidents counsel took copious
notes during the examination of this
witness.
Next came Mr.. Van Horn, a member
"' The House from New York. His tes-
uhony related to conversation be-
,Trrn Aessrs. Stanton and Thomas,
When the latter called to demand pos
session of the War Office. Mr.. Stan
Oefy subjected him to q very close
auu searching cross-examination, which
puzzled him and embarrassed him ac-
.SFuisgly. He asked him Why he call
"a On Mr. Stanton that morning, evil
utu'iy expecting to get from him an ad-
mission that he went there for the pur-
Ppse OF witnessing what he had related.
ruer ne as ked him how he came to re-
mteh9er the cow srsation so well; to
roh "uleh Van Horn replied that he took
uVtes at the time.
- are you accustomed to take notice
private conversations in that way ?"
'A,a Mr.. Stanbery.
,No' the witness was not, but he
Ig1t this an important occasion.
., MI stanbery continued raking fire
ana questions like this, showing tact
t"n; nu talent for such business which as
thu tS'sned ns and interested all present but
saS Unfortunate witness, who seemed
N! ont of sorts" for answers.
ona van Hsrn having stated that, at
part of the interview, General
nv nVinas said to Mr.. Stanton that he did
Hith want to have any unpleasantness
.n.a IN him, Mr.. Butler Immediately
'f'SSg 70 his feet and made him repeat