The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-04-09

be recalled as witness Of the respon
dent, and the proper time to him,
will be when :hey begin their case"
Mr.. Stanberry: We will call him
but for moment"
Chief Justice to Butler "Haye
you any objections"
Mr.. Butter: No SIR"
Mr.. Karsener took the stand.
The further examination Of Mr..
Karsener was brief and unimportant.
Thomas NJ. Ferry, M. G., from
Michigan, called and testified.
"On the 22d February, when Gen.
Thomas came to the War Office, 1
was present. Paid attention to what
occurred, and made memorandum.
Have the memorandum now. Wit
ness here read from his memo
randum an account Of what he said
in the interview referred to. It was
pretty much the same as testified to
BY other witnesses. Stanton asked
Gen. Thomas to that, he did rot care
to use force, but had made up his
mind "a to what he should do" Wit
ness briefly cross examined by Stan
berry, and dismissed.
General Emery, commander at
Washington, testified:
Had an interview with the President
in regard to the movement of troops
in Washington. Conversation occur
red long ago, and l cand only give a
substance of it. / told him
the strength Of each fort, and had
some conversation as to whether
more troops would be brought here,
and said some recommendation, ac-
cordingly he said something about an
organization of the Military force in
Md. 1 said did not see the object.
| was sent for by the President again
about the 22d. / received note
from Col Moore, this note I read be-
fore the Reconstruction Committee.
l called on the President about mid
day and found him at one, l cant un-
dertake to relate the conversation
exactly. The President asked me if
I recollected the, conversation
| had with him when / took COM
mand / told him l did, he asked
wha; changes had taken place, and l
told him no materia, change, and
went on to state the change. The
President stated he did not refer to
those but some. made within day
or 90, he assured him no recent chan
ges had been made. / told him un-
der the recent Law of Congress all
orders must be signed by Grant.
The President asked what order it
was, | replied, order II of the series
Of 1867.
At this time gentleman came in
and withdrew to the other end of
the room. In the meantime q mos.
senger had given me . copy of the
order. When the gentleman retired
| showed the order to tho President,
who read it and remarked: this is not
in conformity with the constitution
Of the United States which makes
me commander-in-chief; or with the
language of your commission. re-
piled that is the order you have ap-
proved for the guidancy Of army
Am I to understand I can't give an
order except through the General Of
the armyp replied such was my
opinion. told him there was CON.
siderable discussion as to the means
ing Of the law, and l had consulted
with lawyers who advised me 10
obey the order. The lawyer / con
suited was Robert Walker. Other
officers had consulted with Reverdy
johnson. The president said the
object Of the law was evident, and
the conversation ended.
Cross examined by Stanberry.
The order under which General
Thomas resumed his position as Ad.
jutant General was produced, and the
letter of General Grant was offered,
requesting the president to put in
writing the verbal order. He gave
the General orders to disregard any
orders from the war department, as.
sumed to 30 from the president. The
next article produced was the letter
from the president dated Feb. 18th
to Gen Grant, in reply to the latters
note asking for written copy oi
his intructions.
Stanberry said it appeared this
was letter purporting to be part o1
tho correspondence between Gran,
aud the president; he would ask the
honorable members if they intended
TO produce the whole of the CORES
pondence
Wilson.replied the letter was al
they cared for.
Starberry asked the object ofpro-
ducing tho letter.
Wilson said the lettsr went 4
prove the p1esident's intention
to prevent Stanton from
entering on the discharge Of his du-
ties.
Wilson was about to offer another
documen when the Chief Justic,
interrupted, and instructed the Serg
at-Arms tobring in absent Senators
| Stanberry asked Wilson to reat
the documents referred to, and he Oh
cred nothing moro than tho letter
which was handed to StanberFy, WHIT
examined and read that portion re-
fcrring to letters addressed to th,
Preaident by the i've Secretarys.-
He asked that those letters be pro
duced.
4 Bingham said they were under n,
lobligstions to produce these letters