The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-13
THE PRESIDENTS TRIAL.
DETAILS OF THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS

DETAILS OF THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
RESUMPTION OF THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL
FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
m THE GALLERY OF THE SENATE CHAMBER
ENTRANCE OF THE MANAaERs-BUTLER Re-
HANDED TO THE TAIL OF THE PROCESSION
MAsTERLY SPEECH OF MIR. CURTIS.
The impeachment trial was more densely
crowded on Thursday than on any preceding
day, and the proceedings were unusually inter-
esting. The correspondent OF the Baltimore
Gazette writes on Thursday evening as follows:
"Curtis is to speak to-day" was in every per-
sons mouth this morning, andlat an early hour
the ticket-holders were vending their way to
the capitol to secure favorable seats for hear,
ing the opening speech in defence of President
Johnson. The approaches to and through the
capitol we're lined, as before, with iveried po-
icemen, and the Senate chamber presented
nothing new IN appearance, except that the
diplomatic gallery was crowded for the first
time during the trial. Heretofore the for
eign ministers have hesitated about attend
ing the trial, doubling, as they did, the
propriety OF it, in view Of the fact that they
regarded impeachment but partisan move
ment against the head Of the nation to which
they had been accredited by their respective
governments. Now that his defence has
commenced, they feel no hesitation or deli
cacy at attending. Mr.. Thornton, the English
Minister, although officially the youngest mem
Der, was the first to enter, followed by Baron
Gerolt, the senior of the corps. Others crowd
ed in until their section Of the gallery was full.
The other immense galleries were packed with
brilliant crowd, two-thirds of whom were
ladies', not likely to listen with much interest
to dry legal argument. General Sherman
entered the chamber few moments before the
session opened, and took o conspicuous seat
he continued to occupy during the whole day,
occasionally passing word with Senator Stew
art. of Nevada, who sat at his left. In this
position the general IVES the observed Of all
observers.
PRFLnNARIEs.
A lively conversation was kept up in the
Senate on general topics until the managers
were announced. These entered, not by twos
as before, but in Indian file, Bingham heading
What brought upon him this disgrace no one
could tell. It was only known that at the
opening Of the last session Bingham and But
ler entered arm in arm at the head Of the
managers, and since his efforts in behalf Of
impeachment he has been sent to the foot by
Bingham. When the sergeaDt-at arms Of the
Senate announced the house Of Representa-
tiyes, twenty-four members entered to con-
tlnue, Gin the name of all the people" their
prosecution of the President for high crimes
and misdemeanors. Stanbery, trim as blood
ed racer, entered the main door, and bowling to
the right and to the left as he returned the
salutations of senators, passed up the
main aisle and took his accustomed seat.
Curtis, followed by Evarts, Groesbeck and
Nelson, entered side door, and deposited
himself behind q fearful number Of volumes
table. All eyes were now turned from Sher-
man to Curtis, and breathing seemed to be for
the time suspended. On motion of Senator
johnson, the reading of the minutes was dis
pensed with. Horror Of horrors! Butler calls
another witness. Spectators are disgusted.
Wood, carpet-bag man OF Ala bama and Union
soldier, is sworn: Had applied to the President
for an Office; couldn't get it. President had
offices only for his friends. Motto evidently
was, "Justice to al; favors to friends only"
Stanbery blew this witness ky.high by inqui-
ring il be did not tell his friend Coppen that
he had been advised it would be to his interest
to testify against the President. Blodgett,
postmaster at Augusta, Ca, also had his .pri-
vate gr1efs, and after being sworn, told how
the President had suspended hln from Office
on the Sd Ut January last, but did not tell the
cause Of his suspension. II the game was
worth the trouble, this fact could also be es-
tablshed.
THE GREAT SPEECH.
Curtis now arose, amid profound silence, and
delivered speech worthy Of his reputation;
and this is the highest compliment which can
be paid it. It was a solid pyramid Of legal
granite, with it's foundation laid deep and
trashy positions of the impeachers, and erect
ed LISTING monument to legal ability. strict
justice, and gentlemanly bearing. he held
Senate and galleries spell bound throughout
its delivery. Fessenden, Trumbull, Sher-
man. and such men, scarce. moved in their
places, while the speaker con uded the ad-
miration of the 4mpeachers rselves.
singular state of affairs was pres, ed. Judge
Curtis was evidently on the same : With the
managers, for he, too, spoke in name OF
''all the people" and defended the. chosen
representative from the assaults Of sene-
mies. Comments on his speech woul. G out
of place in this correspondence, as tine 81 eech
itself will be read by all classes Of men every
where. Impeachment was dead before. Cur
lis delivered its funeral oration to-day.
HOW GENERAL SHERMAN BEHAVED.
Lieut.. Gen. Sherman, who occupied a seat by
Senator Doolittle, never once took his eyes off
Mr. Curtis. When the language Of Senator
Sherman, in the debate On the Tenure-of-office
bill, that the bill had no reference to the Cabi-
net ofncers of Mr.. johnson, was quoted, Gen.
Sherman looked hard at his brother, and the
latter cast down his eyes. The venerable
Thomas Ewing whose nomi nation to succeed
Mr.. Stanton is yet unacted on in the Senate,
sat on the other side Of Senator Doolittle, and
seemed particularly interested in the allusion
to the debate Of last winter.
THE HAPPY coLFAx.
The Eouse OF Representatives was construc-
lively present, but it WAS there bodily il the
shape only Of about twenty members, the i'm
parchment proceedings having go soon lost all
the novelty. Speaker Coifax, who sits at the
head OF "his boys appears to be in the best
of humor, no matter what Is said Or done, and
nerer fvr moment stops laughing.
TAMrERISG WITH SENATORS.
1t is reported that the managers of impeach-
ment are seeking testimony to prove that ef-
forts have been made by the President to
secure votes OF senator's for acqu;ttal in the
Impeachment trial. Mr.. Johnson, ii applied
to, will furnish the managers with the names
of five persons whom hc has employed for this
purpose, viz: : Messrs. Curtis, Stanbery, Eyarts
Groesbeck and Nelson. Senators are notified
that these are the only authorized agents Of
the President for the purpose mentioned. If
the impeachers are desirous of extending the
investigation further, the witnesses can be o5-
tanned among radical congressman to prove
that certain sc-called doubtful Senators have
been importuned b. advocates OF impeach-
ment to secure their votes for conviction.
MR. JoHNsoys CHANCES.
A very intelligent Radical, who is on terms of
great intimacy with many Radical senator's, re-
ic Io1iy.,.iDf, n f,,aoi npaaoh