The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-06
INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS.


prosecute. The journal Of Tuesday having
been read, Mr.. Sumner succeeded in rendering
himself conspicuously ridiculous by moving
correction of.the journal in the nature OF an
order declaring that the Chief Justice had no
right to give the casting vote yesterday, when
the vote Of the Senate was tie. Even many
of those who are in the habit of acting with the
Senator from Massachusetts, looked disgusted
at this exhibition of petty maignity towards
the presiding officer. The motion was voted
down and the journal stands unaltered. The
severe rebuke thus administered to Sumner
also established the fact that Chief Justice
Chase was no longer considered mere figure
head to the Senate, but was live Chief Justice
presiding in what even Butler has at last pro-
nounced ga Court" Business now COM
menced in earnest, and the counsel for the first
time measured words.
An issue was raised as to the admissibility of
the declarations Of General Thomas, and Mr..
Stanbery, in denying the proposition, said
they had at last reached question worthy to
be discussed by lawyers in the presence OF
lawyers.
windy harangues before the Senate.
Stanbery made q clear and forcible ezposl-
ton of the character of the testimony proposed
to be submitted, and utterly denied that the
declarations or actions Of Thomas, except so
far as they were IN strict obedience to law and
the order he had received, could in any way I'M
plicate the President. Butler called for ms
authorities, but he replied that ne mad no au-
thorities to submit on proposition so PLAIN.
Butler followed and entered into q long argu-.
mept to show that conspiracy had, been en-
tered into between the President and General
Thomas. and that the confessions and decla-
rations of one conspirator could be given IN
evidence against his sco-conspTator.
Judge Curtis now Tor the trst time arose 10
address the court, and every whisper was
hushed into silence. He submitted to the
court whether. an order given by superior to
an inferior officer, and obeyed by the latter,
could BY possibility be distorted into conspirac
cS between. .thettwo,, II so, conspiracy existed
when johnson ordered Grant to take charge OF
the War Department, and the latter complied.
BE reviewed the authorities quoted BY Butler,
and with which be seemed to be perfectly IA
miiar, showing theprinciples they established
hsd no application whatever to the case under
consideration. IF the purpose was TO prove the
intentions Of tho President by these declara-
tions, the prosecution should put Gen. Thomas
on the stand, and have these declarations made
under oath.
Butler eneered at the proposition to put CO.
conspirator on the stand, unless he first agreed
to turn States evidence, which he did not be-
ieve Thomas was mean enough yet to do.
Butler seemed to forget that Thomas was
called before the managers as witness, was
sworn and testified, and that he was now In
daily attendance upon the trial as witness
under subpoena ordered by Butler himself.
Butler declared tEat the President had con-
Roeood b;c rurnoee IN remove Stanton sat all
hazards"
This brought Curtis to his feet, who pro-
nounce6 the declaration untrue, as the Presl-
dent had distinctly denied in his answer any
purpose or intention to use force, threats or
intimidation.
Bingham followed, in his usual forid style,
and expressed suspicion that the course OF
the Presidents counsel in raising the objec-
ticn to evidence was an attempt to trap the
Senate into an expression of opinion on the
main isaue involved.
Senator johnson here inquired if the mana
gers proposed to show that the President Was
aware OF the purposes Of General Thomas, or
approved of them subsequently.
Butler said the managers would decline an
swering, and Boutwell, objected to such ques-
tions, as they smecked strongly Of argument.
In the meantime Drake, OF Missouri, Kept up
q quacking, but neither the Chief Justice or
any one else took any notice OF the querulous
senator. The question was submitted to the
Senate, and the evidence was admitted.
This is regarded by many as decision in
favor of conspiracy having been proven be-
tween the President and Thomas, and the eyl-
dence was only admissible on the supposition
fhat conspiracy had been shown; but the
better impression seems to be that the Senate
determined to hear all the maIagers had to
say and to offer as evidence, knowing they can
discard as much as they pleased when they
come to make up their verdict and furtner'
that certain senators VITO may not feel ]usti-
fed in voting for conviction wish to have all
the facts 60 to the country and stand upon
full record. 1t is this view OF the action OF the
Senate that has confirmed many In the oplnlon
that the President will be acquitted.
The impeachers, however, are in high spirits
at their successes thus far. Wilkerson, OF the
New York Tribune, being called to the stand,
stated that Thomas said he should call on
Grant for sufficient force to put him into pos
session, and under his order he did not see
how Grant could refuse. .---....... .e...-.--
He explained, however, on cross-ezamna-
ton, that Thomas ret. rred only to the written
order he had received from the President, nor
did he understand that Thomas had received
any other order whatever nom the PRESIDENT
except the one in writing.
this disposed very summary OF one OF But
ier's strong points against the President. But
ley alluded to General Thomas as being q dls-
croced officer, when Stanbery and Evarts
questioned the propriety OF thus assailinS and
terminating an officer without evidence and
upon the word only of one Of the managers:
A scene was about 70 ensue. but the Chief
Justice promptly arrested it by suggesting
that the conoquy .:i.d no reference to the testl.
mony before the Seuate. The declaration OF
Butler, that the timely arrest of Thomas alone
prevented civil war, created smile through
out the Senate.
The proceedings of the day closed with sad
spectacle-the introduction Of Buffers spy,
George W. Oarsner, as witness. his testl-
mony you have already published and the cir
cumstances attending 1t. .
It was the cross-eXaminat;on OF this witness
which WAS humiliating to human nature. AT er
being fully exposed as spy and false witness,
he attempted to escape odium by playing Jim
Crow" part and exciting merT1ment. Becom-
ing reckless, he cared not what he said, and
aimed only to create fun. 1t was fun for the
galleries and perhaps for the Senate, but while
the boys laughed the frogs suffered. Poor
Butlerl
He was made to feel that the deep disgrace
Of the scene did not all fall upon the spy. The
other managers also exhibited shame and
modification at the exposition made OF their
wretched witness. At S P NJ. the court adj
journed.
THURSDAYS PRocEEDNes.-The proceedings
en- Thursday we're Of no special interest, the