The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-01-01
ia sz WHEELING W. VA FRIDAY JANUARY 1862



Reminiscence Of Thaddeus Stevens
In Connection with the lmponeh-
ment Of the President.
Correspondence of the Boston TravelleF.
Tho impeachment trial was the sum,
ulant which kept life within Stevens
feeble frame. He believed Andrew
johnson dangerous enemy to the Con-
Hstitution and human freedom-and Of
ten have 1 heard him say that could ne
but survive long enough to see Ben
Wade in the seat held By johnson ne
would be content to die. q
1 remember one day in particular our
ing that trial when he seemedln unusu-
ally fine spirits. G LIT
Judge Bingham, of Ohio, was holding
the Senate entraneed by his eioquence
in arraigning Johnson before the DAT oi
Justice in behalf of the people, and IL
was expected that his argument would
close that night, consequently the close.
ly-packed galleries remained IN tne
same condition without the slightese
disposition being manifested to leave.
The air of the Senate Chamber was
ton close for Mr.. Stevens, therefore ne
retired through the Senate lobby In the
rear to the Vice Presidents room. rms
was a fayorite resort for those holding
intimate personal relation with vice.
President Wade-where we wouid meet
during the trial and canvass the situa.
tion. Did / but feel at liberty to reveal
the secrets of thsf room your readers
wonld not want fsf sensation long.
IN was here t1at Sumner, Stevens,
Boutwell,, Yats, Ramsey, Chandler,
B1tier. Logan, Md many Others, would
hoJdll their LITTLE caucuses; and l re-
member that Sn one occasion General
Grant was ors' among those present.
and he appesred extremely anxious as
to the resultd the trial-speaking out
freely his seItiments. i'r: g.
Upon thisday, however. the only per-
sons in the room were Senator WADE,
x.SenatorS Wilkinson of MlnaesotS,
Stevens, id your own correspondent
"Scott." ,E
Impeaonent was of course the theme
of our tax, and its prospective success
considerd in all it's bearings.
1--WE INST have Bingham conclude
today { he will kill the case" said
Steven "No good can come out of the
long. WI ided arguments, and it would
have Ven better for US if the case had
been admitted after an hours talk
each. i remember when was quite
voupIfnan of trying a case in Lancas-
Ter Iich involved the ownership of
pig forth, probably, a dollar. AS soon
"a learned who was the opposing
co,Sel 1 was fully convinced that the
ariments alone would occupy week
Lat is, / would address the court in
half of my client for two hours, while
Il other side would not be content
ith less than four days. | therefore
Ade my arrangements to 60 up to
harrisburg on some pressing business,
Did return before the case had gone to
te jury. The case was, clearly against
he if the law was considered, and /
10 told my client; but l would do
the bestI could under the circnmstnn--
ces. The evidence was all heard, and
made my speech to the jury, not deal
inc in the law as much did in telling q
couple of amusing anecdotes. | spoke
less than two hours, and then left the
coui t-room to 90 to Harrisburg. Yea,
gentlemen, actually went there; trans
acted my business, and then returned to
Lancaster, after an absence of three
days, and found the opposite counsel,
Mr.. --,.still talking about that infer
nal pig. One glance at the face of the
iurymen and knew the case was mine
Mr. talked half q day after myre-
turn, and the jury without ever leav-
ing the jury box, decided in favor of my
client. The truth was, the case was
talked to death; and this is exactly
what am afraid Bingham will do with
this one. l was ashamed of the time |
myself the other day, the
speech requiring an hour to deliver
t."
In few minutes messenger
came to the room aud announced
hat Bingham, from exhaustion, would
not conclude until the next day. Never
will forget the expression on Mr.. Ste
yens' face. 1t told the story better than
lid his words. "This decides the mat
jer," said he; johnson will not be con-
1icted;" and history proved him correct.
recall vividly some remarks he made
against certain Senator'S whom he be-
ieved would betray their party, as they
lid, and for bitterness of lnguage, full
If invectives intermingled with pro-
'anity, it excelled anything that l ever
heard.