Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-02-16
RxhcOck.

ST.. LOUIS, Feb. 49, Immediately upon the
opening of the United States Court this morn
ing, ex-Attorney General Williams rose and
addressed the jury, opening the defence Of
Gen. Babcock The court room was througed,
the greater portion Of the audience being at,
torneys. Very few of the Government wit.
nesses we're present, the most OF those from
Washington having been discharged from ser
vice and allowed to leave the city. Gen. Will
iams devoted considerable time to an argument
of the probabilities in the case, and to erti-
cism of the evidence for the Government, as
Stunning that what the Government had pre-
sented was competent evidence, which was by
20 means admitted. Gen. Williams said the
case might present some suspicious circum'
stances, but by no means the ground on which
to base conviction. He then proceeded with
some explanations which would throw differ
ent light upon the communications between
Babcock and the ring at that time. He said
Joyce and Mcdonald were trusted officials,
men of influence and possessing the confidence
of good people. Babcock, Oh the other hand,
was warm hearted, cou6ding, generous man,
who did not give up friendship once
cemcnted for the whispers OF columny. Every
thing presented by the prosecution Was iu-
complete and could not but leave a pain
full uncertainty 10 every mind as to whether
it was to convey proper suspicion or to SIM
ply indicate a weakness of the Judgment to
which every one was liable. The quantity
Of this kind OF evidence said General Williams
avaiod nothing, house is made out of bricks
but million of bricks scattered over an acre Of
ground does not make house any more than
two bricks do Gen. Williams then traced Bah
cock S military career from West Point, which be
eulogized as place where honor and honesty
we're iDculcated and where thieves and robbers
were not admitted. He told Of the defendants
service in the late war. and how he rose to be
Chief of Engineers in he 9th Army Corps,
and afterwards to be Aid t. Lieutenant General
Grant with rank of Brevet Brigadier General.
good deal of attention was given to General
Babcock's relations to the President and to
the trust and confidence rcposed 10 him as pri-
vate secretary to the President. 10 one sense
Gen. Williams said he became a part OF the
executive, and his official delinqueucies would
more or less reflect upon and degrade the chief
executive of the patton. No ingratltude would
be SO black as bis if he would bring dishonor
on one who had put such confidence in him.
Foreign News.
LONDON, Feb. l6.-From all the intorma-
ton received here the following seems to be
the position in northern Spain Gen Qnesada
advanced on Sunday morning fr' N Durango
through Eloris unresisted, but found the Car
lists under Gen. Carassa strongly entrenched
at EIgueta. The Alfonsists attacked at IL
o'clock in the forenoon. After FIVE hours hard
fighting on lines extending over a league the
Carlist positions were carried. The Carists
retreated upon Azpeytia with heavy losses.
Gen. Quesada pursued them as far as Vergara
which he occupied in force. simultaneously
with the operations of Gen. Quesada, General
Iona moved from Marquira, breaking the Car
list lines on the river Deva. Gen. Mariones
advancing from the north entered Zumaya and
occupied the heights commanding Aya and
Cestona. The Carlists are reported to be con-
centrating for a6oal struggle between Audoain,
Tulosa and Azpeytia.