The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-06-05

BOUTHELL'S HOLE IN THR
SKY.
1ass -Ansstssns Episode Of tho Greet Inspeaeh-
nsent Trial.
4 writer In an Eastern publication, in
giving some "Reminiscences Of tho I'M
peachment Of President johnson, ssys:
L wish to give one other description
from this famous trial so full of interest
that relating to Gov. Boutwell's Hole
In the Sky" Having had the good fort
une to be present, I can say, with all
truthfulness, that I never have, before
or since, Witnessed large audience SO
convulsed with laughter as WAS the
whole Senate and the immense crowd of
spectators on the occasion of Mr..
Evarts' reply to Gov. Boutwell,, touch
ing this astronomical wonder.
In the course of his elaborate and
able argument, Gov. Boutwell, said:
"Travelers and astronomers inform
us that in the southern heavens, near
near the Southern Cross, there is vast
space which the uneducated call the hole
in the sky, where the eye of man, with
the aid of the powers of the telescope,
has been unable to discover nebule, or
asteroid, or comet, or planet, star or
sun. In that dreary, cold, dark region
Of space, which is only known to be less
than infinite by the evidences of crea-
ton elsewhere, the Great Author of ce.
lestial mechanism has left the chaos
which was in the beginning. If this
earth were capable OF the sentiments /.
and emotions of Justice and virtus
which in human mortal beings arc the
evidences and the pledge Of our divine
origin and immortal destiny, it would
heaye and throe, with the energy of the
elemental forces Of nature, and project
this enemy of races Of men into that
vast region, there forever to exist in n
solitude as eternal a. life, or as the ab-
sance Of life, emblematical OF, if not
really, that outer darkness of which
the Savior Of man spoke in warning to
those who are the enemies Of them
selves, of their race, and of thei1 God
But it is yours to relieve, not to punish.
This done and our country is again I'D. :
vanced in the intelligent opinion of
mankind"
Here is what Mr.. Evarts, when he
came to make his argument said in re-
ply:
81 NAV as conveniently at this point
Of the argument as at any other pay
some attention to the astronomical pun
ishment which the learned and honora-
bic manager, Mr. Boutwell,, thinks
should be applied to this novel case Of
of the President. Cicero,
I think it is, who says that lawyer
should know everything, for, sooner or
later, there is no fact in history, in sci.
ence, or of human knowledge that willnot
come intoplay in lls argument. Painfully
sensible of my ignorance, being devoted
to profession which 'sharpens and does
not enlarge the mind I yet can admire
without envy the superior knowledge
evinced by the honorable manager. In
deed, upon my soul, I believe he is
aware of an astronomical fact which
many professors of that science are
wholly ignorant of. But, nevertheless,
while some of his honorable colleagues
were paying attention to an unoccupied
and unappropriated island on the sur
face of the secs, Mr.. Manager Boutwell,,
more ambitious, had discovered an un-
tenanted and unappropriated region in
the skies, reserved, he would have us
think, in the final councils of the Al
mighty as the place Of punishment for
convicted and deposed American Presi.
dents.
eat first I thought that his mind had
become 80 enlarged that it was not /
sharp enough to discover the constitu-
ton had limited the punishment, but on
reflection saw that he was a. legal and
logical as he was ambitious and astron-
omical, for the constitution has said 're- |
moval from Office, and has put no limit
to the distance Of the removal, SO that it |
may be, without shedding drop Of his
blood, or taking penny of his property,
or confning his limbs, instant removal
from Office and transportation to the |
skies.