Year: 1868

Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas


On the Stand.


SPECIAL TElEcaAm TO the HERALD.


Judge Curtis' Plea for the President-The


Teaeinouy Of General Thomas-The Gen.


sraPs Famous Interview with Nlr. Stanton


The Whiskey Ratlons Fairly Shared BY the


Rival War Ministers-The Presidents Case


Prejudged BY Senators sprasue and Stewart.


WASHINGTON, April 10, 1868.


The High Court wore gloomy appearance to-day.
The weather was very wet, dull and heavy, and the
light that streamed into the Senate chamber through
the clouded and colored ceiling Of panelled glass
overhead shed dismal expression on the assembled
mass Of faces Then there were no bright ribbons
or dresses to relieve the sombreness Of the scene,
and the galleries in consequence were tame and
uninteresting.


Judge Curtis continued his address, and was lis
tened to throughout with marked attention. 1t
seemed pity that his voice was unequal to the task
Of rendering his argument with more impressive
efect 1t was easy to see that he was O consummate
master OF his subject; but 1t cannot be overlooked
that volume Of voice and lively gesticulaton are
slight adventitious aids to speaker. Judge Curtis
resorted to no tricks Of oratory his statement was



hardly q perceptible variation Of voice. He went
rapidly through the eight articles following the rst
deeming them but the same tale long drawn out and
then touched on the charges accusing the President
Of violating the freedom Of speech by inde-
cency Of expression. This was, perhaps, the
happiest hit Mr.. Curtis made. He alluded, In dig
nfed yet keenly sarcastic tone 10 the fact that the
House Of Representatives had selected men to repre-
sent 1t who were presumed to be models Of decency
and decorum in expression, and II a blush could
make itself visible in Buffers face should certainly
have arisen at this moment at the rejection that
Attle over twelve months since he addressed New
York audience after fashion which the newspapers
felt almost ashamed to publish. Mr.. Curtis alluded
very pertinenty to the kind. Of freedom Of speech
which the constitution guaranteed every American
citizen, and utterly dscaimed reference to prece-
dents In the history Of other countries where freedom
Of speech meant either the gulotne or the galows.
Mr. Curtis made q very brief peroration; but when
ne sat down there was very general feeling that
man Of profound thought and learning had delivered
himself In case which he deemed worthy of defence
and exculpation.


The counsel for the President then called to the
witness stand General Lorenzo Thomas, and Of
course, every eye was directed towards the Illus
trious Secretary dd interim. The General mounted
the stand with aunty air. clad In his full uniform,





coat In style Of careless elegance. hafopened in
front. Everybody seemed to expect that the Gen.
eral would relieve the superintendent weight Of
0ulness In the Senate by some facetous salles and
In this respect 1t cannot be said they were disap-
pointed. A little humor Of some kind was never at
such o premium, and II the General never per-
formed any greater EFFORT in his career he must GER
tanly be allowed good deal Of credit for putting
the whole neutrality-suspicious., Chief Justice


r~~l~tkn R1~
q time The General, In q clear voice, with o
peculiar rising Infection went first to detail his
interview with the President on the memorable 21st
of February, ana II Butler could only have kept
quiet would have told every solitary item bearing
ever 30 remotely on the tremendous appointment con-
ferred upon him as Secretary ad interim. But when
the objections Of the Managers were finally disposed
Of and the General was allowed fair Geld for his
narrative, he brought down the house as 1t was
never brought down before He told the story Of his
interview with Stanton with q naicete Of manner
which was perfectly irresistible. Nothing fierce and
sanguinary, as some people might imagine, ever
transpired between these two famous Secretaries
Of War, Stanton and Thomas. No two cooling doves
ever met on milder terms. Thomas respected admired
and almost loved Stanton, and Stanton was the same
towards Thomas. After the nonsense was disposed
Of in relation to taking possession Of the War De-
partment Stanton asked Thomas to take seat near
the nre and take drink. General Shriver went for
the whskey, and on his return 1t was decided to
make equal division between the two Secretaries,
Shriver being temperance man, and according to
the Illustration given by Thomas on his forennger,
It would appear each had about an inch deep of the
ardent exhilarator.


A good deal has been said about the pressure upon
Stanton by radical representatives and journalists
who wish to see impeachment accomplished at any
cost let the President be guilty not OF the high
crimes and misdemeanors charged against him. 1t
has not been said without good cause, for despe-
rate effort is undoubtedly being made to Keep sena-
tors up to the sticking point and prevent
them from losing the necessary backbone
before the time arrives when they will be called upon
TO declare according to the law and their con-
sciences, whether the terrible Andrew Johnson
should be removed from his high ONCE and some
one elevated to his place. The proimpeachment
lobby is very formidable enthusiastic radicals OF that
faith having been summoned here to work upon
Senators and errify them into voting rightly on the
question. But these efforts are by no means confined
to the lobby Members Of the lower house do not
hesitate to take part in the dscreditable business
and prominent members at that-men who ought to
be above such low schcming and dishonorabe devices
As an Illustration I will give you an account
Of conversation that took place not long ago be-
tween Senator and member OF Congress from
Ohio. The latter laid himself out TO '.pump- Vie
former, and succeeded In accomplishing his object
will give the Names that 10 may not be said that
am merely fabrcatlng sensation, and so that the
parties concerned may deny IL II they think proper
The Senator was the juvenile sprague, OF Rhode
island, and the member was General Garfield, of
Ohio The conversation occurred about twelve DAYS
ao, In sleeping car attached 10 the New York and
washington train. IL commenced by some
remarks about the prospect in Connecticut
fairfield had been to the Nutmeg State, and
4. clared 10 sprague that he had not met single
rep ubican there who did not endorse the action OF
Coma ress In impeaching the President. Every re-
publit an In that State, according to Garfield, ex-
presseA the opinion that the only safe policy the
removal OF Andrew Johnson. The salvation OF the
party depended upon carrying out i'm