Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

[929] were pasted together in their proper and consecutive order. While it was being printed, one of my friends was standing beside the matter in the printing-office from the time it was put on the press until every copy printed had been delivered to him and the type had been distributed.

I was ready at the appointed hour. When I entered the Senate chamber from the vice-president's room the scene was almost appalling to one who had to address such an audience. The floor of the Senate chamber was filled because the House attended in committee of the whole; the galleries were also crowded with those interested in the case, and the ladies' gallery shone resplendent with bright, beautiful women in the most gorgeous apparel. I came as near running away then as I ever did on any occasion in my life. But summoning up such courage as I could, I stuck to my post and addressed the Senate in a speech of two hours length, of which forty thousand copies were ordered by the House the next day for circulation throughout the country. The board of managers occupied the floor of the Senate chamber at the left of the chief justice. On the right sat Attorney-General Stanbury, Mr. Evarts of New York, Judge B. R. Curtis, of Massachusetts, Judge Nelson, of Tennessee, and other gentlemen, counsel for Andrew Johnson, President of the United States.

I had brought it to the attention of the board of managers that we should have Mr. Johnson brought in and placed at the bar of the Senate to be tried according to the forms of the English law,--or as Judge Chase had been tried when Aaron Burr presided over the Senate,--and required by the presiding officer to stand until the Senate offered him a chair. But our board of managers was too weak in the knees or back to insist upon this, and Mr. Johnson did not attend.

The morning after the opening of the argument, I asked one of the board of managers, a very clever gentleman, to have the kindness to offer a piece of written evidence, but his hand shook so while he was examining the paper that I concluded to relieve him. As to myself, I came to the conclusion to try the case upon the same rules of evidence, and in the same manner as I should try a horse case, and I knew how to do that. I therefore was not in trepidation. When I discussed that question with the managers they seemed to be a good deal cut up. They said: “This is the greatest case of ”