The Portland daily press., 1867-03-28
THE PRESS,
Thursday Morning, March 28, 1867.
G.etter from the National Capital.
WAsuINcrnN March 81. 1867.
PLOTS AND coUNrERpLoTs.

WASHINGTON, March %, 1867
PLOTS AND CoUNTERPLoTs.
When conservative influences seem to RUE
most there are sure to be some circulli1s"n
arise which check their development. EfeiS
observer of events here must have no"' =,
struggle going on upon the ques"on
journment, and the issues depen''A'
upon. ...
When this Congress asseiio,o" 'eei' vas /"
large majority of the hepuoncah represent
atiyes who favored short recess ana then re-
assembling with view to proceeding with the
jmnoaobment should the Judiciary Commit
900 ro,ar, in its favor. The first caucus of the
senate developed the fact that majority Of the
Republican Senators were opposed to any
further action on the question of impeach-
ment, and of course were against any early re-
assembling. ....t
These views of the Senators had an effect
upon their colleagues in the House. 1t became
evident all at once that change was being
brought about, and that with the Democrats a
majority of the House were for an early and
long adjournment
Linen the contest began and was continued
very vigorously on the part of the Radicals,
Stevens, Butler and Farnsworth and Schenck
doing the leadership for those who desire to
force an impeachment while your Represent
atiye, Mr. Blaine, was the leader OF the tusion-
lists, whose chief desire is, or ] should rather
say was, to get away and stay away as soon
and as long as possible. ri l.....
A good many ingredients have mingled in
this alembc. The chief objection made to
such adjournment as Mr.. Blaine proposed was
that the country was not safe in the hands OF
Mr.. johnson, that the reconstruction plan
would be impeded, and that it would be con-
sidered on abandonment of the charge against
the President without any direct generation,
which it is very justly said should be done,
If the charges cannot be substantiated.
On the other hand, it has been urged with
great force that any such recess as is advocat-
ed by the Radicals, will disorder the finances
and keep unsettled the business interests of
the country by keeping alive efforts to change
the tariff, revenue and banking systems 1t is
also urged that the attempt to impeach the
President will result in confusion and disorder,
and that we can better bear the evils we know
than rush on those whose character is un-
known. - t
These reasons undoubtedly affect many Re-
publicans. They probably altogether influence
the commercial and manufacturing interests
of the land Charges are made of Presiden-
tial aspirations, and personal jealousies are
known to be rife. These, it is claimed have
more to do with decision against adjourn
ment than any other.
AS a specimen of this gossip, let me men
ton the rumor relating to the aspirations of
Chief Justice Chase for the Presidency, and
what position his friends take. The election
of Senator Wade to the Presidency of the
Senate puts him directly before the people
(by his position as acting Executive) in case
of removal through impeachment of Mr.
johnson. All of those known to support the
aspirations of the Chief Justice are in open
opposition to either Impeachment an early
re-assembling In the Senate caucuses John
Sherman has been the especial advocate of an
adjournment until December. Senator Wilson
who is warm admirer of the Chief Justice,
has openly denied the idea of a successful i'm
parchment, while however he is naturally
too radical to be willing to entirely trust the
country in the hands of the Executive with
out some means of reassembling before De-
cember should it become necessary. ~
There seems to be growing up a policy,
which follows in its outlines somewhat the fea-
lures of the "arm-in-arm,' Philadelphia Con-
vention. A plan or purpose is developing to
"slutf off" the radical men and re-organize
great moderate party. This embraces Sher-
man, Ewing, bingham, Morgan, Frelinghuy-
sen, Dawes, Sc, in the north, while the pres
ent Submissionises in the south-Pierpont,
Holden, Orr, Brown, Patton, Sharkey, and
others of the former pro-slavery Wing schools,
would be the leaders. All this determination
is based upon the success of their movements
south, by which the class of men speak Of will
be able 10 get control directly or indirectly of
the new organization. Tie Moderates expect
to have the banking interest with them. 1t is
currently reported here that John Sherman
and leading Representative from Massachu-l
sets are both members of the financiering firm,
Jay Cooke & Co. Gen. Banks is in this
scheme, so the quid nuncs say. He is to have
such influence and patronage as can be obtain
ed to bring about the defeat of Mr.. Sum
ner i'll 1869. The appointment of Judge Thorn
as Russell to the Boston Custom House was in
that interest, aud brought about for the bene
tit of Banks. Then there is the election in Ohio
for Governor and Legislature, which latter
elects Ben Wade successor. The Sherman,
Chase influence is being used against Mr..
Wade ef9 - fH 5E'hnf %
These are some of the influences affecting it
is claimed mems minds on these questions of
adjournment AMI impeachment. ar r1f III.
A CHANGE IN THE PROGRAMME.
When Congress opened this morning, al
but a few of the more knowing ones, regarded
it as certain that the House would agree to the
pending resolution of Mr.. Blaine, or to that Of
the Senate, putting the re-assembling three
weeks later. 1t was so clear on Saturday eve
ming that a majority were decidedly in favor
of the Blaine resolution, that no question
was entertained of its success. There were
some, however, who looked knowing and Ger
tainly thought there was many slip 'twixt
the cup and the lip and that one would come
ere this chalice of success should be drained.
Rumors of a most exciting character began
to circulate Immediately after the opening of
the sitting. The Reporters Gallery was in es-
pecial agitation. Grant was observed on the
floor in close conference with leading mem
bers. This was considered significant. Then
came report that Stanton had sent the even
ing before for a number of Senators, and that
poeh iO ahu oEdut were 6drueStiy CUuIiSelluS
against an adjournment which would leave
Congress without power to re-assemble before
November or December. The rumors grew
wilder with each moment. One mysteriously
declared that the President had planned rev.
olutionary move, to be set in motion as soon
as Congress adjourned. Whatever it was that
changed the policy, and whatever ii is that the
majority fear Mr.. johnson may do, it is quite
certain the information was serious enough to
induce the party to vote solid or nearly SO for
resolution by which the two houses are to
alphabetically, presume adjourn on Thurs
day and reassemble ON the first Wednesday in
May, June, September snd November, subject
10 JOINT proclamation OF the presiding Off
GERS 1t is quite certain that the Secretary of
var and General Grant have united in oppos-
ing the policy indicated in the adjournment
resolution of MIR. Blaine .1v 1"Hf
THE NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE. 32f
The investigation into Smythe's naladmin-
istration is likely to prove troublesome The
House instructed the Committee to allow him
to appear by counsel. 1t is said that Smythes
game is to prove the corrupt practices of his
predecessors and so frighten off prejudcial re-
suits by blackening other people. There is no
doubt that the New York Custom House has
always been sink of corruption, but that
ought not to weigh against the investigation