The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-23
The Plot Against the President,

The New York Herald has unearthed
some facts which throw food of light upon
the origin and motives of the effort which
the Radicals are now making to displace
the President of the United States. 1t
seems that the scheme was conceived fully
three years ago, as measure of personal
and private revenge, and has been steadily,
though more or less covertly, urged eeer
since. The story runs thus: When Presi-
dent LINCOLN was assassinated and ANDREW
JOHNSON succeeded to the Chief Magistracy,
3. F. BUTLER, whose military fame was at
that time none of the brightest, sought to
retrieve his tarnished reputation by civic
triumphs, end set longing eyes upon the
Departments of State and War, either Of
which he was modestly conscious of his pre-
eminent fitness to administer. Some idea
of the machinery he set in motion to crafty
his ambition may be formed by reading
the following letter, written to Hon. LEWIS
D. CAMPBELL, our late Minister to Mexico,
by General J. K. HERBERT, of Major Gene
raj BUrLER's staff:
WASHINGTON, April 49, 1865.
Mv Dear Sir-The greatest crime OF centu-
ries has thrown the robe of MIR. Lincoln upon
your good friend, Mr.. Johnson, about whom
we slightly differed when vas at :our house.
You will agree with me, 1 think. that some
change in the Cabinet ought to be made, and
probably Will be. You also agree, suspect,
that Butler for any place, especially War or
State, is about the best man in the country.
Presuming these things, I write TO ask that
you mako the best demonstration you can to
that effect. You can write Mr.. johnson letter
that would be of great weight with him. You
can induce other good men to do the same;
and, perhaps, after setting the ball IN motion
al home, you could come here in person.
wish YOU would. am certain You would do
public service. aud greatly obige Butler and
his friends. am conf lent l shall hear from
You in substantial effort. Be kind enough
daughter. Let me hear froDi you, aud believe
rn'' -Ai'I' J.K. HERBERT.
Hon. LEWIS D. CAMPBELL, &C., &c.
?. S.-Why not sec Taft, Hoadley and the
friends we met last year in Cincinnati? Wade,
Chandler, Carter, Julian, and such as they,
are doing all they can for General B.
This mild suggestion of the disinterested
staff officer, it must be remembered, was
made while Mr.. SEW ARD, the Secretary Of
State, lay PROSTATE and speechless from
the blows of the assassin PAYNE, and while
the corpse of the murdered President was
yet unburied. Mr.. CAMPBELL, to whom
the letter was addressed, personal and
political friend of Mr.. JOHNSON, was natu-
rally disgusted at the unseemly haste ex-
hibited by BUTLER and his friends, and, in
stead of becoming party TO their schemes,
sought On interview with the newly-install-
ed President, and frankly informed him Of
the aspirations of the hero Of the spoons
Mr. JOHNSON quietly but firmly announced
his intention TO make no Cabinet changes
at that time, to oblige BUTLER or any one
else.
Senator SUMNER, also, about the same
time, endeavored to induce President JOHN
son to adopt the universal negro suffrage
policy: but his overtures met a signal re-
pulse.
Disappointed and mortified, SUMNER and
BUTLER struck hands against Mr.. JOHNSON,
and, from that time to this, have never
ceased to plot his downfall.