Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-06-12
CONSPIRACY IN THE SENATE.

following manner gives his opinion Of the
seven recusant Senators:
The storm Of indignation which RACES in
Washington against Fessenden and Trum-
ball is not on account of their votes against
impeachment, but on account Of their con
@alment and deception previous to those
votes. No just man would condemn either
'fthose gentlemen, or any of their associ-
ates, for rendering verdict according to
his individual conscience, however such a
verdict might be out of harmony with
popular sentiment But never in the
legislative experience of the Oldest Senator
has such trick been played on the Senate
As that by which Fessenden deceived bis
OWN colleague, Morrill,; TrumbuIl his own
colleague, Yates; Henderson Is own col
league, Drake: and Ross his own colleague,
Pomeroy.
After the close of Bingham argument, a
majority Of the court desired to proceed,
after a brief consultation, to a final vote.
To this Fessenden objected, in a speech
which, for a man of his unvelyety tempera-
ment, was unusually and unconstitutionally
blan1-asking for a delay on the ground
that he had not yet made up his judgement;
that during the whole trial he had endeay-
ored to keep his mind open; that Bingham
bad presented several points which were
novel and worthy of further consideration,
and that he wished an opportunity, quietly
and at nome, to re-examine the argument
and evidence. After this speech, Morrill,,
his colleague, went round from desk to desk
in the Senate Chamber, and privately begged
for this indulgence to his colleague, ez-
pressing at the same time great confidence
that Fessenden' views would be found not
much out Of harmony with the views of the
majority Of his friends a brief delay wa;
accordingly granted; after which, on Mon
day, May II, the Senators were to compare
/ views in secret session, and on Tuesday
( May y, to vote In omen courf nurinf
-uuuuay . comparison OF views, TO tht
( amazemeut ofall the impeachiug Senators
( but to the perfect knowledge Of the Copper
/ heads and their allies, Fessenden delivered
manuscript speech elaborate
and technical-one Of the most pains taking
and long wrought papers which he ever pro
I duced-a piece of composition which, in the
[ Judgment of his brother Senators, must
have taken him many days to prepare, re-
/ fine and polish. This unexpected document
/ instantly produced upon the minds of his
/ compeers the painful but unavoidable con-
yiction that he had solicited a delay, not for
I the sake Of settling his mind, hut for the
sake Of polishing bis periods. Such piece
I Of sharp practice had not been expected from
man possessing as much pride of honor as
/ Fessenden; and it filed his associates with
mingled surprise, sorrow and Indignation.
( Meanwhile Trumbull had been playing a
similar game. After telling his colleague,
Yates, that he had prepared nothing at all,
/ lie rose twenty minutes afterward and gave
/ one Of the most elaborate Of his speeches,
! delivering it with such tremor in bis voice
and such pallor in his couDtenance as to be-
tray an unWonted and almost unnatural ex-
element 4 thunderbolt falling through
/ the glass roof of the Senate Chamber would
not have more thoroughly surprised the
Senate than Trumbull's announcement OF
/ his position. Down to the very last mo-
ment. he had successfully cajoled his most
intimate friends amougthe Illinois members
of the Lower House, who, after his speech,
were 50 shocked by his deceitful behavior
toward themselves that they almost entirely
forgot the greater injury which he was IN
hicting on the country
Ross, of Kansas, repeatedly and solemnly
assured bis colleague, down to the very last
day before the vote, and repeated this assur-
ance to various other Senators and members,
that he would vote for conviction on the
first. second, third and eleventh articles
pledge which he so suddenly and strangely
broke by acqitting the President that the
whole city Of Washington, on Saturday last,
was in three hours filed with charges OF
his positive and downright corruption for
money.
Henderson, as we learn, IS to be confront
ed with afidayits alleging that be had
positively agreed to vote for the eleventh
article-a promise by which, if he had kept
it he would have delivered the nation from
its chief incubus.
Fowler, who has lately worn the eounte-
nance of a man more crazy than sane, LED
his Tennessee friends (except Patterson tc
suppose, down to Saturday morning, that
/ he might vote for conviction. Certainly nc
man in the nation was more fierce for i'm
neaebment than Fowler in January last.
! Nor has any otherSeuator, BY his Saturday S
verdict, so thoroughly, absolutely and
irredeemably stultifcd himself as this
wretched man.
Van Wrinkle, of West Virginia, prepared
and read to three Radical Senators a speech
in support of the eleventh article, and YET
voted against the article.
/ It is difficult for people at a distance tc
understand the intense feeling which nov
prevails in Washington, except in view o
the dishonorable conduct which we have
thus described. The old veterans of tht
Senate Chamber have been as much accus
toned to losing as to winning battles Th
loss ef the eleventh article, if it had bee
beaten honorahly, wonld Of course have ez
c.fe3 rrear sa,low, but no Indignation
$ ,s.,o, have just as much right 10 vot
against as 10 vote for measure. But tn
Senate has been cruelty and baseIy deceive
hy men whom i had trusted and honored
II is for this reason that the present wrat
RACES. Better let the Radicals lose thou