The New York herald., 1868-04-20
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE or TIVE HeaAlu.

The Impeachment Trial-PresIdept johnson
in Good Spirits-Bufler GettinG Into Bad
Odor-Managers in q Melancholy Mood
The Contingent Fund and Some Of It's Funny
Features.
WASHINGTON, April IS, 1858.
Another week is gone, and Andrew Johnson still
receives his friends at the Executive Mansion. SO
far as one may Judge by external signs the terrible
ofYender has intention Of leaving his present
Portable quarters in hurry having made no prepara
ons looking to that end reports to the contrary not
withsGanding, and, displaying buoyancy Of spirits
entirely unsuted TO believing In the prospect OF
q speedy condemnation by the grand inquest
Of the nation and the High Court OF Impeachment,
conducted with all the dignity and solemn decorum
natural to Manager Butler and his able assistants,
Conness of, California, and Drake, of Missouri. John
sons high spirits are puzzle to the mpeachers,
who consider he ought TO be repenting In sackcoth
and ashes and packing up his trunks, instead Of
ceiving with good humored smiles the visitors who
daily and nightly apply for an audience
The trial is matter OF great interest to MI Wade
and his anxious and devoted friends Mr. Sumner
is Of those who favor acceleration OF speed,
as was indicated by his proposition 10 have the
court meet at ten O'Clock and remain In session
until six. The advocates OF longer daily sessions
succeeded In carrying the motion 10 meet at eleven,
but the addition OF an hour day will not greatly
hasten conclusion Some or the testimony
which has been recently admitted Judging it
upon its merits, is most fatal TO the prosecution as
the steady efforts Of Butler to exclude it abundanty
certify. The Managers are now as heretofore, con-
suming great deal OF time In their efforts to keep
out important evidence, and this may be expected
to continue as their case grows desperate. In
this there is conflict of interest and purpose. They
are IN great haste to conclude the trial. for the benefit
OF such political advantages as may accrue from the
conviction and removal Of the President and the
feeling OF dstrust which all the bullying and vul-
garity OF Butler cannot conceal. To coDsurnmate
the object for which impeachment was inaugurated
Is the great desideratum, and those who wait for
the prom ised spos submit to the delay with
an III grace suppressed mpatience, and, just now,
with no little distrust and uncertainty. The expect
ants do not comprehend the double disadvantage
under which they labor In the first place Mr.. john
son may not be impeached, and In that event Their
hopes win end Should they be realized to the ex-
tent OF his removal, should Mr.. Wade succeed TO the
Executive chair and appoint new heads to all the
government departments, IL Will be discovered that
among all OF the thousands OF employees not one
holds his place by reason OF any political qualfca
tons that would dIsqualify him to hold Once under
Mr.. Wade There were instances In which, prior 10
the quarrel between the President and Congress,
Congressman but II was not done with reference TO
political merits but by reason OF the peculiar cir
cumstances attending the applications. Secretary
Browning has never made removal or filled
vacancy In his department. political grounds. The
same may be said OF Postmaster General Randall,
who has not Disseminated against radicals When II
was possible TO accommodate them. Even Secretary