The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-05-13
WASHINGTON.
a General view OF the sItuatiOn---
3 t--f Gloomy prospects for
aza7 u 20 IDpeaehmenf.
1F E41l -I2Fl TBy MALL h-' -
WAsHINaroN, May II.

--s n - WAsHINeToN, May IL.
II 10 not to be denied that the pros
pect of conviction In impeachment is
more gloomy tonight than it has been
at any time aince the trial began. The
cause Is not hopeless, but IL is in great
danger. The precise danger pointed
out week or moro ago in this cores
bic. has. 70 day developed into GER
tainty. The four leading Senators
whose votes were regarded as doubtful
have declared themselves against con-
yiction and appear TO be acting In con
cert. Grimes comes ont squarely
against all the articles In bold.
compact speech. Trumbull, though not
committing himself against all the ar
ticles, denounces several Of the leading
ones as of auch nature that they
would be Quhshed in q trial before a
Justice OF the Peace. Fessenden Is
equally out spoken and more bitter.
sherman sYows his opposition TO sew
eral Nof the articles, Here, then, are
four Senators of whom il has hitherto
been said that by com bination, they can
undoubtedly defeat impeachment.
But. as they are not certain TO oppose
all the articles, 1t still remains to be
seen whether they are cooperating to
secure the defeat. But, on the other
hand, It must be added. that they are
6ET6nRtueuta pY t4o hnc6 peS1o0 a0ah-
ton of Henderson, who avoVa his OPP
position to eight of the articles, and has
made no expression on the remaining
three. - ..l
Just now the result seems to depend
upon the two West Virginia Senators.
neither of whom has expressed any
opinion, as yet. Van Wrinkle Is count
ed upon for the eleventh article, though
against all the others. The President
has more to fear from the second and
eleventh than from any or all Of the
other articles. Only four Republicans
have yet declared against the second.
Nothing more definite can be said to-
night than merely TO repeat what was
said o week ago. II these men act to-
gether, and exert all their power. they
can certainly prevent CONVICTION.
Only two more would be needed. and
there are three or four doubtful Sena.
tors OF inferior position and ability who
are at heart opposed to impeachment,
andsonly need the encouragement OF
these leaders to follow in their wake.
The other danger pointed out a week
ago, has also assumed grave proper
tions. There are indications of dis
position to split up the votes on the diff
ferent articles In such a way as to pre-
vent the securing of the requisite two
thirds on any one.
It may be added that the Republicans
the coolest among them do not give il
The Presidents friends profess abso-
lutte certainty of the failure of i'm
peachment. A member of Mr.. John
sons Cabinet told me tonight that he
knew there were more than votes
enough to secure acquitIal, and that on
some of the articles there would be an
absolute majority against them. This
last Is improbable; but the Cabinet
Minister gave the names of the less
noted Senators who would make up the
seven to defeat impeachment, and said
he was sure of their votes.
Evarts has also said that he had pos
tive knowledge of votes enough to ac.
quit his client.
On the whole, however, the prospect
though gloomy, is not absolutely hope
less. There are strong expectation:
that Henderson and Sherman, anC
perhaps also Trumbull, may vote To-
conviction on the eleventh article. II
any event, SO far as Senators have de
clared themselves, the President ye
lacks two votes. The feeling of th
Iimpeachers against Fessenden and hi:
party is very bitter, and there is mucl
talk ON their part of a movement look
ing to the organization ofa third party
for the Presidential contest.