The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-05-28
8ltltnultd '|J| 1ispatth,

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THURSDAY.............M MAY %. 1868.
Personnel Explanations in the senate
On Tuesday-AII the Radical Lies
Put Down.
MIR. ANTHONY would say he had not had
the honor of dining with the CHIEF JUSTICE,
during this session, nor had he been closet
ed with that gentleman, nor had any con-
suitation with him on the subject: nor had
any arguments been adduced to him from
that source. He had been Journalist for n
rylong period, and knew the vexations and
troubles incident tosthe profession, and the
dlfhculty OF verifying statements Of fact !;
ne knew that with the utmost painstaking
and the best intentions misstatements of
tact would occur, and he was, therefore,
quick to extend to others that charitable
construction which he had SO often desired
for himself; but for statement SO utterly
without foundation there was no excuse !;
and holding the profession, as he did, in
high honor and esteem, he felt bound to
condemn that kind of journalism which
penetrates into dining-rooms and listens of
key-holes, that seasons personality with
calumny, and adds falsehood to malignancy.
Mr.. WILEY rose to a personal explana-
ton, and saying that he only felt called
upon to notice the matter because it might
be inferred from his silence that there was
some truth in the report which had con-
nected his name with that of the last speak
er as having been in conference with the
CHIEF JUSTICE on the subject of the trial, he
pronounced it utterly false; and not only
so, but he knew Of no senator who had had
any such conference. There had been no
conversation between them, nor overtures
from one to the other, since the trial COM
menced, further than accidental meeting in
the corridor and saying g How do you do 9''
Mr.. JOHNSON made further personal
explanation, for the purpose, he said, Of
doing Justice to others. On the evening
when the Senate was in deliberation upon
the case of the President, he having ex-
pressed desire during the recess for the
company Of Mr.. HENDERSON (as the re-
porter understood him) that senator replied
that he had been invited to 60 in the car
riage with the CHIEF JUSTICE and Mr..
SPRAGUE. The CHIEF JUSTICE then invited
him MIR. JoHNsOE] to be one of the party,
and they rode together to Sixth street in on
open barouche; whereupon the CHIEF JUS
TICE very politely asked him to stay and
dine, the Senate having adjourned till half
past 7. He was obliged to decline, however,
on account Of engagements at home. "The
honorable member from Missouri Mr.. HEN
DERsoN], however, said he, "having no
family now-[laughter, in which Mr.. HEN
DEHsoN joined was able to accept, and
kolx - g. kol hot h. inn
The next morning, or, as / think, that day,
from this Senate chamber, a journalist who
indulges in n sporting magazine writes
home, either by mail or by telegraph, that
on that day there dined with the CHIEF
JUSTICE the honorable member from 1lli-
nois Mr.. TRUMBULLl. "
Mr.. TRUMBULL: hayn't dined with
him for year. ;s
Mr.. JOHNSON (continuing): The hon
orable member from Maine, who sits far
thest from me, (Mr. FEssENDEN,) the hon
orable member, think, from Tennessee,
(Mr. FowLER,) on the other side Of the
chamber, the honorable member from Mis-
souri,, and myself; and the subject of con-
versation was not only the disposition to be
made of impeachment, but the necessity,
looking to the public good, of organizing a
new party"
Mr.. JOHNSON proceeded to ridicule the
idea of a new party" being there formed,
unless it was, he said, a comfortable dinner
party. [Laughter.l Men who indulge in
such slanders should receive the reproof Of
all honorable men, and should never be
suffered to pollute this chamber by their
presence. What the opinions of the CHIEF
JUSTICE are in relation to impeachment,
or what reasons led him to adopt them,
if he had any decided opinions, he
(Nlr. JOHNsON) did not know. He had
his own, and had no desire to consult the
CHIEF JUSTICE about them and he was sat
isfied that the other senators referred to
had had no consultation with him, and
would not have sought or permitted any
with view to influencing their Judgment.
A paper here in our midst Continued Mr..
JOHNsON), edited by one of the officers OF
this body-a gentleman of whom | do not
desire to speak unkindly, because ne has
always, as far as know, spoken kindly OF
me-has assailed, with bitterness that |
have never seen equalled, the members OF
the Senate, and has denounced the body in
advance if1they dared to pronounce the
President not guilty Of these charges. They
have dared to do it; and whatever may be
the excited feeling of the hour-without
meaning to call in question the rectitude OF
the senators who have differed from me-l
have no doubt that hereafter, and here
after soon to come, probably, a judgment
will be pronounced at least to the extent OF
saving that what they did they did from
conscientious conviction that what they did
was the result Of their calm and deliberate
construction of the law and the evidence,
and that they were bold enough, defiant
enough, of all efforts to control them In the
exercise of an official duty, finally to de-
eide, as they did decide, the result of which
may be seen in the determination OF this
prosecution.
]. Mr.. FESSENDEN said he had no ex-
plantations to make and no apologies to
offer to anybody in connection with him
self. He had seen great many newspa-
per articles charging him with various
things : in reply to which, all he had to say
was that they were all false. Inasmuch as,
after careful examination, he found that
they met with no credit in his own section,
it was unnecessary for him to make any
explanation. He stood upon his character,
which he supposed would take care OF itself.
While he should be very happy to dine with
the CHIEF JUSTICE on any occasion, he had
not had that honor during this session.
"Nor have had any consultation with
him." he continued, " directly or indirectly,
with reference 70 this trial; nor have had