The Portland daily press., 1868-05-15
WASHINGTON.
ABSTRACT OF LETTER FROM SENATOR HEN.
DERSON,

ABSTRACT OF A LETTER FROM SENATOR HEN
DERsoN.
WASHINGTON, May 14-A letter, of which
the following is an abstract was addressed to
DAY by Senator Henderson to the Missouri del
egation that called on him few DAYS ago tf
request him to withhold his vote if he intended
to cast it for the acquittal of the President:
Washington City, Nay 10, 1868.-Gentlemen
On yesterday morning, being assured by you
that my position on the impeachment question
was not only antagonistic to the unanimous
voice of the Union party of our State, but that
1t would likely produce civil war and blood.
shed therein if it should result in the acquit
tai OF the President. was understood to say
under the circumstances, that rather than
have such results follow, would tender nv
resignation and let some other person. as my
successor, execute what you suppose to be the
voice OF the party that sent me here an6
which has SO generously sustained me since
came here; and again last evening stated &c
you That was willing to accept your views as
truly representing and rejecting tho wishes OF
our party, and that thought it nv duty to re.
sign if found it impossible, on a full exam.
lnation OF the case, to carry out that will on
some one OF the articles of impeachment.
agreed to let you know my conclusions on the
SUBJECT to-day, in order that you might consult
further II you thought proper and advise with
the Governor in regard to my successor
Since that time, have seriously reflected over
tne whole matter: and have come to the con-
on the principles of impartial justice and rem
der verdict according to law and the evi.
dence. cannot shrink or divide that respon
slblllty with others. 1t is for the House tt
ma articles OF impeachment, and it is for the
senate to try them. If 1 resign before the
vote, 1t strikes me have come short of the OBJ
ngatlons of my oath, and as you are pleased
10 pace this matter on purely political grounds
you VIII permit me to say that nv resignation
can oe o. no possible service to you in that re-
A Of daIsa
vent my successor from voting he not having
heard the case, and you are aware that voting
In the negative and declining to vote will be
practically the same. Should he forego deli
cacy and even secure conviction by his vote,
the manner of securing it will defeat eyery
conceivable advantage to be derived. have
therefore, resolved to stand by the obligations
of my oath and honestly discharge my duty as
gwen me to know, and appealing to HEAVIER
Tor the rectltude of my intention, I am deter
mined to follow the dictates of conscience and
trust to generous and upright people for the
Vlndication of my conduct.
Your friend
JOHN B. HENDERSON.
SENATOR CoNKLING
Senator Conkling's health is improving Ht
expects to be in the Senate on SATURDAY.
should the vote then be taken on impeachment
THE PROSPECT FRIGHTENING.
New YORK. May 14-The Posts special says
that the prospect now is full vote can be had
on Saturday, and the delay is believed to have
confident on his eleventh article. Republicans
believe it can get 38 votes. The Presidents
friends are not as certain as they were yester
day, and he is said to be less sanguine than fo
weeks.
VARIOUS IMPEACHMENT RUMoRs.
A special Washington dispatch says that
very thorough canvass of the Senate is bein,
gone through with, and the status of ever,
Senator on each article is being ascertained
The Missouri delegation say Mr.. Henderson
has agreed to vote for conviction on the
eleventh article. and they have withdraw
Their request for his resignation, Fowler will
vote for acquittal. Anthony, Frelinghuyser
and Ross will vote for the LIST, I'd, Sd and It'll
articles Mr. Evarts declares that acquittal il
sure. Mr. Wade announces that he will vott
and will not resign. The vote will undoubted
'ly be taken on Saturday.
Another dispatch says that Mr.. Cole of Cali
fornia and others are now put down for acquit
tai.
Another dispatch says both parties are equal
ly sanguine of success. The Radical Republi
cans consider Mr.. Chase responsible for tn
detection IN the Republican ranks, and tn
Democrats defend Mr.. Chase. Mr.. Fessende
is much startled at the result of his action.
Another dispatch says that the impeach
ment excitement is as fresh as ever. The re
suit of canvass is favorable to conviction O
thony and Wiley both express the opinio
that the President will be convicted on tn
eleventh article.
NEW PROGRAMME.
Another dispatch says the following pre-
gramme is said to have been matured at Judg
Chase's dinner: Salmon p. Chase for Pres
dent; Lyman Trumbull for Vice President
Mr.. Seward for Secretary of State; Mr. Fes
sender for Secretary of the Treasury; MI
Grimes Secretary of the Navy; Andy John
son Secretary of War; Evarts Attorney Gen
eral; Doolittle, Secretary of the Interior; Sam
uel e. Cary Postmaster General. The success
of this programme depends upon the acquitts
of the President.
THE TRIBUNE HOPEFUL.
The Tribune of to-day has the following, &c
itorially, under the head of "latest" "A couI
made by competent and perfectly trustworth
Republicans last night in Washington, an
which was given to our representatives there
shows that if the vote were to be taken to-da
the Senate would convict Mr.. johnson, wit
two votes to spare. We are not at liberty
make a list of Senators that are sure for con
viction on at least four of the articles of in
peachment but we may say that if anybod
doubts that the Senate will thrust the traitC
from the helm of State, that the doubter's il
formation is not so late as ours"