The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-05-07
The Impeachment Trial.

conviction Of Mr.. JOHNSON of I" high crimes
and misdemeanors {" on the articles of i'm
parchment exhibited against him by the
House Of Representatives. Our regular
telegram Of yesterday reproduced the lam
guage of two of the Washington evening
papers in reference to the subject; and our
special correspondent confirmed the report
that the acquittal of the President is no
longer considered impossible. The Wash
ington correspondent of the New York
Herald telegraphed, under date Of May 4th,
a statement which is probably the founda-
ton of all the reports which were current
in the federal city the next day. His story
is that Mr.. FEssENDEN, who is one OF the
ablest men in the Senate and contemner
of SUMNER and WADE, has prepared an
elaborate argument on the first three artl-
cles of impeachment, intended to show
that they were not substantiated by the
evidence; that Mr.. MORRILL,, his colleague,
learning the fact, prepared an argument on
the other side, and submitted it to the con-
found in it no reasons for altering his own
opinion, but told Mr.. MORRILL, that he did
not think the President could be justly con-
victed on any of the articles. Now, this
story is incredible. Mr.. FEssENDEN is not
the man to air his opinions on question
which he is 80 soon to decide judicially. II
could not, therefore, be known, even II he
had prepared an argument against convlc-
ton. Even, however, conceding so much OF
the story to be true, it will still not bear
repetition for it is absurd to suppose that
his colleague, who is his acknowledged in
ferior as statesman and rs lawyer, would
undertake to convince him in a written az
pument. 1t is as if UNDERWOOD were re-
presented as trying to convince Chief JUS
tice CHASE that certain of his opinions on
legal questions were wrong.
But this is not all of the story told by
the HeraMs correspondent. He adds that
several other senators here" have pre-
pared opinions similar to that of Mr.. FEs-
sESDES. What is implied by the adverb
here" we can't imagine. 1t would seem
MS if there were some senators elsewhere
who might have prepared opinions upon the
subject. This looseness of expression is
evidence that the writer was penning SEN
sation paragraph without reference to its
truthfulness. We quote the next assertion
in the HeraldS own language:
"Senator Grimes stated openly to-day
that he had neither seen nor heard any
thing so far that would justify him in voting
for conviction, and at the close Of Mr.. Bing-
hams speech to-day he expressed his
opinion that it was rs good an argument as
he had heard for the President"
Now, this is plainly falsehood. Mr..
GRIMES is represented as having made this
declaration "openly" on Monday. Yet no
other letter-writer has reported it, although
Washington is full of newspaper correspond
ents, who are always on the lookout for
news. Our own Washington correspondent
would probably have been willing to give
fifty dollars for the exclusive use of this
item of news, if he could have substan-
tiated it. The HeralQS telegram concludes
rs follows:
at is conceded by the most radical mem
bers of the Senate and House that Mr.. Fes-
sender will carry with him enough Repub-
lican senator's to acquit the President by a
handsome majority. In view OF this new
development, there is fearful decentralization
in the ranks of the Republicans tonight.
They virtually give up the case. Many of
them openly accuse Mr.. Fessenden, and
those who it is known will act with him,
with having been bought. In addition to
Mr.. Morrill,, several of the Maine delegation
in the House have been to see Fessenden,
but they report him to be memorable, and
have finally given him up. Various causes
are assigned by the Radicals for Fessen-
denis course. One story is to the effect that
new party is to be formed, of which Chase
will be the head, and in which Fcssenden,
others, will be the shining lights. This
party will, it is said, nominate Chase for
the Presidency on what will be called the
"people's ticket" and run him against
Grant. have received these facts at late
hour, and have no chance to verify them to
u certainty, but they seem to come from
reliable source"
The above is all guess-work. The sena-
tors named are the ones who arc expected
to vote against conviction. The ominous
fact in this case is that even if all the sena-
tors mentioned vote for acquittal, their
votes, added to those of the Democrats, will
not suffice to save Mr.. JOHNSON.
AS to the probabilities of the conviction
of the President, we must judge from the
history of the Senate. That body has not
declined to follow the House of Representa-
tiyes over every foot Of ground over which
it has travelled. No proposition has been
too monstrous for senatorial concurrence.
1t has legislated from the beginning in the
interest of the Radical party, not for the
benefit of the country. CR0MWELL's Par
lament which he summoned by writ from
the military districts into which he had di-
vided England, was not more obedient to the
behests Of the Great Protector than the Sc
nate of the United States has been to-those
Of the so-called Great Commoner. The con-
stitutional amendment, civil rights law, fret,
second, and third reconstruction acts, the
act to take away the jurisdiction of the SUI
preme Court in certain cases, prove con-
clusiyely that the Senate may confidently be
expected to do whatever the necessities of
the Radical party may demand. We be-
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