Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-05-22

| ninth article. This was the turning
point of the day. The break in
the Radical ranks had commenced,
and the outside current which had
been flowing for five hours in favor Of the
conviction had commenced to run in the
opposite direction. Mr.. Trumbull, of Hi
nois, was the next speaker. Senators de-
scribe him as the centre of intense interest
as he proceeded for half en- hour to make 6
scathing review Of the Indictment present
ed by the House against the President
characterzing the whole as a fiimsy, weak
affair, that would not stand legal test in
a court presided over by justice of the
peace. The sensation at Judge Trum
bulls opposition to conviction was very
great in the Senate, while without the fac1
spread with astonishing rapidity. Mem
bers of the House came into the hall, tell
ing everybody they met, and nearly de
populating the House with the news. Mr..
ex-Manager Bingham rushed up to Judd
of Illinois, then to Thad. Stevens, and then
to Boutwell,, retailing Trumbull's conver-
sion for acquittal. Mr.. Boutwell, looked
glum enough to seek that hole in the sky
which he had pictured as place of pun.
ishment for convicted and deposed Ameri
can Presidents The House, however,
could not st ana hear the revulsion that
came rolling on from the other side of the
Capitol; so the body at once adjourned
and informally found itself as Committee
of the Whole in the main lobbies of the
Senate Chamber. Every Radical member
soon satisfied himself that there was no
doubt about Trumbull. Impeachment
has gone up was the private expression
of the most excited, while the cooler heads
contented themselves by stating that con-
viction looked very blue. In the midst of
the noisy stream of talk and speculation,
interspersed with some vigorous betting by
some who had turned, and desired now
to retrieve the losses that seemed STAR
ing them in the face, the startling
news came out that Mr.. Fessenden was on
his feet, and making speech against the
conviction of the President. Imagine the
scene at this announcement. There were
Manager Logan and the Representative
of the peoples representatives" Mr.. Man
ager Bingham, together with nearly all the
Radical members, in an excited frame of
mind. The most frequent interjection
heard in the confusion was profane and
partisan, but expressive "Well, sir, i'm
peachment has faileI, and the Republican
party has gone to hell - Mr.. Fessenden's
opposition made the fourth Republican
against conviction, and members of the
House, seemingl ly satisfied that others
and went home. By this time it was 5
o'clock, and the Senate took recess until
II o'clock. The temporary vacation at the
Capitol gave the city chance to discuss
the days events, and there is not public
or private place in town that is not busy
tonight with the hopes and fears of to-
morrow.
The night session of the Senate attracted
large crowds to the Capitol, but none were
admitted to the lobbies of the Senate
Chamber without tickets. The evening
has been occupied by Mr.. Morton, of In
diana, Cattell, of New Jersey, Wilson, Har-
Ian and others, all original impeachers,
who have spoken in favor of CONVECTION
Senators Frelinghuysen, Ross, Anthony,
Sprague. Wiley, Van Winkle, and Patter-
son, of New Hampshire, who are regarded
as doubtful, and some of whom are GER
tainly expected to vote for acquittal, have
not yet addressed the Senate. Shortly
after II o'clock an adjournment was made
until tomorrow, at 10 o'clock.
The President attended May ball at the
National Theatre tonight with his little
grand-daughters.