Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-05-13


1t has never been difficult to name the
Radicals in the Senate who we're almost
certain to sustain the impeachment.
They are in order as follows:
Wade. Chandler, Howard, Sumner,
Drake, Thayer, Conness, Nye, Stewart,
Wilson, Morton, Morgan, Freylnghuysen,
Williams, Cameron, Cattell, Ferry, Yates,
Wiley, Upton, Morrill,, Of Vermont,
Howe, Patterson, of New Hampshire,
Cole. Cragin, Conklin, Pomsroy, Corbett
and Ramsey.
The Senators heretofore regarded as
doubtful were Fessenden, Trumbull,
Edmtnds, Grimes, Fowler, Sprague,
Ross, Anthony, Van Wrinkle, Merton,
Harlan, Henderson, Sherman, and Nor.
rill, of Maine. This list of doubtful
Senators has now dwindled until it hardly
includes the following names:
Fessenden, Trumbull, Grimes, Fowler,
Van Wrinkle, Sprague, Anthony, Ross,
Norton, Edmunds, and Morrill,, of Maine.
A very few OF the Senators above
named have been expected to judge this
case according to law and equity, thrust
ing politics temporarily aside. The
newspapers of the country have teemed
with dissertations upon the supposed
virtue of men like Fessenden, Trumbull
and Edmunds; and the Democratic jour.
nails especially have INDUCED the pre-
sumption that they would manifest some
regard for the verdict of history upon
themselves.
But other and more public considera-
tions have been uppermost in the mind
of even the most eminent respected con-
servative Republicans in the Chamber.
Mr.. Wade, to whom the epithet of
"honest was strangely applied some
time. in the past, has the reputation here
of being any thing but truthful or
worthy man. | don't propose to speak
OF his execrable manners, his notorious
profanity or i'll temper, or his unftness
by reason of general lack of the ameni.
ties which be6t man in high station to
assume the Presidential chair. / merely
sllude to the fact that he is hated and
despised by good many Republican
members Of the Senate, some of whom
have hesitated to risk the fortunes Of the
party at this critical juncture in his
hands.
Butler and his friends have been con-
fdent, from the first, of the success of
the impea chment tits understood, now,
that, on the strength of information con-
veyed privately to New York, certain
operators in Wall street, not wholly un-
acquainted with the designs of the virtu-
Gus Managers, are prepared to speculate
upon the slight rise in gold which might
be caused by verdict of guilty.
Some of the means adopted to inhu
ence doubtful Senators are SO despicable
that it is to be hoped, for the sake of
justice, they may sometime be fully ex-
posed. Agents have been employed in
various States TO highten the political
pressure brought to bear upon the Sena-
tors, by procuring letters to be addressed
to them filled with all sorts of promises,
intimidations and threats Anonymous
and forged notes have reached Senators,
limiting, in the event of the failure of the
latter to vote for conviction, at possi-
BILE public disclosure of some of their
most intimate private concerns. Even
the wives, or the female " friends, of
Senators have been, in few instances,
approached and solicited to use their in
huence. The spies, voluntary and en-
gagged, who have busted themselves with
the attempt to extract from Senators and
their intimates some expression of their
opinion of intent, are legion of both
sexes.
While the Court is in session, little
pages fit from time to time through the
noiseless doorway, bringing cards and
missives. From time to time Senator
quits his seat, and is "seen in the cor
ridor or in the marble room, by o curious
and persuasive politician. At night,
after the Court adjourns, q multitude OF
secret conclaves are held in libraries,
parlors, and hooks about the public
places of hotels. Then gambling saloons
and worse retreats are populous with
Congressman and politicians from East
West, North and South. Then all the
varieties of the situation are csnvassed;
rumors and opinions diverse and strange
load the air. A subtle and corrupt
diplomacy is at work in the dark hours
until late bedtime throughout Washing
ton.
Mr.. Fessenden is still counted upon by
the President s friends to vote against the
impeachment. He is very reticent
man, but there is report that he said at
his boarding place, few days ago, in the
course of general conversation upon
political affairs, that within fortnight
he would be the most unpopular man in
Maine. "0nly this, and nothing more.
Mr.. Trumbull is spoken of on both sides
as a slippery person. That appears
to be the chief reason why he is expected
to vote for acquittal. Mr.. Grimes "hon-
esty" is alleged by those who are san
guine that heswill vote as he wants to,
without regard to the behest of his party.
Mr.. Van Wrinkle is distrusted even by the
Radicals, and is claimed by the enemies
of the impeachment as one of the Sen
ators who are pretty certain to vote not
guilty. The hope that Mr.. Sprague will
vote with the minority is based partly
upon the conservative tendencies he has
occasionally manifested, and partly upon
his relation to bis father-in-law, the Chief
Justice, who is presumed TO be adverse
to the conviction Of the President.
But Mr. Sprague, although the young
est member Of the Senate, is a man OF
far more Independence Of character and
Judgment than he is usually credited for.
He is certainly no thrall Of the Chief
Justice, and is enabled by his immense
wealth aud superior position in his own
State Of Rhode Island to be his own
master in every respect. Leaving out
of the question a thought that be will
vote strictly according 10 his conviction,
I fear that be is Radical too aspiring, If
not too shrewd, TO hazard his standing
in the party BY the course expected from
him. II this fear is we'll founded, neither
can Mr.. Anthopy, who, Il has been some,
-. ..-.-..l ,-oui1 vota With Mr.