The New York herald., 1868-04-20
Buffers Schemes for Securing a
Place in the Cabinet.
General Grant and the Military
Dictatorship.
tyiLiOA as to the Result Of The lmpearh-
ment Trial.
Programme Of the Summing Up Of
Counsel.

VOOASSts
WASHINGTON, April 10, 1868.
The Conspiracy If the Radical Leaders and
the Impeachment Trial.
That the present impeachment trial is but the
result of conspiracy formed fully three years ago
by certain radical leaders, headed by the iustrous
Ben Butler himself has for long time been the
opinion OF President Johnson and many conservative
republicans as well as democrats. Immediately
after the removal OF President Lincoln by the
SINS bullet the conspiracy commenced, the object
being either to control Mr. johnson by inducing him
70 reOrganize his Cabinet radical basis or,
failing In that to open regular war Of the fiercest
character upon the unyielding President Ben Butler
at that time was power in himself. He had q
strong party at his back, and he and his party
desired, not only to shape the policy of the
government, but likewise to enjoy the spoils Of
ONCE. Butler especially, yearned to administer
the War Office or the State Department,
and accordingly laid plans to accomplish
his purpose. His friends backed him up with all
their influence, and MI. Johnson was pestered with
entreaties to remove either Mr.. Stanton or Mr..
Seward for Benjamin's especial benefit. Seward, be
it known, at this time stretched his bed from
the terrible wounds inflicted by the assassin and
Lincoln was yet unburied. The extent Of the patriot
ism Of Butler and his friends will, therefore, be
pretended. While Seward was every hour expected
to expire Butler was busily at work seeking to have
the PROSTATE Secretary OF State turned out of office
in order that he (Buter might promote his indecent
and uncomfortable ambition. That am not merely
1abrcating sensational story will be evidenced by
the following letter. written to Hon. Lewis D. Camp.
bell, our late Minister to Mexico, by General J.
Herbert, Of Major General Buffers staff
WASHINGTON, April 49, 1866.
NY DEAR SIR-The QreaSegt crime of centuries as
thrown the robes OF Mr.. Lincoln upon your good
friend, Mr.. Johnson, about whom we slightly differed
when was at your house. You will agree with me,
think that some change in the Cabinet ought TO be
made and probably will be. You also agree, sus-
State, is about the best man In the country Presum
ing these things, write to ask that you make the
rse r you e can 70 ba at eec can
weight with him. You can induce other good men
TO DO the same; and perhaps, after setting the ball
wish you would. am certain you would do a pub
ic service, and greatly Obge Butler and his friends
EFFORT Be kind enough 10 present my kind regards
70 Mrs. O. and her daughter. Let me hear from you,
and believe me,
Faithfully, yours, J. X. HERBERT.
Hon. LEWIS D. CAMPBELL &C., nc. -.
P.s-Why not see Tan, Hoadley and the e. friends
Carter Julian, and such as they, are doing all they
con for General b.
Mr. Campbell had been for twenty years the inti-
mate social and political friend Of Andrew Johnson,
and was supposed to have powerful influence over
the newly elevated President. Hence the favor Of
Campbell was solicited. 1t 80 happened that while
Herbert was writing his letter Campbell was on his
way to this city from Cincinnati, in compliance with
. request from Mr.. Johnson. Campbell arrived here
on the day Lincoln's remains were being removed
from the White House to the Capitol On the same
evening or the next Campbell met Herbert in the
street. who informed him that he Herbert) had just
mailed an important letter TO him (CampbeD direct
ed to his residence In Ohio On inquiring as to its
purport Campbell was informed by Herbert that But
ler ana several prominent radicals had several con-
situations for the purpose Of taking steps
70 urge President Johnson to make an imme-
diate change Of his whole Cabinet, and particularly to
have Secretaries Stanton and Seward removed, and
to have General Butler placed either in the Depart
ment Of State Of War; that he had written to Mr..
Campbell for the purpose Of inducing him to use his
influence, and obtain the influence Of other promi-
nent men in Ohio, to accomplish the same end. Mr..
Campbell said in reply that as Mr.. Seward was lying
at the point Of death, with his throat cut by an
assassin and his son, Frederick Seward, Assistant
Secretary Of State, was supposed to be in dying
condition, he thought probably by little delay
Providence Himself would remove Mr.. Seward and
save any trouble on that score. Besides, he ex-
pressed an unqualified opinion that It would be
runous to the reputation Of President johnson, and
perhaps disastrous to the country were ne to make
any removals at that particular time in his Cabinet.
Considerable conversation on the subject ensued,
and General Herbert urged Mr.. Campbell to can and
see General Butler at Wizards Hotel.
Mr.. Campbell remained in Washington, having
very frequent personal communications with the
President in reference to public arairs the condition
Of the country, &C., and from day to day receiving
additional Information In reference to the combina-
ttuno whi oh bQpn IN fha
President to make o change in his Cabinet. On
mature deliberatIon Mr.. Campbell determined v was
due from him 10 the President, who had been his
personal and political friend for many years, AMI
whom he had been instrumental In bringing prom
nenty before the public after the breaking out Of
the war, to warn him that these plans on foot
TO have General Butler put In the State or War De-
partment He accordingly furnished Mr.. johnson
with the information relative to these combinations
and urged him to make no change what
ever Of Mr.. Lincoln's friends until the
shock occasioned by the assassination would
have subsiled, and then, II he found 1t
necessary to make change, to do so, but not
before. The President assured his informant
that he would make no removals then, and espe-
cially would not for moment entertain the idea Of
removing o man who had suffered as much as Mr..
Seward had and was then in critical condition.
General Buffers stan oficer (lerberp told Mr..
Campbell several times during the sojourn Of the
latter In washington that General Butler was very
Aesirous OF seeing him, but no interview took place
between them, except for q few moments with Gen.
eral Rosecrans who called upon matters relating TO
the military. Mr.. Campbe's aversion to holding
any communication with General Butler arose from
the belief that the whole programme which the lat
ter had marked out would prove disastrous to the
President and to the country.
About the lat Of May, 1895, Mr. Campbell returned
70 hn home In Ohio, and among the letters which
had accumulated In his absence he found the one
which Buffers stan ofzicer had mailed him.
was this failure Of Butler and his clique to ac-
eomplish their ambitious ends that caused the sub.
ssquent hue and cry against Andrew johnson and
The bitterest antadministration war since the time
n XashinnfOn. Never beforo Vvaa n proe,dont m