Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-20
MISSOURI.
Letter Of Senator Henderson 60 ths
State Congressional Delegation
Reply OF the Latter.

| In letter dated the l4th inst, addressed to tb,
Missouri Congressional delegation, Senator Hender
son among other tbings says
| Inasmuch l owed my position hsre &C. ,hal
party, and expected TO support its men and u1ess.
ureb IN the coming canvass especially, and az de-
precated the consequences you thought might fol.
low though did not anticipate nor fear any such
/ results yet, IN order 10 place myself beyond the
possible censure Of those whom / knew 70 BE- ulv
best friends, l at once proposed 10 forward b. the
Governor my resignation as Senator. To this YOU
did not consent, and l then requested you D.. -1v
friends, TO consult together and determine what GA
thought was proper for 10 do under the circunl-
stances. You did so, and the result was that be-.
lieving the safety Of the country and the Interest,"
OF the loyal people Of the United States deus I'd the
removal OF Andrew Johnson you ask me &, with
hold my vote on any article Of impeachment upoa
which you ~ cannot vote afirmativelv So soon
as had time 70 read and consider this pap.r oup4
l could not comply with the request within. tbnt
degree Of humiliation and shame 10 which was
SATISFIED you, as honorable men, would not wish Co
subject me.
You agreed 10 reconsider your opinion d. cA yrs-.-
ed, and although you at first resolved 10 adhere to-
H. am gratihed that, upon further reflection on
agreed with me that the request was cutie unTsr.s
onabei but you still insisted as your opinion t.st
my duty required my vote 10 be so cast or WITH f
As might seem necessary on some one article O.,
- 80 h-~AASHs a. bu-b mElIOne1 blE lN
Guilty attending this suggestion. Your reoue.s o..
ths subject has placed in the most difficult aud
delicate possible position. am satisfied vou do moi
realize It. have given il the most serious consid
eraticn, both on your and my account. and esneOi-
ally on account Of the gravity and importance Of
the subjects presented
The result Of that consideration Is that tav;r,,
Deeh compelled, &c member Of the Sonata Z, taks
al oath 70 try this and 10 do impartial i.,i(e
according TO the law and the evidence I cannot
nov nov, honorably escape the duties imposed bv he
! stay anu withhold my vote, as requested va,,.
ar aware that The result would be the same al z
voted adversely. II resign and successor sborl9
come perhaps proper sense Of delieacv would no
IN MN trOm violating every precedent on tbis
saDyTJ. oy casting vote all If be al silent n
"0uid be the same in result As If he voted sdverse
II ne voted sffrmatively and tbns secnTed con-
H. tnia manner Of obtaining conviction would
5Ae,y heutraze IN the ead every ADVANTAGE 70 be
: derived from impeachment Hence have resolved
- remain al my post and discharge nv duty as il is
gwen 70 me 70 know it. &c
The following is the reply Of the Missouri delees-
'0n 70 Senator Hendersons letter Of the 18th in
slant correcting several misstasemen,s contained
therein.
WAsHISGToS, May IS SIS
Hon john b. Hesldersoa, o. S. Ss,,as,
DEAR SIR; We have received. and in tba -. /
y tnis date we Ind published your letter Of yeiter