New-York tribune., 1868-06-10

to profit from lnformers 1ees AZ ~ VA tAsn'
ought to do, according to the statute IN such
case made and provided. The explanation
lessons the dignity of their crime, and If IL
fails to lessen its turpitude 1t is not the fault
of the witnesses.
But it requires lively Imagination to reconcile
this theory with the kilograms which actually
passed, and with the conspiracy tOpurchase Sena-
tors votes, which Mr. Thurlow Weed testifes was
entertained and concocted between Webster,
Wooley, Sheridan Shook, and himself at the
Astor House. At this interview, says Mr.
Weed, "there was proposition made Tor votes
"and for money" viz, thirty thousand dol
Glars for three votes" Is it not strange that
these parties so forgot the main object for
which WOolley, Webster, and Shook were to
proceed to Washington, viz, the intormers
fees under the Revenue law, as not even to
mention itY Was it on the subject of inform
ers fees that WOOlley, on May A, telegraphed
to the Presidents private secretary to inquire
" the situation ~ If so, how singular that the
Secretary forgot the main question, and replied
expressing hopes of Johnson's acqulttal adding
that those who expect conviction "know least
:" of the inner working'-a phrase we have
already explained to mean the working OF
Roman justice in the bosoms of Senators.
1t is interesting, too, that when WOOlley
telegraphed from Washington on May to
Shook "My business is mplished-place 10
"to my credit with ellis, Harney & Co." he
meant that his business was not accomplished,
and that he had learned from the Revenue
Committee that it could not be accomplished,
as the Committee had determined to report
against the amendment Sheridan Shook desired.
Woolley does not attempt to show how the
decision of the Committee to report against
the proposed amendment rendered the use of
$4,000 necessary, or how it tallies with the
dispatch sent on the same day by Webster to
Thurlow Weed, viz:
"He oiH do it. Telegraph Hugh Hastings to
come here right away"
According to Woolley's story, "my business
"is accomplished meant "my business has
"failed," and che will do it" meant it can't
abe done"
Then Mr.. Weed, wholly oblivious of the
Revenue question, testiies that the above tele-
gram to him, which Woolley in his telegram
of next day, styles "my dispatch" referred to
impeachment. While Woolley, whose only
business In New whef6 there were no
Senators, was buying Senator'S votes, when he
got to Washington, where the Senators actu-
ally were, has nothing whatever to do with
the business on which he is sent there. but is
wholly absorbed in sending to his friends con-
gratulatory messages of triumph relative TO a
proposed petty change in the Revenue law which
he failed to obtain. Perhaps the strangest fact
Of all is, that in all these dispatches words re-
ferring TO impeachment were used as a cipher
to express fasehoods relative to the Revenue
amendment And while it was known on the
9th of May that the Revenue amendment was
hOpelessly defeated yet on the 9TH and Sth
Hugh Hastings is urgently sent for, with re-
quests to be ION hand for business" For the
ensuing two or three days there is sudden
"hurrying to and fro' of visitors at Mr.. Weeds,
at the Ast0r House, all laboring under the sim
gular halucination that their business relates
to impeachment instead of informers' fees
Again, when Hastings arrives at Washington,
Woolley telegmphs TO Burt, at Cincinnati,
Presidents stock above par" when he meant
that the "informers' fees are below par" and
to Ives, in New-York, Impeachment gone
"higher than a kite when I've meant that
Shocks Revenue bill was gone up. And on
the 18th, tbe day which the vote on Inn
peachment was to be taken, but a week after
the Revenue amendment had failed, WOolley
telegraphed Shook: ir
"The five should be paid-may be absolutely
necessary
This unquestionably meant that $1,000
more was wanted to make up purse of
S17,10O to deposit with the clerk of Wizards
Hotel, so to bet on Chases election. IL may
not be easy TO see how the Revenue amend
ment. two weeks after it had been killed. could
have drawn Sheridan Shook to Washington, on
business highly important" or why, if this
was all that Mr. Woolley had to tell about the
whereabouts of the 100000, he could not just
as well have told it without being imprisoned
by the House. But on all these matters fur
ther testimony will shed new light.
Seriously, we shall rejoice to learn, as the re-
suit of the investigation now pending, that
none of the votes for acquittal were corruptly
obtained. But the testimony of Mr.. Woolley
and his friends thus far tends in no such direc-
tion. But one thing it does clearly show, viz.
that Sheridan Shook and his boon companions
-"reaming swabs that drink divinely'-are
lovely set to represent the Government in tho
richest Revenue District in the United States.
The retention by President johnson of this
officer, after the exposure of his record, is itself
a high misdemeanor in Office.
--
THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.
good many Democrats look to THE TRIBUNE