The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-05-04
a few weak Senators, who were thought

There Is undoubtedly danger of Sena
tors splitting up their votes on the DIFF
ferent aTticles-in fact, conviction OF
all OF them can Ecarcely be hoped for
In this. IN fact, lies the only practica
danger. II the requisite two.thirds
article, conviction is sure. Now let q.
see what the chances for such a two
thirds vote appear to be.
including MIR. Wade. the President
pro te1Dpore, there are fifty-four Sena.
tors, of whom forty-three are recognized
Republicans, nine are Democrats, and
two-Dixon and Doolittle-are casta
ways. On strict party vote, therefore
Mr.. Johnson would have eleven vote.
for acquittal and forty-three for convic
ton.
But out OF these forty-three, there are
| twelve gentlemen who, with or without
reason, because of votes to admit evi.
dence, or of votes TO give the President
time, or OF expressions against the wis.
dom of impeachment, have been more
or less widely distrusted. They are
Messrs. Grimes, OF Iowa. Fessenden, OF
Maine; Trumbull, OF Illinois; Sherman,
of Ohio; Anthony and Sprague, OF
Rhode Island; Fowler, of Tennessee;
Ross, of Kansas; Van Wrinkle and Will.
ley, of West Virginia; Henderson, OF
Missouri, and Frelinghuysen, of New
y
go for acquittal, 1t would require the
vote of Mr.. Wade to convict; If seven OF
them should go for acqnittal, impeach-
ment would be defeated, and we should
soon have the rebellion as triumphant
in Congress, as 1t was cast down upon
the field.
But those seven votes cannot be OBJ
tanned.
Out ofthe twelve, the three last named
may be dismissed from the list without
q moments consideration. Mr.. Sum-
ner might as we'll be reckoned doubtful
as Mr.. Henderson, and for the same
reason, viz: That they have both oon-
sIstently voted to admit any evidence
that the Presidents counsel thought
important for the defense-reserving to
themselves, of course, the right to re-
ceive it for whatever, in their own
judgment, it was worth. Mr.. Freling-
huysen has hardly given as much
cause for doubt in this regard as Mr..
Henderson, and Mr.. Wiley no more.
Certainly on some of the articles and
quite probably on all, their votes for
conviction seem to be at least as sure
as MIR. Summers or Mr.. Chandler's.
(Ihave not thought 1t worth while to
add to this list the name of Gov. Nor
ton, of Indiana. Because of a little lib
erality us to evidence, a few zealots
have been disposed to doubt his posi-
IlOA ulSO1 DAb COul0 no
absurd0
We have left nine Senators, concern
ing whom there may possibly be a
doubt. If only three OF them are sure,
impeachment succeeds. On the other
hand, il seven of them should combine,
they hold in their hands. not only the
issues OF this trial, but the destinies of
the Republican party. Andthey know
1t.
Four of these men group themselves
together in all mems minds. They are
four strong Senators, two ofthem stand
ing in the very front rank, and the
other two only little behind. If
Messrs. Grimes, Fessenden, Trumbull
and Sherman act together, it is quite
probable that they have influence
enough to carry three of the weaker
brethren with them. viii they? To
this proposition the question of success
or failure in the impeachment seems to
reduce itself.
Mr.. Grimes has been openly hostile
to the Inauguration of any movement
for impeachment. He has talked open.
Iy against it during the progress OF the
trial. He has said that he was against
it since the evidence was concluded and
half the arguments were heard. And
he has, on at least one occasion, pretty
broadly intimated to a brother Senator
his intention 10 vote against it. But
Mr.. Grimes is in position to feel less
the pressure of public sentiment( (Which
or unconsciously, must
leave some influence on all minds
than any other Senator in the list. He
has been sour and grabbed for two or
three years; dissatisfied with the Recon-
struction policy, dissatisfied with many
leading features of the party action,
in the personal ambition
to secure the Presidency of the Senate
for himself If 1t should so West; or for
his most intimate friend, Mr.. Fessen-
den, If it should go East; uisgusted with
the elevation of Mr.. Wade, whom ne
dislikes. CALLED at the GER
tainty OF Mr.. Wade's further advance
ment, in case Impeachment should sue
coed, vexed at the scanning failure of
the party to recognize the fitness of
either his friend Fessenden or himself
for place on the Presidential ticket,
and enraged at the prospect of Wade's
securing that place also. Influenced
by such feelings, he is free to yield to
of popular opinion. He Is
about to retire from the Senate and
from public life. His career has been
an honorable and useful one, and he
knows 1t. He is undoubtedly honest
in his opposition to Impeachment, and
1t is quite probable that he will indie
close his career by putting
much 1t is to be regretted, for one
have no word of bitterness with which
to assail this act, If it be one arising
from conscientious conviction.
It is believed that Mr.. Fessenden has
not yet made up his mind; and GER
tainly his bearing and expressions
have been eminently worthy of an up
right judge, patiently hearing every
thing on both sides, and reserving his
decision. He also has been opposed to
impeachment though not SO vehement
ly as Mr.. Grimes. he has very much
disliked the course taken by Mr.. Sum-
habit of thought inclines him
to very great reluctance in applying SO
severe a remedy. He Is serving his
third term in the Senate, and it does
not expire until 1871. He has, besides,
been Secretary of the Treasury, and
and after these prolonged public hon.
ors and labors he may feel less apPre-
hension OF adverse popular criticism
than many others. But, on the other
hand, it must be remembered that he
is very ambitious and sagaciousi and
it may be added that the other Senator
from Maine, Mr.. Morrill-a gentleman
as cautious in his expressions as he Is
decided in favor of conviet1on-enter-
tains no doubt that he and his colleague
will agree on the final vote.
Mr.. Trumbull resembles Mr.. Fessen-
deb in more than one particular OF his
present position. He too has conser-
yatiye turn of mind, and a natural dig
like to measures like this. He too has
filled a long course OF public lie with
many worthily won honors The has
been member of the Illinois Iegisla-
ture, Secretary of State for Illinois,
EITrNA