Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-09
AN ATTEMPT TO CORRUPT THE
srNATE RY THE IMPEACHERS.

An ATTEMPT TO CORRUPT THE
SENATE BY THE IMPEACHERS.
The Springfield Republican, one Of the
eading Republican papers in Massachu-
,etts, made this statement few days ago
at is we'll known that both ex-Gov.
Curtin. Of Pennsylvania, and Gov. Fenton,
IF New York, are willing 10 sell ont their
chances at Chicago for seats in the Cabinet; |
and their men Of business are at Washing |
ton trying to negotiate that delicate ex-
change"
But this is not the most fragrant evi-
dencc Of corruption that is furnished by |
that party. 1t seems to have been re-
served for the impeachment trial to Illus
trate in the most forcible manner the ut
ter contempt in which leading Radicals
hold law and justice, and the despicable
means to which they viii resort to carry
their ends. The Washington cores
pondent Of the Cincinnati ChroRicle'
(RadicaD tolegraphs to that paper under
date Of the 9th inst as follows:
Several Senators, yesterday, who are
personalv opposed to Senator Wade, took
advantage Of the peculiar condition of
affairs To urge his friends 10 have him
CWadel 10 resign the position of President
Of the Senate pro fcBipore, when, in their
view. impeachment would be certain.
Much surprise WAS created by Senator
Wilson, who waited upon three Ohio Con-
gressmen, and said this whole difficulty
could be solved by Mr.. Wade resigning
He said that he (Wilson) would carry his
own State for himself at the Chicago Con-
vention, for Vice President; but if Wade
would resign the Presidency Of the Senate,
and thus let Colfax step into the Presiden-
tial chair on the success Of impeachment
he WILSON, would agree to carry the Mas
sachusetts delegates and all the delegates
favorable 10 himself and Colfax, for Mr..
Wade for Vice President at Chicago. This
offer was at once firmly refused, but never
theless has occasioned a great deal of talk
among politicians who were informed of
it."
The statement is corroborated by the
correspondent Of the Cincinnati Gazette,
who telegraphs the same day as follows
"There Is no doubt whatever Of the fact
that Senator Wilson has made direct
proposition to several of Mr.. Wade's
friends and in part TO Mr.. Wade in person,
that il the latter would resign his position
az presiding officer Of the Senate, vote for
conviction, and allow Speaker Colfax to
succeed Mr.. johnson, if he should be con-
victed, then he, Wilson, would publish a
letter, Withdrawing from the field as a can
didate for the Vice Presidency at Chicago
in favor of Wade, and that he and Colfax,
and their respective friends, would use
their influence to secure the nomination of
Wade. TO the whole thing Mr.. Wade re-
piled that he was not making political bar
gains upon the issue of impeachment, or
upon its present aspects. Mr.. Wilson
places the affair upon the ground that he
was willing TO resign all his desires for the
nomination, if, by so doing, he could rem
der the Presidents conviction certain"
Here is q deliberate attempt on the
part of one Senator to bride another Sem
atOr to vote for the conviction of the
President, and it appears that even the
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives
is a party to this infamous transaction.
The exposure of this corrupt proceeding
rests upon Radical testimony, and we
cannot see how the Senate can pass it by
unnoticed. 1t is the boldest attempt to
corrupt the Senate that has been made
since its organization, and shows what
means the Jacobin leaders OF the Radical
party will rcsorG to in order to retain
power and place in their hands. The
purpose Of the impeachers is thus ex-
posed Fearing that there are honest
Republicans in the Senate who cannot
be driven by the manufactured senti"
ment of the party, to vote for the con-
viction of the President in utter disre-
gard of both law and testimony, they
seek to buy votes, and at least one Sena>
tor, according to Radical testimony, has
been approached with the corrupt offer
of a nomination for Vice President if he
will vote for conviction