The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-12-31

some of the les scrupulous advocates Of ccnvie-
ton. 10 meet money with money and having
satisfied themselves that Wendell was the chief
depository Of the secrets q those seeking 10 use
corruption, an sttempt wa made to buy the in
formation be had. exposc the plot in the Senate,
and 80 force conviction from the necessity Sena-
tors would feel TO clear themselves from the
suspicion Of being bribei.
For o time Wendell pretended 10 he willing 10
sell out. An attempt to have him meet and
confer with Butler was persisted In Tor some
time. He put those who approached him on,
however, with the remark that Butler was too
smart, and be would not trust himself in But
ler's hands.
All this time Wendell and his associates were
straining every nerve TO trap Butler with d.
rect proposition from his side TO buy OF john
sons friends, made in such shape and with such
witnesses a. would enable Senator johnson or
Nr. Hendricks 10 rise in the Senate, expose the
whole affair, and 30 force aoquittal The last
conference between thee parties was held mt
Wendel's house on y street. lie had agreed to
meet Butler at a point near at hand. Butler
was driven in close carriage into street back
Of the Patent Office, and was there in wait ng
for Wendell, as those who came 10 the house Of
the latter asserted. A direct offer was made to
Wendell Of check for 500, 900 to bear the en-
dorsement Of wealthy, fierce impeachment
Senator. The conference lasted two hours, but
the chief object. that Of inducing Wendell to 20
around 10 where Buffers carriage was, have
an interview with him, tell him the plans OF
Randall, Cooper and others, and the use they
were making Of money, faile'l entirely. Wen-
dell hal no witnesses which would enable him
% present a case which could not be broken
down, and il was not deemed advisable TO use
the matter in the Senate.
II Is also asserted by some Of Mr. Johnson's
intimate friends, who had his full confidence
throughout the trial, that he WIS at no time n
party toAny Of these attempts at corruption,
and that he discouraged and frowned upon them
from the first.
The friends assert that the part Randall, Sc
ward, and Cooper played in Il was without the
Presidents consent and against his wishes.
These friends further insist that no Senator was
corrupted with money. but that the scheme for
raising il, and the method Of its use, only re-
suited in enrichipg lot Of middle men. Still
il is certain that money was raised and used In
some way up t0 the very time the Senate met to
vote upon the Eleventh Article.
Those at work in the matter went to bed long
after midnight Of the day preceding that vote.
with the belief that they had succeeded. AMER
breakfast they became convinced that they had
failed. To use their own expression, they founl
n screw loose. II was thought TO be necessary
10 raise $40. 900 before noon, the hour the SEN
ate met That sum was aisel, and with IL
those who raised il teley,d that the Loose screw
was set firmly in place again.
The drift Of affairs in the Senate was carefully
watched by Reyerdy johnson and MIR. Eyarts,
and through third parties, became known at the
White House. Without any inquiries except
such as shrcwd lawyer wOuM know how TO
make without exciting suspicion. and without
any consultations upon points Of law except such
as might properly pass between Senators, he
came 10 know that Fessenden, Grimes and Trim-
bull were pretty certain 10 vote against the I'm
parchment Of johnson from conviction. Dir.
Henderson. who was being strongly pressed to
vote for acquittal, and had finally about decided
10 do 80. was In great fear Of the effect both upon
himself and upon the country, II johnson should
be cleared. aud then act as many believed he
would. Henderson's desire 10 have company In
the matter. and his great anxiety led him to
sound the Senators namel above. lie satisfied
himself that each Of them was thoroughly con-
wheel that the President could not be legally
convicted under the articles presented, but that
each of them looked forward with great anxiety
to what Mr.. johnson might do fine were not dis
placed. And that each was nc times questionin!
whether this fear Of danger TO the country should
not be accorded weight in the decision they were
callel upon 10 make-Mr. Henderson, novel by
conviction that these gentlemen shared his
views, set himself at work through another to
obtain such pledges from the President As would
prevent rash action ON his part in case he was
acquitted. Mr.. Ross shared the feelings Of Mr..
Henderson, and while the Prcsinent's friends
came to understand that neither Of these gentle
men would vote TO acquit without these pledges
from the President, IL was also supposed that the
effect which such pledges would have upon fes-
senden, Grimes and Trumbull would bc to re-
move the fears which in n sense were believed to
stand in the way Of their voting Occorling to
their real convictions.
This state Of affairs was made known to the
President. AT first he absolutely declined to
give any pledge whatever. He insisted that
what he had done was right, and he was willing
TO abide the result Of the trial and the amer YER
dict of the country. At the same time he declared
he had no intention Of doing anything in splr-
il of revenge IL acquitted. Mr.. Henderson was
made aware Of the Presidents views and asser-
tons. Meantime, the advisers Of Mr. johnson
had become convinced that the case would turn
upon one or two votes, and he urgei the Pesi-
dent 10 meet and confer with one OF the Senators
who shared the views Of Mr.. Henderson. For
time the President refused. but at length, in or
der 20 assure those who feared lie would do some
rash thing in case he remained in the White
House, he consented. An interview Was arranged
between Senator Grimes and the President at
the house Of Reverdy johnson. Senator Grimes
called one evening, and while there the President
came in. Mr.. johnson assured Mr.. Grimes
that there was no intention on his part to any
act out Of the usual course in case he was &C
Quilted, and he was willing to give such assur-
anees as would satisfy those IN the Senate who
fearel tue contrary. Il was ascertained that
such Senator's rs were considering this branch
Of the subject would be fully satisfied with \
promise that the Cabinet should be 20 changed
as 10 bring in four men in whom the Senators
mentioned had confidence. Such reorganira-
ton was pledged. The changes asked for were in
the Department Of State, the Attorney Generals
Office, with the further assurance that man in
whom the Republican party had confidence
should succeed Mr.. Stanton.
Among those mentioned rs likely TO prove
entirely satisfactory TO the Senators who were
considering a vote for acquittal, were VIM. Nj.
Eyart fOr the State Department, Reyeriy john
son for Attorney General, and VIM. 5. Groes-
beck Of Ohio for SECRETARY Of the Treasury.
The President also male known his previous
determination to appoint Gen. schOheld Secre-
tary Of War. which was Of course satisfactory.
Some other names were used, but in what con-
nection with those given above can not now be
ascertained. except tina, Re,erdy johnson was
Withdrawn As Attorney General, Mt his own ~
quest. with Eynts substituted.
The nature Of the interview was reported by
Mr.. Grimes, and the President was acquitted by
the votes Of those who were parties to the
agreement. This is considered the real secret
of the impeachment trial by such OF the Pres'-
dents counsel, and Of his intimate friends, as
were acquainted with the circumstances related.
They hold il to be entirely independent OF the
plan in which wendail, Randall and others were
engaged, and that Il was arranged and carried
out without their knowledge.