The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-12-31
Secret History of Impeachment.
TIE AGREEMENT UNDER WHICH JOHNSON
WAS ACQUITTED.

The Washington correspondent of tho
Cincinnati GdzGttG Processes to tell tho sto-
~ of Johnson's acquittal. II has been
rumored that parties concerned In buying
up enough senators to aequit johnson, had
disagreed and threatened exposure. If
tho following account is not all true, the
facts will not long be delayed;
There were three distinct movements which
had in view the use OF money. The hrst in-
volycd s5O, 900, the second Sl65,OO0 and the
thirl S2OO,0OO Two Of these, the first and
Lust, we're set on foot by those publicly hvoring
conviction, and each OF them had ramihcations,
which extended into the Senate. The third was
n plot which the House attempted TO have in-
,estiyate,i, but which was allowed 10 90 no FUR
,ler than the farce in which Mr.. WoOley hgur-
ell. Aside from any Of these corrupt schemes,
involving the use Of money, there was well
defined political bargain, IN which the President
himself was party ON the one side, and some
Of the seven Senators who voted for acqait'al on
the other. Upon this the verdict turned.
The first attempt to use money in the matter
came 30 the knowledge Of Mr.. Johnson's friends
In the form Of o proposition to bet soO,Ooo that
he would be acquitted. IL was made soon aiier
the first steps had been taken by the House, ana
before there were any very markell ind'cSions
rs to the feeling Of the Senate. IL MAS brought
10 the attention Of Mr.. Randall, MIR. MeCulloch
and Mr.. Seward by the person TO whom II was
submitted, and this latter who's n. very we'll
known expert In all such matters, urged the OF
fcials named 10 take measures To raise the funds
10 cover the bet. His belief was that the money
which had been laid down when the bet was
maiie, belonged, in part at least, In the Senate.
and TO those supposed by the public to be i'm
pcachment men. His theory was that those put
ting up the money, see that they did not lose u,
by securing the acquittal Of the President Mr..
McCulloch did not desire TO enter into such
scheme. Mr.. Seward and Mr.. Randall were
DISPOSED 20 countenance the raising OF the
amount. But before IL could be done, matters
had drifteL - far as to cause the plan to be
dropped. II Is 10 this day considered by those
friends Of Mr.. johnson. who were priyy to the
affair. as direct offer to acquit the President
for 100000.
Meantime abou half dozen Of the Prcsi-
dents friends, prominent among them being
Mr.. Randall and Mr.. Cooper, the private scc-
rotary. began 10 work together as q sort OF Com
mittee OF WAYS and Means to devise measures
10 defeat conviction. At length they became
convinced, Of what at first they would not DO
lieye, namely, that the case was desperate. In
considering whom they should call into their
councils. they found that they needed Cornelius
Wendell. lie was absent from the city. Half
N dozen kilograms we're sent after him, and at
length one reached him in Maine. to which he
responded ny retaining TO Washington. lie ut.
tended a meeting Of those who had summoned
him, and heard them explain the situation.
When sskci his opinion Of the way out OF the
trouble. he replied smPhaticslly' "Buy your
way out -
"How much viii ID eostf'
1.-TWO hundrcl thousand dollars"
eve can't raise H." ....
"Theu you can't aoquit."
Amer Mr.. wcndelrs proposition had bccn un-
der consideration for Few days, he Was called
10 another meeting. and informed that they hal
decided 10 try and rAise the money. Said
Wendell
..Raise your money. Appoint man 20 hand
Il over. don't want any thing to do with you.
You understand. Get your money. Get your
man. And lct me alone"
Under this arrangement Sl65. 900 was raiscd.
New York operators furnished the most OF H.
New York city furnished the men to handle II,
or part q IL, In the perscn Of Il. ID. Webster,
whose connection with Thurlow Weed Ia known.
~ may be supposed Mr.. Wendell did not ap-
prcseh any Senator. Whatever transactions
weps sarried on were with persons believed 70
lie Iaille men. Whether these latter had any
dealings 9Th Senator's Is q matter Of conjecture.
But the one fact remains, that sl65,00o was
raised 10 dessstimpeaehment. and that IL passed
brough the kaais Of Mr.. wendall.
II Was while The operations with this fund
were IN progress. that Buffers detectives de
velopoi sne satnrss of the attempted eorrup-
ten. Afcr consultation. V was determined BY