New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-23
SECRET HISTORY or LupEACHuEyE
ALLEGED ATTEMPTS AT CoRRUPTION-$2O0 900
POLITICAL BARGAINs-THE HOUSE NYESTI-
CATION.

ALLEGED ATTEMPTS AT CoRRUPTIoN-$20O,O 900
POLITICAL BARGAINs-THE HOUSE INyESrI-
CATION.
The Cincinnati Gazette publishes a letter on
the Impeachment OF President Johnson from is wash
ingon correspondent, Gen. II. v. Boynton, who was
ent in Washington during the entire trial The facts
given, he says, present the full outlines OF the pncl
pal forces which used TO acqut Mr. Johnson" We
give, solely on tue authority Of the correspondent,
the leading points of his letter follows: "There
Of money The rstinyOlved $4,000 the second $685.
600, aud the third 100000 Two OF these. the irst aud
conviction, and each OF them had qualifications
which extended into the Senate The third the plot
which allowed go further than the farce in
which Mr.. Wooey figured. Aside from any OF these
corrupt schemes, involving the OF money there was
wedened political bargain. TO which the President
himself was party on the side, and some OF the
Upon this the verdict turned. When the main drama
was played through, there followed the hde0us farce of
The first attempt TO money In the matter came TO
the knowledge of Mr. Johusons friends in the form Of
proposition to bet $4,000 that he would he acquitted The
offer came from persons known TO BIO In the confidence
of prominent Radicals who stood before the country
cessfu however although II convinced those interested
tnat votes could be obtained for money. Meantime,
about half dozen OF the Presidents friends. prominent
among them being Mr. Randall and Mr.. Cooper. the
Private Secretary, began to work together sot Of
measures TO defeat conviction. kilograms were
sent for Cornelius Wendell, who was In
It would cost $4,000 buy acqua. They concluded
after some days hesitatiOn to raise the amount The
the most Of t. New.YOrk city furnished the man TO
handle it, or part OF IT, in the person OF e. d. Webster.
be supposed. Mr. Wendell himself did approach auy
Senator. Whatever transactions were carried were
with persons believed TO be middle men, Whether these
latter had any dealings with senators is matter Of con-
lecture But tho ono fact remains, that $4,000 was
through the hands Of Mr. Wendell 1t was
while the operations with this fund were
dptpqfiVCa q
yeoped some features OF the attempted corruption.
After consultation 1t determined by Of the less
scrupuOus advocates OF conviction TO meet money with
money; and. having satisfied themselves that Wendell
the chief depository OF the secrets Of those seeking
formation he had expose the plot In the Senate, aud
force conviction from the necessity which Senators would
Brlbed. For a tme Wendell pretended 30 be willing
to sell out lie and his associates, however.
a direct proposition from his side TO buy or
Johhsons friends, made In such shape, and with such
bricks to rise IN the Senate expose the whole affair." aud
so force acqutta In this, however, he failed direct
offer OF $4,000 was made TO Wendell but not in such
that IL could be used IN the Senate; although 10 ~
believed this proceeding afterward slenced those who
controlled lhe subsequent investigation by the House
10 IND H., go ,emoreG after Wendell anpearcd he
used only about 5000 OF an independent fund He is said
have drawn considerable money from Peter 5chWab OF
Hamilton, Ohio, but used only the amount named IL IL
not asserted above that money paid To senator
But Sl65OO did pass through the hands OF Mr.. Wendell
and others, who were before Buffers Committee IL IL
known that those who pretend to have used this money
constantly assert 10 each other mat three OF the seven
Senator. who voted against impeachment were always
regarded entirely beyond approach, namely: Fessen-
den Trunbul aud Grimes IL Is also asserted Dy some OF
Mr. ohusOus Intimate friends who had his fun confidence
throughou the tna that he at no time party TO
any these attempts nj corruption, and that he dis
co1roeed and froWned upon them from the first. The
friends that the part Randall Seward and Cooper
played IN IL without the Presidents consent ana
ngInst his wishes These friends further insist that
senator was corrupted with money but that the scheme
for raising IT, and the method OF ITS use only re-
suited IN enriching lot Of middle men. sti
d, a. tain huF
some way MP 10 the very time tho Senate met to vote
upon the Eleventh Article Ih3se az WOE an tne naer
thar vote with the belief that they had succeeded After
hresLfast thew became convinced that they had failed
To use their expression they found screw loose IL
was thought 20 DO necessary TO raise $4,000 before noon
tbe bonr the senate met that sum raised and with
those who raised IL believed that the loose screw was
20 much fo the effort to corrupt Senators by money.
by Reverdy johnson and Mr.. VIM. NJ. Eyarts. Johnson
came TO know that Fessenden. Grimes. and Trumbnlll
were pretty certain against impeachment from cOnFlc
ton. Henderson was strongly pressed to vote against
Impeachment. He wished TO do so. but was AFRAID OF
Johnson's future actions II he cleared. Mr. Ross
shared these feelings IL was understood That they we're
mis- future action. This he at first declined 10 do Az
length ne consented 20 an Interview with those senators
who shared Mr henderson, views, Al G,erye Nv
the house OF Reverdy Johnson The President assured
Mr. Grimes that n he was acquitted he would do nothing
I'm the way Of revenge out Of the usual course and
was willing to give pledges To that ELECT III was az
certa,ued that the doubtful would he satisfied II
certain changes IA the Cabinet were promised. The
nron,i-e wa. made. VIM NJ Evart- mentioned for
secretary OF State. Reyerdy Johnson for Attorney.
General aud VIM > GrOcsbeck OF OHIO for Secretary OF
the Treasury The President had previously determined
TO appoint schoeld secretary OF War Reyerdy Johnsons
name was aitcrward withdrawn as Attorney General
OF Mr. EysIts substituted. The President was
acquitted boy the votes o: those who were parties 10 ts
agreement This Is considered the real secret or the
impe achment Trial, 10y tho Presdents friends Thcy say
Il was entirely independent OF WeudcIs $4,000 plan
Some light may also be cast upon the history OF the IN
CATION ordered By the House and the cause OF its
failure Cen Butler had full charge OF tins case. He had
constantly operated detectives during the trial. and was
the beat Informed OF ali the managers He obtained such
entire control of the that the other managers almost
deserted the room while witnesses being examined
lie that Wendell and his friends had been using
large OF money, but his own hands may nave Detn
tied by the part lac had played 10 offering wendell $4,000
10 disclose what he knew Butler chapel the inyestiga
ton so as 10 up that affair, WoOey being used as
blind The testimony Of wendell, Randall
and Webster as taken by Butler has never been
pubshed some testimony, 1t is said was taken under
oath and some under Oah, and Butler could leave
ont i'm his report whatever OF the latter he wished TO-
letter TO Mr. Legate from senator PomerOy, dated In
1861 and agreeing sustain the President Ia everything
provided he was favored with certain postoce patron
age In Ieavenworth, was brought out during the est
ony hut IL appeared In the report Butter AFTER
ward wrote that he thought the letter was forgery ahd
ignored IL. The suppression OF testimony IN mat
re gard however seemed To be- deliberate Withholding
of what promised rich developments