Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-01-05
The Impeachment Investigation.

The Impeachment Investigation.
Searchers after the truth were never salts
fed with the Congressional investigation into
the failure to impeach Andrew Johnson
What ought to have then been brought to the
light of day, now begins tocomo out by piece.
meal, accompanied by some of the reason.
why the facts were then withheld.
Mr.. Cornelius Wendell, noted lobbyist
of Washington, has lately been making some
striking revelations which, though stopping
short of involving any single individual by
name, still go cry much further in fastening
bribery upon the means used to acquit the
President than anything which appeared be-
fore the investigating committee.
This witness now says that he was off in Nov
England working for the nomination of Gen.
Hancock for president by the democratic con.
vention, when Mr.. Johnson's friendsat Wash
ington, in alarm, sent for him, and wanted his
help to secure an acquittal, if possible He
thought it would be better for the democracy
that Mr. johnson should be convicted and re-
moved. because then, he believed, the party
could elect the next President but, never
theless, he enlisted in the effort for acquittal
and consulted with Secretaries McCulloch,
Randall and Seward, the presidents son-in-
law, Cooper, and others as to the means to be
used for the purpose. He told them that it
would take at least sl5O,OOO, but he refused
to have anything to do with raising the mon
ey, or with the direct distribution of it. He
knew there would be an investigation, and
therefore determined to keep himself ignorant
of the details. But the money was raised,
partly by McCulloch and partly by Randall
and the rest by outside parties
Three republican Senators, Grimes, Fessen.
den and Trumbull, were certain to vote for
acquittal from conscientious motives; but
four more republican votes we're needed to Sc
cure acquittal. Mr. Wendell checked twelve
Names out of which these four could proba-
bly, be got to vote for acquittal by one form
or another of bribery and the four who did
so vote Henderson, Ross Van Wrinkle, and
Fowler, he says, were influenced by the money
thus obtained. OF course, Mr.. Wendell says,
none of it was paid directly to them, and he
thus describes the delicate modus operandi of
bribing Congressman
You know that most Senator's have confden-
tal man who attends to these little outside bust
ness arrangements for them. 1t wouldn't do TO
go to a Senator direct. Such business is managed
in this way. The confidential man of particular
senator is found, and an appeal made to him.
Probably he is told that ON a certain measure il
is very important to have vote in certain way.
A roll OF money is handed to him, and he is told
that If the measure succeeds he may retain the
money; if it fails he is TO return it, lie is put
upon his honor regarding the transaction, and
nothing more is said lie understands what is
expected of him. Ii the price offered satisfies his
Senator, it is all right; otherwise he brings the
money back
Aud here is a case where a Senator's iudp.
ment was bought but his courage not
The sum of thirty thousand dollars was paid
TO certain man, but he returned ii a few DAYS
alter. lie said that his Senator was too strongly
committed for impeachment, and didn't see how
vote for acquittal. We argued the case with
him told him that it was certain that Irumbull,
Grlmes and Fessendcn would vote for acquittal
from conscientious convictions and that his Sena-
tor had only to say that ADLER minds than his were
convinced Ct the justice Of acquittal under the
evidence adduced, and that after mature delibera-
ton and a careful examination OF the testimony,
he felt that due regard for his oath would not
permit HIM 10 vote for conviction. But this rea-
sonlng did not convince the Senator He insisted
that It would kill him politically in his own State
to vote for acquttol, and he would not do it.
MIR. Wendell being asked if Mr. Pomeroy
of Kansas was one of the men they tried to
buy, replied no; that Pomeroy offered himself
to them in the Legate letter, and that they
knew they could have him whenever they
wanted him. That letter, Mr.. Wendell says,
he saw himself and copied, and that it was
certainly in Pomeroys handwriting, which he
knows as well as he does his own. Mr.. Wen.
dell's judgment upon the Kansas Senator was,
that he was too ready to sell and overshot the
Johnson's friends were suspicious
of him.
On some other interesting points Mr.. Wen
dell's testimony is as follows -
When wanted money | used to 20 to Il certain
room. There were generally three or four gentle
men there. would look al over the room, turn
the papers over, and make a great fuss of search
ing. Some one would probably ask me what | |
was looking after. | would answer that | was
looking for money and would generally find
what wanted before got through.
The President knew nothing about it. All his
friends were frightened to death when they saw
how the case was going, and were anxious to do
something to avert the threatened conviction.
MIR. MeCulloch was at first opposed to using
money, but he gave in when he saw the danger
OF losing his oltce. Mr.. Randall was ready from
the first to do whatever was necessary. Mr. sew
ard also looked at matters in business-like way
guess the rest of the administration were kent
IN the dark know the President was. and am
satisfied he would not have allowed any money To
be used if he had known ii.