The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1873-11-05
H0W 1T WAS DONE.
Cornelius JFendeu Gives an account
Of the Impeachment and 1Acqaattal
of Alldreao johnson.

Cornelius WendeH Giveg an account
Of the Impeachment and Acqaittal
Of Andreso Jo7nsoa
New York Sum-, October l.
The presence of Andrew Johnson
in Washington recalls to mind the
memorable impeachment trial, in
which he was defendant, toward the
the close of his term of Office as Pres
ident of the United States The late
Cornelius Wendell, who was familiar
with the incidents of that trial; and
an actor in some of the most import
ant of them. used to say Mr.. JOHN.
sons acquittal was attributable, not
as many supposed, to the eloquence
and the ability of the distinguished
counsel employed by him, but to the
use of money. We meyer under
stood that Mr.. johnson himself fur
nlShed any part of the sum paid, al
though the parties who advanced it
unouestionably counted upon per
sonal advantages 30 themselves to
result from his appreciation and
gratitude after the trial should be
over. Mr.. WendelPs story was as
follows
The idea of saying Mr.. johnson
had been almost wholly retfrquished
by his friends his conviction seem
ed a foregone conclusion, and was
almost universally spoken of rs GER
tain, when one Sunday. while Mr..
Wendell was sitting in one of the
public rooms at Browns Hotel
Since changed to the Metropolitan
he was accosted by an acquaintance,
| who asked: Wendell, do you want
to bet 100000 that Johnson will be
convicted? because, if you do, will
take the bet"
AIr. Wendell said he ut once com
pretended what the proposition
| meant. and after little further con-
| ver,ation requested little time in
! which to make up his mind, and APP
| pointed a lac hour in the same dry
| for another meeting with the party
who made it.
Il flew around" continued Mr..
! Wendell. land. after seeing several
persons, found that [ could raise
| 100000; so when this man came
| back again I said to him, i viii bet
you $4,000 ;"
:" / don't want to bet 100000,
/ was the instantaneous reply. 1 Of
| fered to bet You 500, 900 ;-if you do
not wish to take that. we will let the
matter drop. I will bet that or
nothing no smaller sum-
Wendell now perceived that the
man was unquestionably in earnest,
and that il he took the bet the result
would be one of two things-John'
son would be acquitted, or lie would
win a hundred thousand dollars. He
requested further time, which was
accorded. with the understanding
however, that at the next interview
the money WAS to he put mp or the
negotiation was TO be at an end.
Mr.. Wendell knew where ane
to whom to 90 to raise money fol-
such purpose no man in the coun
try knew better: and although sucl
sudden demand for so large a sun
taxed his energies severely, he sue
ceeded in getting the amount to
gether within the time limited. The
terms of the bet were fully compiled
with and the money was put up.
President Johnson. as we all knew
to be a historical fact, was acquitted
but very few persons in the country
, have hitherto understood how it wa
done
Mr.. Wendell said that some o
the money went TO quarters whlcl
would have been among the last t
be suspected, whereas rtain Sena
tors against whom suspicion wa
most rife never touched dollar o
the money. Mr.. Wendell also sal'
: that they had several more votes sc
cured to be given i'll favor of acquit
tai in case they should be requires
to accomplish that result; but if no
j needed to acquit, then to be cast 10
conviction.
t One of the most curious thing
! about the whole transaction was til
manner in which the money wa
: paid over after the acquitta' ha
l taken place. 1t was not handed d
: rectly over from one of the partle
2 to the other, but was lost b
1 one to the other IN play at cards.