The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-15
John B. Henderson.

J0nn b. henderson.
Previous to the late civil war John B.
Henderson was not known out OF the state
of Missouri. He had gained, however, q
reputation in his own state as good law
yer and eloquent speaker. In 1860 the
state of Missouri was represented in the
United States senate by James S. Green
and Trusten Polk. They both threw their
fortunes into the confederacy and IN 1861
disappeared. B. Gratz Brown took the
place of Green and in 1862 John B. Hen
derson that of Polk, the term expiring
March 4, 1868. Henderson was reelected
for the term ending March 4, 1869 and
served out his time. He was succeeded by
Carl Schurz. Our readers, perhaps, for
getting the events of 1866 and 1867, will
ask why Mr.. Henderson was superseded by
SchurZ. The reason was that he had voted
for the acquittal of Andrew johnson. The
trial of johnson disclosed the fact that he
would be convicted, if at all, by the united
vote of all the republicans. The democrats,
in the hope of gaining some party advan-
tage, had all agreed to vote in favor of
johnson. Up to almost the last moment it
was hoped that no republican would record
his vote against conviction. But Fessenden
of Maine, and Henderson of Missouri, were
not convinced that the acts of the president
were the high crimes and misdemeanors
that would justify his impeachment and his
removal thereby from Office. The conduct
of johnson had been arbitrary and without
warrant of law. He had assumed to die
tate the process of reconstruction without
even asking the consent of congress. He
congress. The reconstruction acts had to
be passed over his votes. He was mad
with ambition to be nominated and elected
president He encouraged the late rebels
to resist the laws of congress and reject the
measures of reconstruction. He avowed
bis wish to restore the southern states with
their old constitutions aud laws. He did
not disguise his wish to let the old slave
holders reduce the negroes to vassalage
that was in fact equal to their former bond
age. He quarreled with Secretary Stanton
and General Grant because they would not
join him in his contest with congress. The
whole republican party, with very few ex-
ceptions, not merely sided with congress,
but demanded the impeachment and con-
viction of johnson.
To separate from his colleagues in the
senate, to vote contrary to the wishes aud
expectations of the whole party, required
more than ordinary nerve. Henderson
knew that his vote in favor of Johnson
would cost him the friendship of his party
| in Missouri, and that he could not hope for
| q reelection to the senate. If he had been
very ambitious, and desired to hld Of
fee, he would have stifled conscience and
all convictions Of duty, and voted With his
party. His vote lost him the confidence
and support of his friends in MssouI. He
served out his time in the senate, Tut he
was no longer treated as one of the repub-
lican majority. He was pushed aisle and
treated with GOODNESS. He did not ,oin the
democrats, but still continued to support
the republicans. He had never couted the
rebel element, and the democrats did not
like him. He returned to the pnoice OF
the law. His legal attainments aad his
forensic abilities, are go great, that although
politically under cloud, he Is Still man
of mark and influence in the STATE He has
been elected to the constitutions conven-
ton, and to the legislature. His services
have been in demand as counsel in many of
the most important civil and criminal
| CAUSES Ill tuc COuItbs w ucu ~ WhScbOlv6u
to prosecute the conspirators OF tb whisky
ring his ability and integrity poired him
out to be the best man in the statdo assist
prosecution In the trials of Joyce Nc Don
aid and Avery is largely due to hiskill in
the conduct of the suits.
He has been dismissed, beca,e in his
speech to the jury on the trial ofAvery he
brought the name of the presidit in con-
nection with the performance other du-
ties by some of the officers of iprnal rev.
enue. If Gen. Grant did not lntfere, then
the remarks of Mr.. Hendersonought not
to have given any offense. II thpresident
did interfere, then the remark were not
equal in severity to the enormitof the in
reference. We do not believdhat Gen.
ding with Mr.. Douglass, and dieting him
about the details of his duty. Nertheless,
we know that the members of le whisky
ring have for two or three yearyiven 1t to
be understood that they hay powerful
friends In Washington, and hat their
friends had the ear of the pndent. In
his speech to the jury, Hendera undoubt-
eddy meant to have them undstand that
Gen. Grant had nothing to apphend from
a full exposure of the whisky rauds, and
the punishment of the consators. If
Joyce, Avery, Mcdonald, aneven Bah
cock, had been concerned wi the distIl-
lers In defrauding the goverient, they
were not to be screened becab they had
been friends of the president, pr they had
abused his confidence, and ,de their in
timacy with him cover and rejection of
their rascality.
GrantIhas made mistake the dismis-
sal of Henderson. 1t Is no a mistake
because the cabinet has corfmed TO his
wish. The president says Il Henderson
was In the conspiracy with hurz against
him. We never before hid of such a |
conspiracy, and 1t Is improhe that Hen |
derson should conspire witHe very man
who succeeded him In the ate. But If |
Henderson has not been partizan of |
Grant, and If Grant does Ilike him, II
there is mutual feeling hostility b.
tween them, tho more red why Grant |