The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-08-24
MlisrfAanh
TIE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
Drunkenness in lEae Senate-.HOW
Senator Salisbury was Enabled
to Give his Vote.
ITrom the Globe-Denoorat.

Drunkenness I'm lEse Senate-.HOw
Senator Salisbury ysas Enabled
TO Give his Vote.
ITrom the Globe Democrat
Mr.. Willard Salisbury was a Demo.
cratic Senator from Delaware, with good
but very decided weakness
for toddy. He would stay sober for
months sometimes, but the mere smell
of liquor would start him on spree
that might last for weeks. He had been
quite steady for long time, and had
promised to abstain entirely from liquor
while the impeaetziitt iittnstrial lassed
One evening young man called at
his room and desired an interview, which
was granted. He represented himself.
as the agent of wine and liquor i'm
porting house in New York, who had
come to Washington to have the tariff
amended with respect to these articles,
and he would like to interest the Sena-
tor in his cause. He concluded his re-
marks by saying that he had brought,
some samples OF wine and brandy with
him, and asking the Senator's permis-
sion to send few bottles to his room.
Salisbury Immediately saw in this
proposition plot to get him drunk, SO
that he might be either absent from the
Senate when the vote on impeachment
was taken, or that, going to the Senate
in state of intoxication, he might be
expelled, as had often been threatened
in his case. Indeed, a resolution for
his expulsion had once been offered and
was then on the calendar of the Senate.
1t looked then, on close calculation, as
if one vote subtracted from the Demo-
cratic side would secure Johnson's con-
viction Salisbury ordered the bogus
wine merchant out of his room in short
order, and Immediately acquainted sew
eral Of his friends with the details of the
plot.
1t reached Johnson's ears very soont
''They can't beat me in any other way"
said the President, 'and they are trying
Ito get the jury drunk 1t was im,ne-
diately resolved by Johnson's friends to
keep close watch on Salisbury, and
this precaution was soon rendered nec-
essary. Salisbury, whether as the re-
suit of conspiracy, or in obedience to
his own sweet will, got furiously drunk
on the day rendered memorable in the
history of the trial by the anti iimpeach-
ment speeches of Fressenden, Trumbull,
an6 other Republicans II was a secret
session of the Senate, bat it soon got
noised abroad that Saulsbary was try
ing to get the floor to make drunken
speech Half an hour later he would
probably have been expelled. But he
was persuaded to leave the Senate, and
he was accompanied to his room, where
he was put to bed. The vote was ex-
tpected the next day, and as it was i'm
pUruauu ----i, -rys<-ant a
consultation was held as to the best anu
quickest means of SOLDERING him of.
Somebody suggested big fright as
a good thing for him under the circum-
stances. There was Bahcock fire ex.
tinguisher in the hall. which was imme-
diately transferred to the bedside Of the
tipsv Senator Salisbury rose on his
launches to know what the internal
thing was for, and the agonizing man.
ner in which he begged for mercy when
told that it was a stomach pump, and
that it wonll be applied to him if he
were not duly sober by five in the morn
ing, will not soon be forgotten by the
few who witnessed it. From that day
forward until the vote was taken, Sauls
bury was sent to the Senate every day
in hack, and bis movements were care
fully watched so that he was present te
vote against impeachment when the fina
vote was taken.
There was sequel in this. The ar'
ti-impeachers insisted on the Mosaic
law of reta'illion-drunk for drunk
and there was had case of delirium
tremens on the other side Of the Senatl
chamber before long, which can ever
now he traced in the official record o
the High Court of Impeachment.