Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-17
TINE GREAT IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
How the Acquittai Was Secared-
eating "Reminiscences and New F.ess

How the Acqutttai Was Secured-Iater-
eating "Reminiscences and New Faes..
From s oox's "Three Decades Of Federal Isris,..
ton"
There are some matters connected with this
remarkable trial Qthe Impeachment of Johnson,
and It's results not known OF record They are
known 10 those who were intimate with PreSi-
dent Johnson among Others Go Reverdy John
son, 10 COL VIM. q. Moore. his private secre-
tary, to VIM. W. Warden. a trusted friend and.
we may add, 20 the writer. The confidence ~
the President was evinced by the tender to the
author OF an appointment minister To Aus
tria. What is said herein OF the minor history
Of the impeachment has, therefore, this sane
ton.
There were conferences between friends az
the President at the johnson annex" which
should be printed. Some memory OF these con.
ferences. well rs OF interviews with leading
republicans. shQnld he preserved.
From the date of the formal inception OF the
Impeachment scheme TO the date of tho verdict,
one OF these gentlemen, Mr.. Warden, was con-
stantly Intercepted by the Senators and Rep
resentatives who had ceased to visit the ENecu-
tive mansion, concerning President JohnSon's
he looked at the prdceedinss' cor these things iD
l faithfully and promptly informed him." says
Mr. warden, ,.in our evenings together. When
we met at night-no matter how frequently No
may have met during the preceding day-Mr.
johnson opened up with, We'll, what are the
signs OF the zodiac today Thereupon L
would proceed to inform him what the main
features In the leading newspapers contained
always truthfully relating what was said Of
him personally or relative 10 his policy, some
times reading aloud portions and never failing
TO let him have opportunity for forming his
favor OF or against him. Then I proceeded 10
relate the occurrence OF the day In Congress.
Gen Rutier had ferca acba,a IN ,hs Wonss mn, ~,
day-Butler charged that Bingham had been
guilty OF legal murder In the trial OF the
sassins OF PRESIDENT Lincoln. Then gave the
occurrences in the senate. In this manner I
impaired my information OF all Kinds, aud as
the Impeachment trial progressed, and espe-
that, beside the clamor OF the radical republi-
can press FOR verdict Of guilty and
THE EVICTION OF MR.. JOHNSON
| from the White House, the House managers had
been openly predicting dire calamity TO the
country as the result Of an acquittal of the
President. primarily because n verdict of not
guilty would encourage MIR. johnson Ia 90 rash
things 60 on In his excuses, encourage the ex-
rebels, and further, that these alarmsts i'm the
Senate had begun 10 threaten with infamy any
senator who should vote not guilty, and that
radical republican Senators were underwriting
to Brighten of the so-cslled-doubttul republican
senators, who, it WAS then believed. would vote
for acquttal."
Senator Reverdy Johnson" said Mr.. War
den TO the writer, had made an arrangement
with me whereby Il was TO meet him at his
home-the johnson annex 90 the Arlington
hotei-eyery evening at = O'Clock, ana there
talk over the affairs of the day In those con-
versations, he told me OF the utterances OF the
radical Senators. As the partisan feeling In the
Senate became somewhat fierce Senator John
son became apprebensive that one or other OF
three OF the doubtful republican Senators
might be driven TO vote guilty, and the Senator
informed me that these doubtful members had
said TO him that IL was unfortunate that there
was no means practicable by which they could
have assurances from President johnson that
ne aid not Intend any rash act In case of "A
verdict OF acquittal. Senator Johnson asked the
| Senators what they would suggest for relief
from their perturbation. They replied: Let
! hfrafh ms han lfglxr
In some form, denying such intention. Sena-
tor Johnson told these Senators that President
johnson, even II inclined To such a course, was
In no position 10 be heard publicly this sub
Ject. except by his counsel in course of their
argument, and that assurances from that
source would not be received a. binding.
"Thereupon senator Grimes-one OF the best
of the radical republican Senators, and who
hnally voted not guilty-calls senator johnson
aside upon the floor of the Senate. A brief,
earnest interview is held. It Is confidenfiaIly
agreed that IL IL could so happen that President
Johnson and Senator Grimes should meet cas-
ually, or in n social way, the subject would be
discussed informally, so that President johnson
might respond In his own way to the assertions
that he would do rash acts, and encourage
rebels"
Senator Johnson suggested To Mr. Warden
| that at his next meeting with the President it
would be advisable 10 let the latter know how
the matter was affecting the doubtful Senators
Mr.. Warden cautiously approached the PresI-
dent with an invitation from Senator johnson
to make the latter "A brief visit at about -
O'Clock on the following night. Meanwhile,
Senator Johnson invited Senator Grimes who
lived around the corner on street, 10 spend the
evening Owing TO the peculiar nature of the
President, II proved To be most difticult To bring
about this desired meeting. However, the visit
was made.
SENATORS GRIMES AND JOHNSON
are seated I'm the drawing-room OF the latter's
house. They pleasantly chat about trifies un.
til President Johnson arrives. He Is accom-
panied by Col Robert Morrow OF the Presi-
dents executive household, and Mr. Warden.
The greeting is exceedingly cordial. After
anil 1nO oil n.hsa t1ra.r
which these Senators had spent together inter-
larded with some fun aud humor-Senator
Johnson, at the conclusion OF amusing anec-
dote he had been telling, cleverly breaches the
subject that had brought the party together. In
short time there is a candid Interchange OF
sentiments, during which President johnson
becomes quite excited when expressing his in-
dignation at the assertions OF the alarmists In
the Senate. He exclaims: "They have no war
rant whatever, in anything have said or DONE
for believing that the President intends 60 do
any act which is not in strict conformity with
the constitution and the laws" He becomes
eloquent as he proceeds. He convfnces all pres
emit that he heartily and honestly means what
he says.
Senator Grimes has frequently said, in defense
OF his vote for acquital, that for himself he
never believed that President Johnson intended
10 do wrong, as alleged by the alarmisis, but
that, even If he had been doubtful before this
meeting, he would have come away with fun
confidence In the Presidents patriotism and
law-abidng intentions. The party remained
together an hour. They separated much graft
fled. Upon the following day, senator Grimes,
I'm a confidential, seemingly casual chat with
the three doubtful Senators, inspires confidence.
Without telling them upon what authority he
acts he says to them solemnly: "You may rely
implicitly upon this: know Johnson's purposes
i'm the event of acquital. You need not fear
that his behavior will cause you TO regret your
vote, whichever way You may cast it. He does
not dread, personally, a verdict OF guilty. lie
believes such a verdict would be disastrous To
the republic, and hence prays for acquital.
But he has no thought OF wrong or rash dongs."
The proceedings OF the trial were about clos
ing when the writer, then out OF Congress aud
practicing law in New York city, received a
telegram rom Mr.. Charles w. Wooley. 1t re-
CURED the authors preseIsce in Washington.
Ii gave some mysterious reason. lie arrived
at w Wizards and was informed by Mr.. wooley
that IL was suggested that Mr., John II. Hem
derson, then "A republican Senator from Mis-
souri,, was one OF the doubtful Senators, and
IL was understood that the Senator and the
author were old friends, the telegram was sent.
1t was true that the friendship existed. They
had been Douglas democrats In stormy times
together. The friendly relation yet exists
Gen. Henderson il a man of great atfectionate-
ness and absolute probity. But his nature Is
mellowed with a geniality which is leading
trait in the nobility Of the man. He r. not
bitter partisan although he presided over the
national convention that nominated Mr.. Blaine
in 1854.
1t was then thought that the writer could
influence this Senator. Whether he could
motor did or not-be called on him TO make
the best impression possible on behalf OF
acquittal. A public meeting had just been
held in St Louis, to instruct the Senator 70
vote guilty. His sense of justice had been
found him. He seemed to want advice and
counsel. n NOT long before the writer WAS