Mr.Tyler had failed; but thus far in the controversy with Johnson, Congress had succeeded.

It was said, however, with great pertinacity by the friends of the President, that Congress was enabled to do this only by the exclusion of eleven States of the Union from representation; and from this fact came the Democratic denunciation of the Republican party for administering the affairs of the Government in a revolutionary spirit.
The narrow escape of the measure again created great uneasiness, not only among the Republicans in Congress but throughout the country.
One or two more defections would imperil Republican control of the Senate.

The loyalty of every member to his party was therefore scanned with closest observation.

Rumors, gossip, inventions of all kinds were set afloat in the public press,--hinting first at one man and then at another among the Republican senators as likely to weaken, as about going over to the Administration, as having just had a confidential interview with Mr.Seward, as dining the evening before with the President, or as being concerned in some matter of even less consequence.

When public interest is heightened the imagination of the people is stimulated, until trifles light as air have fatal significance in one direction or the other.