The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-07-30
Mr.. Woodbridge Of Vermont on Impeachment

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One of the most highly honorable and fair
minded gentlemen of our acquaintance is
the Hon Frederick e. Woodbridge, member
of congress for the Vergennes district, Yer
mont. We have known him for twenty
years. and, though always opposed to the
political party with which he acted, we never
saw an action of his that we could not re-
spect, if we did differ from him.
Some radical Washington correspondents
recently telegraphed that he had gone over
to the impeaching side, evidence or no evil
dence-and Mr.. Woodbridge, in his place
in congress, set himself right before the
country, in the following appropriate and
manly remarks. He said:
/ never rose to vindicate myself, and
would not do so now i'll did not believe
that my private reputation was involved.
At the close of the last session of congress
the Judiciary committee, which was charged
with investigation as to the impeachment
of the President, deemed it its duty to hold an
adjourned session. 1t held such session and
devoted itself laboriously to the examination
of the question before it for period of four
or FIVE weeks. About the conclusion of
that session a resolution was brought before
the committee that, on the testimony then
before it, there was not evidence to justify
the intervention of the impeachment power
against the President. | voted for that res
olution and it went forth under the orders
of the committee to the public, in order that
the public mind might be satisfied so far as
the committee was concerned. Subsequent
ly, at the desire of members ofthe committee,
ell of whom, / have no doubt, acted with
integrity, additional subpenas were issued
for other witnesses to appear and give their
testimony. At that time, very unlike my
friend from Pennsylvania, Mr.. Williams, J I had
not determined what my ultimate vote would
be on this great question. had not deter
mined, as he had when we adjourned in June,
that l wanted no more evidence-that had
made up my mind-a sentiment which
shocked me as coming from SO able and SO
honorable man as the gentleman from Pen
sylvania, sentiment more worthy Nero
or q Jeffreys than the honorable gentleman
from Pennsylvania. When this great ques-
ton was charged on me as member of the
law committee of the house. | received it
not as partisan. / was responsible only
to the constitution, to my oath to my God.
did not ask myself what my party demand
ed or what public opinion would Justify.
| received this question in a judicial capa-
city. 1t is known that | was opposed to the
general policy and to many acts of the Pres
ident, but when the question was committed
to me | was determined that | would give
him those privileges which the law of the
land guaranteed to him; / would not allow
myself to be the member of any party, or
any organization, but only to be a represen-
tative of this great nation, charged under
my oath to do my duty. Since the assem-
bling of congress at this session the public
Journals of the country have stated / was
vaecillating and doubling as to the course
which | would ultimately pursue.
| say here that up to that time, and now,
from the testimony which has been adduced
before the committee, and under the law as
| understand it, there has been no matter to
justify the impeachment of the President.
l know that this country can endure the i'm
parchment even of the President i know
that people which has carried its flag in
triumph through the bloodiest and most ex-
pensive war which the world has ever seen
"a people which, when the President was
murdered ia 81 theatre, still carried on the
wheels of the government without any creak-
ing, and without any fall in the public secu-
rities-could endure the impeachment of the
President of the United States. But when
the time comes, if it does come, when in my
Judgment, under the law and the testimony
Andrew johnson should be impeached, l
will be the first man in the committee to
stand up, regardless of consequences, and
vote for his impeachment Hthe day ever
comes when political considerations are re-
gardedsby congress, then / shall despair
despair forever-of the safety and stability
of our institutions. The papers have said
that could not sustain myself at home. po-
litically. Coming from the little state OF
Vermont, as noble state as any in the gal
axy, / may not sustain myself; but how poor
how infinitely poor-will this offering be
when believe that have done my duty.
Conscientious convictions of duty are of far
more consequence, at. least in the hour of
death, than all the political chaplets tina,
| may crown ones brow on the pathway from
the cradle to the grave. ! express no opin
| ion now as to impeachment. hold my
Judgment as Judge until these inyestiga
lions are completed. and when completed
shall act up to the convictions ofmy mind
whether / live or die-whether stand or
fall-before the people of this country, OF
before my Immediate constituents, who have
honored me heretofore and who will honor
me hereafter, if prove worthy of their con
| fidence