The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1868-05-16
THE WASHINGTON RUMORs.


tie expressed in regard to the result of
the impeachment, we take it that over
this broad land there exists at present
an intensified, unutterable anxiety for
the result among those who gave their
services, their money. their kindred, or
their moral support to the war for the
Union, that has been unparalleled since
the patriot Lincoln fell by the hand of
an assassin. 1t is not upon the mere
question of whether Andrew johnson
made disgraceful speeches or vented his
spleen against Edwin M. Stanton, but it
is whether the great principles of hu-
manity shall be stricken down and
crushed by the mailed and clenched hand
of revivified rebellion 1t is whether the
reconstruction of the rebellious States
shall he the work of those who have the
Authority to do SO vested in them by the
Constitution and that right ratified by
the sacrifice of three hundred thousand
loyal lives; whether they shall, like
dumb driven brutes, yield up tamely,
cowardly, despicably, traitorously, to an
usurping Executive the jewels entrusted
to their keeping by now breath bated
nation. 1t would be an alliance with.
and assuming responsibility for, one
whom they have told us was an infidel
and traitor to the cause, and whose
later record is a blackened page of
crime. He has shown antagonism
where there should have been harmony
bred discord where unity was springing
with new life ON soil that has felt heav-
lily enough the iron heel of war, and
with rude hands torn afresh the dcer
wounds of the nation. He has been the
broken cog that at every revolution
Jared the entire system OF government
al wheels and threatened destruction
the destroyer rending with nervous
hands the fairest fabrics that were ever
woven In the looms of legislation-and
yet we are told they will acquit him
We do not believe it. Seven of the best
lawyers of the House never presented
at a crisis like this, eleven articles oi
impeachment in which there was moth
ing, that If proven, would justify con-
viction and removal, and the ablest ju-
rors in the land who have gathered there
to witness the most important trial in
our history affirm that 80 completely
proven u case in all its intricate details
was never before in their knowledge
brought to bar for decision.
1t is everything and all things that
can Immediately or ultimately affect the
institutions of the Great Republic. turn
ing upon the decision as to whether he
violated q certain law of the land, AZ he
himself admitted-and yet we are told
he will not be convicted. We know the
eleven Democratic Senators have voted
as unit upon every point that has been
raised we know that the Republican
Senators have frequently divided and
voted as they believed right we know
that it requires but O of the AZ Republi-
cans to wheel into line with the Demo
cracy to effect his -acquittal we know
that Wade is not q favorite and that
envies and coverings for the vacant
chair are troubling half the Senate; we
know the boast has been made that
Johnson's friends could buy enough
members to secure his acquittal-yet
knowing these things we have the faith
firm and strong that they will do their
cuty in the hour. and the country throw
ing off the Old Man of the Sea, will rise
with new strength. relieved of its terri
bic, torturing burden, and go forth in
the vigor of new and better life. These
rumors are but new series OF those is
sued in the olden time. when the gold
ring bulls and bears always found il put
money in their purses to first say defeat
was victory and victory defeat.