New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-10
CFrom the North Western Christian Advocate,
Senator Yates.

This gentleman has issued circu-
lar to the people of Illinois, which we
can not give in full, but itemize. He
comedies that the criticisms of the
press are Gin some respects just and
deserved while in others exagger-
ated, and that they do not proceed
from ill-will, but 'iiustifable anxiety
that our State shall be properly rep
resented in'the United States Senate"
He claims to have been absent from
the Senate only six days during the
impeachment trial ian absence uni1sti-
fably long if he might have been
present); that he was present on each
alternate day, and voted on every
question submitted to the Senate; that
he has not been constant drinker,
but has yielded only after exhaustive
labors; that he never appeared in the
Senate except when sober. He de-
clines all technical defense, and saws:
81 frankly confess to you the weak
ness which at times has borne me
down, and which was calculated to
bring discredit upon my State and
myself. 1t is my nature to be frank,
and especially do l owe it to you who
have showered favors and honors upon
me to be SO now. l will not attempt
justification or excuse, especially
when | have SO often publicly said that
men holding public trusts should be
sober men.
During twenty-seven years Of
political service-with the exception
of ten Of those years when totally
abstained-I have often yielded to
temptation, and as often have suffered
the pangs of unutterable remorse. l
can say that in certain sense my
sin has been my punishment. To lose
your respect might seem punishment
enough; but you can scarce imagine
how a proud man feels when he has
reason to dread the loss of all that
renders his nature noble; and when it
would seem that Heaven had with
drawn its favor from him on account
of self-infieted wrongs.
ut has been said with what seems
to me unnecessary cruelty, 1t is per-
fectly useless to exact new pledges
from one who has broken so many old
ones To this allow me to reply that
| have reformed. and that will COM
pei your confidence, not by pledges,
but by course of conduct scrupulous-
ly correct. / comprehend the situation
perfectly. The happiness Of my
family, the respect and confidence of
my friends, the success Of my party,
which to me is the triumph Of liberty
and good government, the honor of nv
State, the good opinion of mankind,
my own life here, and last and most
important, the untried future which
approaches with startling rapidity; all
these have been seriously considered.
But to you, fellow citizens, / do
apologize without reserve or defense.
/ do not ask the divine ruling in one
Of the oldest recorded trials, viz
Let him that is without sin cast the
first stone.' / make no Comparison
between myself and other men in the
country who drink more than can or
have done, and with less disturb ance
Of their nervous organization than /
have. ] do not wish in saying this 70
seem inEidious, or in tho attitude Of
making special plea on my own
behalf"
Some other passages of the circular
are 50 frank and manly in their humil-
ity that we reproduce them:
q To err is human to forgive
divine | crave only such an exer-
else Of the divine attribute as the en-
hghtened judgment Of my fellow citi-
zens can permit them to vouchsafe to
me- I can truthfally aver that no
man has a keener appreciation Of duty,
q tveller pride in the honor Of Illinois,
Or 9 deeper sense Of gratitude toward
these Who heye honared him, than ]
have. Ma& IA my humble way true
70 che country aufinR flss late rebel
49, .'... g s...t