Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-05-16
x.a .s rmpeachmeps.

sake for its intense and uncomPror's'nt
bitterness against all who might falter II
the Impeachment programme. = But will
little Il any less ability, IL has the Ad
vantage of the New York paper in can
| dor, and confesses now that illegal gull
has not been made out to the satisfaction
of a constitutional majority of the Sen
ate The members fhe Court
says the. Tribune, !. !" have, been acting
under the solemnity, of an oath when
bound them 10 render a decision 40 ac &c,
| cordance with the law and The evidence
We are glad to find Governor kess
! whom we take to BE- the author) Wiling
| 10 do himself so much justice. IN do'ng
so, he win end he has also strueE the
popular vein at last, II there is any re-
naming virtue in the American people
We have. felt, that unless human nature
had changed altogether, such would be
the result sooner or later. We quote;
Our apprehensions that Johnson would
be acquitted have, according TO present
Appearances, proved correct u NOR
tunately,, his legal guilt has not been
made out TO the satisfaction OF consul
tutional majority Of the Senate. and he
will continue to administer the govern
ment until the fourth Of March next,
unless, indeed, emboldened by impunlty,
he should engage in some scheme which
should bring him within the penalties
az the written law. He will be acquitted,
not Of a moral or of political offense,
bnt of the thigh crimes aud misde-
meanors with which he was charged in
the articles preferred by the House, and
for which alone be was upon trial The
members of the court before which he was
arraigned have been acting under the.
solem nifty of an oath, which bound them
10 render a decision in accordance
with the law and the Evidence. They
we're no longer Senator'S representing
their respective States, aud to be held
accountable to those by whom they had
been chosen; no longer representatives
of political party, whose principles they
espoused and whose policy they were
bound to carry out, but jurors, or rather
iurors and Judges insone, whose duty II
was conscientiously to weigh Athe eyi
dence, and honestly to interpret the law
They may be mistaken, as other Jurors
or iudges- may be, mistaken; but their
motives can no more bequestioued than
those of other jurors orjudges. Outsiders,
who are swayed by their feelings, who have
maid a cursory attention to the proceed
'ings, and perhaps glanced ct thest statutes
involved, may well defer to the opinions
of Senators acting under an oath,
who have listened patiently dax after
dsy to evidence and arguments, who
have critically examined the law and
precedents clearing upon the questions
involved, and many OF whom are pecu-
Iiariy fitted by nature. and BY profess
s;anal training to discharge the duty
thew have sworn to perform. When such
iawvers as Trumbull and Fessenden de-
clare that high crimes and misdemeanors
have not been proved against the
accused, il is not for lsymen to assume
that they are mistaken, When Republic
can Senators 60 upright and intelll-
gent rs Grimes and Henderson resist
popular pressure and personal appeals
stronger than were ever before brought
10 bear upon the members Of COURT
and in the case, too, of man to whom
they are personally and politically hos
IN. II must be because they act upon
their views of the law and in conformity
with the dictates of their oonsciencesi
for every other motiye would urge them
10 adiudge johnson guilty. The opinions
of Senators who take different view of
the case, and, therefore, vote accordingly,
are equally entitled to respect but not.
more so.
In common with all who disapprovesof
Johuson's course, we profoundly regret
that the administration of the govern
ment is to remain in his hands. tits de-
sirable that the Executive should CO.
operate with Congress in policy that
aims at the regeneration of the South.
But il is not desirable that this result
should be reached by any road but the
road of justice. 1t is not desirable that
upon the first trial of a Chief Magistrate
Of the United States bad precedent
should be established. Better the ac-'
ouittal Of johnson, than his conviction
upon grounds that would not endure
scrutiny in the coming Presidential
election. Far better his acquittal than
his conviction upon grounds that
might be condemned by the next genera
ton. The record of this trial will pass
into history. 1t will be studied by the
Young men who are to govern the future.
II will be scanned by lawyers whose sight
will not be dimmed by prejudice. A
temporary benefit to the republic is as
nothing compared with the permanent
injury which would be inflicted by the
deposition of a President upon Insult.
Gent grounds. A party can always
afford to take the consequences of the
conscientious performance of q Judicial
duty.
Bill for the Admission Of Arkansas
The action Of Congress is now in