Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-06-19
letter from senator TrumBulI.

Letter from senator IFumDuu'
The following was addressed to the
Hon. g. KOerner, OF Illinois:
WASHINGTON, May %, 1858.
Gov. G. Koerner:
NJ Dear Sir Your telegram, and
slso your letters Of the 18th we're duly re-
ceived. l thank you for the letter and
the kind spirit in which ii is written.
No words can tell you how panied | am
to be compelled to differ from you
and other lifelong friends. This will
be my first letter in reply to numerous
ones received on the subject of impeaeh-
ment. At first, nearly all my let
ters were in condemnation, but within
the last few days, perhaps, half are In
approval of my course. In the midst of
the storm Of abuse and lnisrepresenta.
ton poured forth by rash, reckless, and
in many instances, unprincipled pOliti-
clans, l thought it idle to attempt to
reason with them. l feel sure l sm
right, and when the passion of the hour
subsidies, that ! shall be able to satisfy
all reasonable and fair-minden men that
it was my duty to decide according TO
my convictions, whether they agreed
with my political friends or not.
| was just as well aware before
voting as now, that Andrew John
son was OdiOus to the country, and that
probably DiXety-nine hundredths of the
Republicans desired his removal; but to
have convicted him of high crimes and
misdemesnOrs because the party de
msnded it, when in my opinion he was
not shown to be guilty of them, would
have been mOnstrOus. 1.-THE prosecutors
have the right to dictate the verdict and
judgment, the trial is q farce. No Presi-
10, H. Al
hereafter be permitted to remain in Of
fee, if such principle is to O6tain-or
to state the case more accurately,
q majority Of the House of Rep.
resentatives, when two-thirds of the
Senate agree with them politically, NAV
at any time remove a President That
the Republican party has a right to de-
mand the conviction of the President is
horrible, and the sense of justice of the
nation will revolt at such an idea when
the passion of the hour subsidies and
yet have received numerous letters and
kilograms telling me that the Republican
party demands the removal of the Presi-
dent. do not believe it, unless the
tribunal appointed by the Constitution
to try him believe him guilty
OF some crime or misdemeanOr
with which he stands charged. I.
think am right in coming to the con-
clusion that no crime or misdemeanor
justifying impeachment was made out
in the case; but il mistaken in this,
must, OF course, take the consequences of
my error Of judgment, but to charge it
as betrayal Of the party is cruelty IN
just. What is the administration of
justice worth when decisions are to be
made, not according to law and Justice,
but at the dictRtion OF political party, |
or even Of the whole people ? In newly |
settled countries mObs and parties OF |
sometimes take the admins |
tratiOn of justice into thsir own hands. /
but who ever heard of mobs'even re- /
curing courts to execute their DEGREES ? !
The stories about corruption or improper
motives influencing any Republican to |
vote against conviction are, of course.
false. All the pressure, and it was very
great-more than you know of-was on /
The other side, as an investigation, ifous |
Is ever had, will show. But for outside /
pressure / think no such vote as tkirtv. /
i've could have been obtained for con- /
7ictiOn on the eleventh article. Iinclose /
! copy Of my opinion.
NOu-s truly, LYMAN TRUMBULL.