New-York tribune., 1868-05-15
TSJpE4CBlfENT

We trust the Senate will come to q decision
tomorrow. We have assurances That thc vote
will be for the conviction OF the President
Treason has done its worst. aud rs the case
now stands, no iuGucnccs,.but those Of inc
worst kind, VIII prevent the removal Of tie
President. We dread nothing else. lt !. tGc
only means by which We can account for The
mysterious changes Of opinion tlat have ah'E
place in the minds of certain Senators.
A Senator is the servant Of tie people. lm-
peachmcnt is the wish of the people. The
duty Of the Senators is 10 represent as fairly
as possible the national will. They arc amcua-
BILE TO popular criticism. They are made by
our voice and unmade 10y it, and Vc would be
false to our duty as a Journalist 20 remain
silent amid the developments that we see hom
day to day. To permit any Senator 20 wl.p
himself in his dignity and plead his Office as au
exemption from all criticism. "a 10 make thc
Senate an irresponsible oiclgchy. We know
the influences that a5sail impeachment We
have moral if not legal proof thai between
Nh. johnson and certain senators there
has been a perfect understanding ON this
subject. Mr.. Trumbull, ior Instance. hrd
nothing TO say to any Republican
until he spoke in the Senate. Yet he had
found means TO assure Ny johnson oi bis
views. Are we to he told that the Senatorial
oath as well rs the Senatorial dignity conf
PEELED Mr. Trumhull to make this distinction!
II is likewise the case Of Mr Fowler. HIS
course has been shroudcd with grave suspicion.
No Senator did as much ~ induce impeachment
as Mr.. Fowler, and now that hc proposes 20
vote against it we are reduced TO one OF two
opinions. He has either been an insinccre
demagogue in his past course Or he IS something
worse now. No man with ordinary instinct
can doubt this, and for us TO close our eyes and
pretend not TO see what is as plain as the sun
would be a crime.
1t is because we happily represent the feel
ing Of a great majority Of the American people
on this subject tot We demand Impeachment
vchemently. If there were 10 case against the
President, if there were any room upon which
to base a question, if the issue involved wcye
minor or personal, if this trial had been con-
Quoted in gaTct or IN privacy, thcre would
be some reason for doubt. The trial has been
as clear as the slu. The issues are national.
Impeachment is demanded by every loyal inter-
est in the country. No men have done more
to make II inevitable than the Rcpubican
Senator's who are quoted against il. We have
tried to make the trial fair and impartial. The
Democrats have acted Ike pati-aus. DO these
gentlemen consider for q moment the responsi-
bility they assume in another sense? We do
not know what conferences, for instance, took
place between Mr.. Fesscndcn and Mr.. johnson
when the President became certain" of n
matter about which everybody else was mcef-
tain. 1t is possible that the President expressed
himself willing to behave himself until the end
of his torn. We are told that he is in the
most pentential mood that be is frightened
that if we let him of now he viii sin no morc
No sensible man in Washington beleves him
Gen. Grant, for instance, who has been in lit
Cabinet, we know regards the acquittal Of The
President as a calamity. The spirit Of rebel.
lion would gain . new life, and We would b,
launched upon a sea of anarchy aud trouble.
We feel that We have done our duty. II
has been done without regard 20 friendships
former associations, political admiration, OF
party necessity. 4 man may fight for years
and be a good soldier; he may desert at the
last moment, and carry victory over TO the
enemy. No amount of former fidelity can
pardon such crime. The nation demands
impeachment. The Senator who stands in tho
way assumes a fearful responsibility.