Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-05-21
IMPEACHMENT.

AS we predicted last week the vote on
has resulted in the acquit'
tai of the President. During the whole
trial OF the case the Democratic Senators
have invariable voted solid against every
made that tended to show
the guilt of the President or secure his
On the.other hand the Re-
publicans, on almost all questions touch
ing the admissibillty of testimony, or
the criminality Of proven acts, have d.
vided and voted according to their con-
viction.
When the Senate failed to convict on
Tuesday of last week, because of the
detection of certain leading Senators,
and an adjournment was decided upon,
we were satisfied that subsequent con-
viction, no matter how important to the
peace and harmony of the country, could
be of 10 special advantage to the Re-
publican party. Before the close of the
testimony the powerful influences that
had been used in the interest of the Pres
ident, had produced their effect. And,
whether those influences were successful
through appeals to the disappointed
ambition of suchrmen as Fessenden and
Trumbull, The desire to conciliate and
compromise In Henderson, or the open
purchase Of Grimes, Fowler, Ross and
Van Wrinkle, it was evident that the
President through one or the other or
all of these sources had secured enough
votes TO prevent two-thirds majority in
favor Of conviction. If at a later meet
ing conviction had been secured, the
enemy would have held, and held too,
with some degree of plausibility, that
the conviction had been secured by out
side influences and party pressure. AS
1t is, no amount of argument, no amount
of protestation, no appeals to the past
record of statesmen to prove their devo-
tion to the Union, or their honesty and
fidelity in the discharge of duty, Will
suffice TO eradicate the conviction that
like second-nature has fastened Itself
upon the public conscience, that the Re-
publican votes necessary to secure ac-
quittal were obtained by dishonorable
means. johnson stands to-day at the
bar of public opinion convicted Of high
crimes and misdemeanors he stands to-
day in history convicted of high crimes
and misdemeanors by more than two
thirds votes of those in the high Court
Of Impeachment who honestly voted on
the law and the testimony, and he will
SO stand convicted In the judgment of
the American people forever.
During the pending Of this great trial
the leading Democratic paper of the
country openly used this language:
"Let the men OF wealth In this city, without
regard 10 party, assemble In tho Exchange or
Cooper Institute, and subscribe o sufficient sum
ten millions OF dollars, lfneed be-to buy q IA
vorable verdict. There are II Radical Senators
whose terms OF office expire In 1860. Beyond
30 far as they know now, they are certain Of no
paying place Surely, as many US eight ofthese
in hand than TO walt for the uncertainty of q
1900 Office by and by Let us buy their votes al
their own price,"
After the testimony had closed and
while the arguments were being made
the friends of the President boldly
sent such dispatches as this TO his friends
throught the country:
'''rhe President has secured ono more vot
to-day"
Who after these bold declarations will
ever dare to doubt the acquittal Of An
drew Johnson was secured by fraud an,
bribery.
In this result, depressing MS II ma.
seem 10 Republlcans, there is DANCE
torepublican government made mani
fest, q necessity for Republican success
demonstrated, that should alarm rathe
than discourage, intensity rather thal
cast down the elements OF that grea
party which during the war made sucl
noble sacrifices TO preserve tho Unio
and vindlcate the majesty OF the law
II the Democratic party out OF power
thus weilds its influence to protect an
shield from just judgment usurpin
vlolater OF law, tyrant who seeks
make his own will the law by which h
Is to be governed, aud tramples upon tn
supreme law OF tho land and by Dol,
fearless offers Of bribes secures his n,
quittal, what fearful results may W
expect from the Democratic party
clothed with tho power to consumate /
infamous purposes?