The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-25
CONSCIENTIOUS AND PATRIOTIC.


party clamor held faithfully to their sacred
oaths, and conscientiously rendered verdict
in accordance with their convictions under
the law and the evidence, will be remember
ed with honor and with patriotic pride, for
ages to come while the base and ignoble,
who, disregarding every principle of honor
or law, voted to convict, in obedience to the
party lash, will receive the scorn and exc.
Grafton of the world. We should be glad to
publish the speeches of these patriots, in full,
but our limited space will only permit US to
give few extracts, from their very able and
convincing arguments.
Senator Trumbull fled one of the most
clear, logical, and powerful arguments in the
case, which opened as follows:
"The question to be decided is not wheth
er Andrew johnson is proper person to
fill the presidential Office, nor whether it is
fit that he should remain in il, nor, whether
he has violated the constitution and laws in
other respects than those alleged against
him. AS well might any other ffty-four
persons take upon themselves by violence
W tuC COuIL1 AuOEch DOAAiSOI ne
cause they believe him to be bad man, as
to call upon fifty -four senators, In violation
of their sworn duty, to convict and depose
him for any other causes than those alleged
in the articles of Impeachment. As well
might any citizen take the law into his own
hands, and become its executioner, as to
ask the senate to convict outside of the case
made. To sanction such principle would
ha nf oil la,u ID III ,har{ 80
the name, since liberty unregulated by Law
is but another name for anarchy
After clearly showing the innocence of
President Johnson, he closed as follows:
''Once set the example of impeaching a
president for what, when the excitement of
the hour shall have subsidized, will be regard
ed as an insufficient cause, as several Of those
now alleged against the President were de-
cided to be by the House of Representa- IS
only few months since, and no future
president will be safe who happens to differ
with majority of the House and two-thirds
of the senate on any measure by them deem
ed important, particularly if of political
character. Blinded by partisan zeal, with
such an example before them, they will not
scruple to move out of the way any object
to the accomplishment of their purposes,
and what then becomes of the checks and
balance of the constitution, so carefully de-
vised and so vital to its perpetuity? They
are all gone. In view of the consequences
likely to flow from this days proceedings,
should they result in conviction, on what my
Judgment tells me are insufficient charges
and proofs, l tremble for the future of my
country. / cannot be an instrument to pro
duce such result; and at the hazard of the
ties even of friendship and affection, TIL
calmer times do justice to my motives, no
alternative is left me but the inaexible dis
charge of my duty"
Senator Grimes's powerful and highly in
teresting argument closes as follows:
81 have thus, as briefly as possible, stated
my views of this case. / have expressed nc
views upon any of the questions upon which
the President has been arrsigned at the bal
of public opinion, outside of the charges.
have no right to travel out of the record.
"Mr. Johnson's character as statesman
his relations to political parties, his conduc
| as citizen, his efforts at reconstruction, the
exercise of his pardoning power the charact
er of his appointments, and the influences
| under which they were made, are not before
as on any charges and are not impugned b]
any testimony.
Nor can suffer my Judgment of thu
law governing this case to be influenced by
| political considerations. ! cannot agree t
| destroy the harmonious working of the con
stitution tor the sake of getting rid of a,
unacceptable president.
whatever may be my opinion of the in
| cumbent, / cannot consent to trifle with the
| high Office he holds. / can do nothing
| which, By implication, may be construed
into an approval of impeachment as a part
of our future political machinery.
However widely, therefore, / may and dc
differ with the President respecting his Do
| litical views and measures, and however
| deeply have regretted, and do regret, The
| differences between himself and the congress
| of the United States, am not able to RECORD
| my vote that be is guilty of high crimes and
misdemeanors BY reason of those differences
/ am acting IN judicial capacity, unde
| conditions whose hiding obligation can hard
| ly be exceeded, and must act according Il
the best of my ability and judgment, as the,
require. III, according to their dictates, ths
President is guilty, mast say SO; if, &C
cording to their dietators, the President i!
no guilty, must say SO.
| In my opinion the Presiden: has no
neen guilty of an impeachable offense b,
the reason of anything alleged in either o
| the articles preferred against him at the bal
OF the Senate by the House of Representa-
| tives."
Senator Fessenden's argument was th,
most exhaustive, taking up each point ant
arguing it fully. Among other positions as
sumed by the Managers w1s that, Mr.. John
son is serving out Mr.. Lincoln's term, ana