New-York tribune., 1868-05-06
EVEN SUPPOSING--.


The New- York World gives warning that
it considers Impeachment purely q Repub-
ican quarrel with a Republican President.
The Democrats have nothing to do with it.
The Democratic party looks on as Iago-"And
"whether he kill Cassie, or Cassie him, or
each do kill the other, every way makes my
gains" Its position is an armed neutrality.
The Herald-which has probably printed more
falsehoods about Impeachment than all the
other Democratic papers in the country-prlnts
O story about Mr.. Senator Fessenden. This
distinguished Senator it is alleged, has written
an opinion making twenty eight foolscap pages
against the first three articles of Impeach-
ment. There are several other Senators,
says The Herald, prepared to go
over and join him. Whether the meeting
suggested by The World to raise ten millions
from the Whisky Thieves Ring to buy ten votes
has taken place or not, we have been unable
to ascertain. Surely says The World, as
"many as eight of these men would far rather
abe sure of million each in hand than to wait
for the uncertainty of $1,000 Office by and by"
This reads as though it fell from the dainty
and calculating lips of Mr.. Tweed, who would
be willing to buy Senator himself, no doubt,
to secure nine more months impunity for his
friends of the Whisky Ring.
We do not believe for an instant any of these
stories about Senators selling themselves for
even million of dollars. Americans have
sold themselves. We fear that Senators of the
United States have been delivered over for so
much money to enterprising lobbyists, Their
names are forgotten. But one American in our
history ever publicly sold his country. He was
a soldier. He was commanding an important
post The safety of an army depended upon
his honor. He was dissatisfied, just as many
of our public men are dissatisfied. His ambi-
ton had been threatened. and he became
a morbid Conservative" The air was
filed with his lamentations, his innuen-
does, his denunciations. He had begun
to doubt He gradually got into n
CONSTITUTIONAL frame OF mind. Then his
doubts assumed the form of conscientious
"scruples." Was it really right to fight against
his gracious kingf Was not Washington a
radicals Could he, as lawyer or soldier,
honestly continue his warf After all, did not
the king have the right to tax Americana
And, instead of depressing the people, was
not his Majesty merely endeav0ring to make
case for the courts Benedict Arnold was in
this temper when he was offered money. He
sold his country. He became Major General
in the British Army, and left one of
the most infamous names In history. If
Benedict Arnold were Senator to-day,
elected by Republican votes and moved by
dissatisfied ambition, or a morbid. insatiate
greed of Office, we should hear of him, highly
impressed with the sacredness of the Presi-
dental office, eager to discuss the question of
the Presidents intent, and painfully conscious
of the responsibility of his oath. A decisive
amount of money would finish him. OF course
he would appeal to the country. He might
find small circle Of friends who would believe
in his conseientiousness, and under possible
Democratic administration would be squeezed
into some Office, and die in the receipt Of party
charity.
1t is because we place this estimate upon the
of Republican Senator that we
decline to believe any of these stories of the
Herald. Far be it from us to attempt to dragoon
my Senators, or to put one straw In the way of
the Senate approaching righteous judgment.
Whether corruptly moved or not, the Republican
Senators who dare to retain Andrew Johnson in
office, after his degraded and infamous careerwi
be guilty of a treason only equalled by that
Of Benedict Arnold. They must make up their
minds to accept such memory. BY oil means,
then, if money is the inducement let II be five |
Millions, let it be ten. God help them, and |
give them heaps of money, that they may revel |
N gold, and glitter in infamy, and find kind |
# consolation for having basely wronged their |
country!
Look nj II for one momenti We throw l
lway for the present the technicality of the |
law, and regard this simply as question of /
common sense. Andrew Johnson has kept us in
condition of unrest, uproar, and agitation.
We are told he is an honest, sincere, obstinate
nan. Well, SO was George ILL.,, but he swept
lese States with the tide of death and ruin.
he was as "constitutionaln as Andrew John
on, and personally of better character. Nay,
nore, he had a party with him, we'll
'riiied and commanded. Andrew John
on has committed every crime that
'ublic ruler can commit. We do nor arraign
nc "A L. Il