New-York tribune., 1868-05-27
THE TAINTED VERDICT

The Court of Impeachment has adjourned
without day. President johnson stands acqult-
ted OF the crimes and misdemeanOrs for which
be was arraigned. The second and third arti-
eles were voted upon with the same results as
in article eleventh Messrs. Grimes, Trumbull,
Fowler, Ross, Fessenden, and Van Winlde
acted with the Democrats, who we need not
say voted as steadily partisan rs through the
whole trial. We presume that if votes had been
taken on all the articles the seven Romans"
might have endeavored to vote with the Re
publicans on some of the other articlesS Tho
failure of the second and third, however, de-
feated the whole proceeding
Andrew johnson is morally condemned by
the votes of thrty-ive Senators. He is ac-
quilted by tainted verdict. Now that VIC
come to review Impeachment, we find no rea-
son to change any Of our views as TO the right
eousness of the proceeding or the unrighteous-
ness of the result. The newspapers that claim
to believe that the seven Republican Senators
who voted against conviction represent the Ro-
man virtue of the party-that they arc the
Republican Catos, and that all the rest are
partisan and cowardly SenatOrs-will find
in the report of Gen. Butler and
the evidence of Mr.. Thurlow Weed food for
reflection. We see in that evidence enough
TO Justify the severest criticism and the gravest
suspicious 1t is not for us to make any ex-
cephOn. We have not the power. By excusing
we would be accusing. Al Ce kHoW is that
money wdS used TO secure the dcquitt0t of the
President. We know that the President was
ac6hitted The Senators that contributed to
that result may take upon themselves the re-
- hot Of fba
was paid to them The verdict is tainted, and
the men who made it must remove the taint
in their own way and time.
People may hold up their hands in horror at
this reflection upon the sincerity and purity Of
the minority of the Senate. That is well
enough. If people choose to act as green geese
in the presence of sworn and unanswerabe
facts, it is their concern. We sec enough in
the testimony of Mr.. Weed to make every pa
triOt mourn for his country. Here is Ring
known to exist in New York, and composed of
the particular friends and representatives Of
Mr.. Secretary Seward. It's main business, here
tof0re, has been tie accumulation of money
out of the public offices. Mr.. Evarts was tho
lawyer of the Ring. We see nothing
to crticise in his conduct except
Mr. Weed is its head and father, its busy and
plausible Fagin. Around him we have such
promising pupils as Hugh Hastings, well known
as the most successful member of the Albany
Lobby, and less known as Mr.. Stewards mes
senger to Europe last Summer. Mr.. Webster,
Mr. Stewards former secretary, and now fatten-
ing in the Surveyors Office, is new but art
full follower Mr. Sheridan Shook, for whom
an Office was deliberately carved, and who is
said to have made an enormous fortune. is
another pupil. These are the men who are
called into council to defeat impeachment.
Their success is best expressed in the enthusi-
astic but profane terms Of dispatch received
by Mr.. Hastings before the vote was taken.
"H. j. Hastings care Sheridan Shook No 80 Cedar-st,
New-YOrk. We have beat the Methodist Episcopal
Church North, HELL George Wilkes, and Impeachment"
As The Herald suggestively says, MIR. Thurlow
Weed turned. States evidence" When a man
as keen and experienced as Mr.. Weed confesses
what we have on record, we can well imagine
what remains behind. He admits that q meet
ing was held at the -Astor House to obtain
votes for the Presidents acquttal; that "those
votes were to be obtained by purchase by
money" that thirty thousand dollars was
the sum mentioned, and that Mr.. Hastings
WIN NJ the necessary experience of the Albany
Lobby, was seat to Washington. Here mystery
falls upon the. proceeding. Mr.. Hastings re-
turns and lnpeachmest is dcfeatcdl
We make no charges. We take the record a