The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-04-23

following incidents in the impeachment
trial:
CHIEF JUSTICE CHASE AND AARON BURR.
Looking thus at Judge Chase, one re-
calls the other figure, more romantic but
not more historic, who filled the presiding
chair just sixty-throe years ago-Aaron
Burr.
It was at the trial of Jadge Chase, an
ancestoral colleague, SO to speak Of Chief
Justice Chase, who had been impeached
by the house of represe ntatives for abuse
ct judicial authority. Thus our forefath-
ers were in hurry to impeach only fifteen
years after the constitution was established
permitting them to do SO.
Barr was then the most ezcrated man
in America Seven months before lie had
killed Hamilton, in colder blood than
James Parton aiterward wrote his biogra-
ply. The pulrits aud iiresides of the land
mathematical him as if he were a Satan
on earth. Between the duel and the trial
be had fed from state to state; two indict-
ments for murder against him, and sud
denly re-appearipg in Washington, still
vice president Of the United States, he
met the scorn Of the capital uoblushingly.
1t was within one month Of the expiration
Of his political life-when, year later, he
himself, fortune reversed, but audacity
still the same, stood at the felou's bar in-
dicted for treason.
To make his last appearance as presi-
dent Of The senate dramatic spectacle, he
ordered the senate chamber to be draped
in blue cloth. and, moving up the seats Of
the senators in close semicircie around
his chair, divided and subdivided the su-
periors behind. SO that all the dignitaries.
70; eign and national, should contribute, in
their successive ranks, to make the show
imposing. "a enlarged temporary galleries
the spectators sat- ladies being particularly
accommodated for Burr's mind was never
oblIvious TO a womln's presence. 1t was,
to the carnal eye, q far more effective
spectacle than this Of to-day where the
great, half dark, over gildei senate hall
confuses the clearest cloquencc, and every
figure sits IN iodistinct ligh. or distance.
Then the senate chamber was contracted
yet high; every face was plain, every word
audible; and Burr was the incredible
character Of the age-Belial aud Bohe:n-
ian together the best blood and the best
virtue of the countcy crying against him
for vengeance, but round his head the ha-
ID of talent, and the rarest dignity AID
beauty.
Compare The two presiding officers. In
origin they were not unlike; both Of New
England stock, both brought up in cler-
eymans family and educated at two col
leses OF rival antiquity and rank, Dart
mouth and Princeton. Burr was one Of
the orlyinators Of that northern democracy
which, in Jud ge Chasa's time, has over
thrown the national Influence of Virginia,
the enemy Of both of them. The subse-
queut course of Burr in his iillibustering
dream was down the Ohio, past many a
town in which Judge Chase has spoken,
and pas. Cincinnati, the Chief Justice
home. When Burr presided Judge Chase
was barely out of his mothers arms Burr
was then forty-nine years old. lie con-
duc;cd The trial. says newspaper f.e,
with the dignity aud irnpartiality Of an
angel, but With the rigor OF a devil" His
eyes were piercing black, sighted rather
than shaded by black, arrowy- straight
lashes. Smooth shaven and his powdered
hair co:nbed straight back to ribboned
queue, showing, in all its fneness his
profle-the high, receding forehead, the
lorg, nearly straight, sharp pointed nose,
the firm, large mouth, thin Tipped above
sensual beneath, the combative and auda-
cious chin and throat, and, over all, the
perfect repose, yet intensity His COM
plexion was clear brown and white, his
eyebrows arched, black and delicate
Around his throat snowy cravat was but
toned, his coat was buttoned across the
breast; 10 his expression the thoughtful.
ness OF Jonathan Edwards, showed with
all his own cold blooded composure. Grace
carriage, address. alertness were all equa
in him aud all perfection. The fallen an
gel vice president in heaven he looked, the
real cuprit OF this court, though master
Of il, and proud of his bad eminence. a,
a Judge we can get at his fitness by his
definition of law: Law is whatever ];
boldly asserted and plausbly maintained
Judge Chase, so far from being vigor
Gus and keen as Burr, is very modest and
|, reserved upon the bench, there beinI
about him less of the adventurer than abou
any public man in the country. lie ha
won the best opinions from all non parti-
: sans.
SOME QUESTIONS OF PRoPRIETY.
f AS an uninterested looker-on upon thi
, trial, | desire to ask if Mr.. Richard Yates
senator from Illinois. means to vote pro o
con upon the presidents conviction.
/ know that it is useless to ask this question
/, of Mr.. Howard and the provost guard o
the senate, who would have Mr.. Yates dea'
body brought in and compelled to vot,
5 "aye." if they bad their own way. But
g ask Mr.. Yates himself, as lawyer and
, fair man, if he proposes to vote as juro
when he has been absent from the scnat
: nearly all the trial. Where he has bee
, is none of my business. but that of his con
stituents, who, / understand, are exercising
e their minds considerably theresbout. No