The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-05-16
1hn rreneherons senntora.
From az Oilelnndti GazeLLe.

The American people generally look
upon the Office of United States Sena-
tor as nigh ard honorable enough to
satisfy the ambition of any man. They
| imagine that when a man has arrived
at this distinction, he Will, when he re-
tires from 1t, have the satisfaction OF
rejecting that he has reached posi-
ton to which our national traditions
ascribe high honor, and which the
country regards AS sufficient to content
any mans political ambition, Bnt in
practice II does not work so with SenR-
tors In general. Retiring Senators
TO whom no other political preferment
Is given, are apt to be disappointed
and soured men. Their distinction has
not only raised them above the inhrm-
ItIes OF human nature, but generally
has aggravated them. Too often a
Senator whose term is about to EXPIRE
with no other prospect open, becomes
disa ffeeted toward the party which
made him, and continues so TO the end
IL is sad to note that this fair fruit of
political ambition, which to the public
seems enough to satisfy any one, should
thus turn TO ashes on the iipsj and that
the natural end of Senators should be
to lapse to soured existence, with a
feeling OF wrong and resentment to-
ward the party which 'honored them,
and of indifference to the public al
fairs of "a people who have ventnred to
get along without them. 1t is sad to
note that the enjoyment of this pOlttt.
cal distinction SO often ends in an APP
pearance of disappointed ambition,
and in the bad passions which are apt
10 grow out of IL. ,IG-L
And thus it happens that the Senate
contains men peculiarly subject to the
evil passions and the improper in
fiuences which such an election of
President excites. The disaffectiOn of
those whose terms are expiring, with
no hope OF Il reelection, the disappolnt-
ed ambition of those whose higher
political aspirations have failed, the
jealousies as to their status and intiu-
ence in the new administration, all
furnish opportunity for the exertion of
the foul influences and agencies which
can be put into activity by interests so
vast as those which hang on the change
of Presidents and parties in the admin
Istration- -.--s
we but express the common convic-
ton OF both parties, when we say that
IL the removal of johnson for mall
were not complicated
by the fact that the same act elects one
OF the Senators to be President for a
year, the Republican Senators would
be almost, If not quite, unanimous for |
his removal. And yet we suppose that |
no one will deny that the vote of any
Senator to acquit him for this motive,
Is an act of treachery TO the country, |
and OF official perjury. No pretended |
at technicalities of law, to |
make pretext for keeping in power
this great political offender, can cover
up this treacherous character ofthe act.
Senators whose vote upon this mo-
mentous issue can be influenced by
such personal feelings are peculiarly
subject to the corrupt agencies which
have been gathered around the Senate
to defeat the removal of Johnson, and
TO save the loss of the plumber of the
revenues, which Is now In the hands OF
an Organization too strong for the Gov
eminent. A 1.-THE of the money that
this gang is drawing from the pockets
of the people, by the use of the laws of
the nation, would furnish fund of
millions of dollars to be used to defeat
the Judgment. 1t Is a matter of public
notoliety that the agents OF this gang
have been watching the Senate with
sums large enough to secure any vote
that could be found purchasable. Shall |
the public SO strain and distort char |
ity as to suppose that Senators who are
unGaithful to their party and country
for such base considerations, are too
high minded to be approached by these
corrupt agenciesP
II Republican Senators vote to acquit
Johnson, it will not be because OF their
integrity. Such unfaithfulness to party
and country is incompatible with in
tegrity of any sort; and 1t will be of |
little use to affirm that 1t has held itself |
above any of the influences that have |
besieSed the Senate to compass the
keeping of johnson in office.
In other respects, the judgment OF |
acquittal of johnson will be most de-
grading to the Senate. 1t will be their |
condemnation. II he is not a disturber |
of the public peace, then Congress is. |
II he is not guilty of fragrant miscon-
duct, for using his office to resist the |
Reconstruction laws of Congress, then
Congress Is guilty of an abuse OF its /
office for enacting them. II the Senate |
justifies him in deliberately and pur-
posely disregarding the Tenure-of- |
Othce act, 1t condemns itself for enact |
ing that act, There can be no bridging |
over of this conflict between Johnson |
and Congress, in all of which the Sem
ate has been a prineiPal.. IL he is inno-
cent, they are guilty. II he is. fit to
remain In office, they are not. Their
acquittal of him should be immediately
cd hNy.N hAf