The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-04-21

ne mole reasonable haQIcdlS CuTee
the day that. the impeachment projectwas
conceived. 1t is worse than an elephant
on their hands. The rash Teuton who
seized the wolf BY the tail, and then
shrieked Justify for some one to help him
let it go, was happy and contented man
compared with the impeachers.
In their desperate endeavors to retain
the public plumber, they determined to
obtain the little balance Of federal Off
ces which the President controlled. The
only means to this end was impeachment.
The devilish ingenuity they displayed in
trapping him was successful, and they got
the wolf by the tail. They brought the
President before the Senate with hur-
ricane of hurrahs, but when the first gush
Of partisan fury subsidized,
aAll shrank, like boys who unaware,
Ranging the woods to start hare,
Come to the mouth of the dark lair
Where, growing low, fierce old bear
Lies amidst bones and blood"
"What In the Devils name shall we
do?" enquiries Morton; (which will DAM
age our party most, to aequit, or to con-
vict him?" ITO convict him is DEATH" :"
answers Fessenden. stTo acquit him is
/ =
damnation," answers Wade, So, although
the House was not divided against itself,
it is very certain that the Senate is.
Upon one point, however, there is per-
feet harmony: that is, that the question
whether the President has, or has not,
done anything warranting impeachment,
is to have nothing to do with the result.
That question, like the evidence for the
defense, has been ruled out, as having no
relevancy to the issue. To rule, or not
to rule, that's the question. Whether tis
better to endure the sings and arrows Of
an outraged people, or take up arms
against the peoples rights, and by oppo-
sing end them. This is not Shakspeare's
language, butt is Gods truth.
But majority having concluded that
conviction is the hocheapest way out of the
sorape, they are dogging the doubtful
Senators with the persistency of sleuth
hounds. They place before the doubtful
the choice Of first class position under
Wade, or the political gibbet. The
sneaking Waelp, Forney, who,
aRaging with csrrish spite,
Still yelps and snaps al those who run,
Still runs from those who smite,"
is still worrying at the heels OF every one
whom his Radical masters may set him
upon. IF this system has its usual inau.
ence in the Senate, the resultwill be con-
viction.
But whatever may be the verdict, one
thing seems to have been agreed upon
with great unanimity: That is, that the
report of the proceedings shall be val
liable campaign document. To assist in
this meritorious work, whenever smart
idea gets into the head of one of the i'm
peachers, he whispers it to Petit Larceny
Butler, who manages to inject it into the
proceedings. 1t is this practice which
gives to Buffers speeches that air of half
bully and half puppy which pervades
them.
All the testimony for the defense which
might detract from the effect of the report
as loyal tract, is remorselessly excluded.
On the part of the managers, matters to-
tally foreign to the case we're lugged in
by the shoulders as testimony, in the
hope of damaging the opponents Of Rad
icalism.
The wretched, pettifogging excuses
presented by Butler for sorting and 81:
zing" the evidence according to this ar
rangement would be ridiculous if they
were not too disgraceful. Think mo-
ment Of the absurdity Of rejecting the
important parts of Gen. Sherman's testi-
mony for the reason that it might i'm
properly influence Senator'S to the side of
the President, when every part and par
eel of that testimony is as well known to
Senators as it is to Sherman himselfl
Butler says that upon the subject of
the legality of testimony I've are law
for ourselves IF this be true, and the
Senate is Court, and judge Of the law
as we'll as the facts, why can't it discrim-
mate SO as not to allow illegal testimony
improperly to influence it2 The i'm
peachers can see exactly what testimony
is Illegal they know precisely what it
is-yet affect to believe they might be
Influenced by hearing it the hundredth
time, (after being unmoyed by ninety-nine
repetitions,) into improperly acquitting
the President! What sublime faith they
must have in their own virtuet
The rejection of nearly all the impor-
tant testimony for the President is not.
however, SO great an outrage as might at
first appear. If the evidence elected
before the high court, was to have any
bearing upon the verdict, the arbitrary