The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-07-02
MIR. FEssENDEN's REPLY.


10 the Honorable Alexander II. Bullock, George
Tgler Bigeloao, Amos A. Laurence and others:
Gentlemen,-I beg you to accept the assur-
apce that nothing but constant occupation in
public affairs has so long delayed an answer to
your communication, inviting me to meet you
at public dinner to be given in the city oil
Boston at such time as may suit my conven-
fence. For that invitation, and particularly
for the kind and fiattering terms in which 1t is
conveyed, you will please accept my grateful
Acknowledgements.
l 1t would be affectation to conceal the very
great satisfaction which this marked express
sion of regard and confidence, from gentlemen
so distinguished in their several walks OF lie,
has afforded me; and If find mys.f compell-
ed by considerations OF public and private
nature to deciiie your invitation, be assured.
gentlemen, that il has impressed me deeply,
and that 1 estimate your kindness and the
honor it confers at their true value.
I The present session of Congress will proba-
bly, extend far into the summer, and while it
continues it will not be in my power to fix
day upon which / could meet you. The close
of session is the most important part of it,
and am unwilling to absent myself unless
obliged to do so by circumstances which iusti-
fly such absence. The pleasure of meeting
you, great as it would be, could hardly afford
the requisite justification.
I trust you will pardon me, therefore. if,
while respectfully and gratefully declining
your invitation, l allude to the circumstances
peculiar" character.
The impeachment of the President of the
United States for high crimes and misdemea-
nors was a most extraordinary event, and will
constitute remarkable chapter in our coun-
try's history. The conduct of the President
had, almost from the commencement of his
administration, been such as to render him OBJ
poxious to the suspicion OF designing to defeat
the cherished objects of those who elected
him, and of plunging the country back into
anutitinn which tbpv considered to be little
better than that from which it had recently
been rescued at so vast sacrihce. Having
confidently and fondly looked forward to the
second term of President Lincoln to consum-
mate the great work of complete and peaceful
restoration upon broad and durable basis it
was not only humiliating to them, but irritat-
ing in the extreme, to find in his successor an
adversary and stumbling block. Such
state OF affairs called for an amount of patience
not to be reasonably expected from men who
had set their hearts upon the accomplishment
of a great purpose, for VIII ch they had long
and earnestly tOled and, but tor this most un-
looked tor obstruction, seemed to have won.
In the state of public feeling aroused by this
condition of affairs, an opportunity OF remov-
ing such an obstacle to their hopes by consti-
tutional means seemed to present itself and
was seized with avidity. | do not wonder
that the idea ct impeachment was popular, nor
did it surprise me that, unoer such circum
stances, but few could stop ~ consider that
the long catalogue of the Presidents alleged
Offences prior 10 the removal of Mr.. Stanton,
had, for the most part, been under investiga-
zion by learned aud able committee OF the
House, had been reported upon, and that the
House, by very large majority, had voted
against an impeachment for these offences;
and, accordingly, with the exception of the
charge in the tenth article, which was also pri-
or in date, they made no part OF the allegations
against him, upon which he was finally tried.
Again, by the public at large it was taken for
granted that in the removal Of Mr.. Station
the President had violated a law passed ex
pressly with view to protect that officer
against removal, unless with the advice and
| consent of the Senate Laboring under the
| strong impressions produced by disappont-
meDt and anger at the Presidents policy and
conduct, the belief that he was on trial for all
| his acts of omission and commission, and the
| fixed opinion that he mad wilfuly violated an
act of Congress, it is not strange tnat the great
| majority of those " no elected Mr.. johnson
could see no reason why he should not be at
once removed from Office, nor any good excuse
| for hesitation to pronounce his sentence.
Nor was this all. As the trial proceeded,
| and it became doubtful whether the result so
much desired would be accomplished, the pub
| lie feeling, already excited, was artfully and
| industriously aggravated. through the press
by appeals to party interests and party preiu-