The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-07-10
WASHINGTON, June 25, 1868.

.s.s WASHINGTON, June 20, 1868.
To the Honorable Alesunder Fl. Bullock, Geo.
Tyler BigeloW, Amos A. Laurence and
Others:
GENTLEMEN beg you to accept the
assurance that nothing but constant occu-
patton 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 of Boston, at such time as
may suit my convenience. For that invi-
tation, and particularly for the kind and
flattering terms in which it is conveyed,
you will please accept my grateful acknowl-
Judgements ir-.a,
1t would be affectation to conceal the
very great satisfaction which this marked
expression of regard and confidence from
gentlemen so distinguished in their several
walks of life has afforded me; and if find
myself compelled by considerations of a
public and private nature to- decline your
invitation, be assured, gentlemen, that it
has impressed me deeply, and that esti-
mate your kindness and the honor it con-
fers at their true value Ri III r
' The present session Of Congress will
probably 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 unwil-
ling to absent myself unless obliged to do
80 by circumstances which justify such alb
sence. The pleasure of meeting you, great
as it would be, could hardly afford the re-
quisite justification. t
/ trust you will pardon me, therefore, if,
raoYaotf,llu TOD =.
your invitation, l allude to the circum-
stances referred to in your letter as of q
somewhat peculiar" character,
The impeachment of the President of the
United States for high crimes and INSIDE
meanors was most extraordinary event,
and will constitute remarkable chapter in
our country's history, The conduct of the
President had, almost from the commence
ment of his administration, been such as
to render him obnoxious to the suspicion
of designing to defeat the cherished OBJ
jects Of those who elected him, and of
plunging the country back into condition
which they considered to be little better
than that from which it had recently been
rescued at so vast a sacrifice Having con-
fidently and fondly looked forward to the
second term of President Lincoln to consum-
mate the great work ofcomplete and peace
full restoration upon broad and durable
basis, it was not only humiliating to them,
but irritating in the extreme, to find in his
successor an adversary and q stumbling
block. Such state of affairs called for an
amount of patience not to be reasonably ex-
epected from men who had set their hearts
upon the accomplishment of great pur-
pose, for which they had long and earnest
ly toiled, and, but for this most unlocked
for obstruction, seemed to have won.
In the state of public feeling aroused by
this condition of affairs an opportunity of
removing such an obstacle to their hopes
by constitutional means seemed to present
itself, and was seized with avidity. | do
not wonder that the idea of impeachment
was popular, nor did it surprise me that,
under such circumstances, but few could
stop to consider that the long catalogue of
the Presidents alleged offences, prior to
most part been under investigation by
learned and able committee of the House,
had been reported upon, and that the House
by very large majority had voted against
an impeachment for those Offences and ac-
cordingly, with the exception of thecharge
in the tenth article, which was also prior
in date, they made no part of the aliega-
tions against him upon which he was final
ly tried. Again, by the public at large it
was taken for granted that in the removal
of Mr.. Stanton the President had violated
law passed expressly with a view to pro-
tcct that officer against removal. unless