The Portland daily press., 1868-05-18

WE cheerfully publish the following article
from the Chicago Tribune, which has been
sent us for that purpose. Our readers do not
need to be informed that the Press is not likely
to question the motives of Senator Fessenden.
We have already said that "no man who has a
just reverence for the laws desires the convc-
ton of the President unless he is clearly
proved guilty of the crimes and misdemeanors
named in the articles of impeachment"
The END OF lMPEACHMENT.-Oura pprehen-
sions that johnson would tie acquitted have ac-
c0rdlng to present appearances proved correct
Unfortunately, his legal guilt has not been
made out to the satisfaction of a constitutional
majority of the Senate, and he will continue TO
administer the government until the fourth of
March next, unless, indeed emboldened bv
impunity, he should engage in some scheme
which should bring him within the penalties
of the written law, He will be acquitted. not
of moral or OF a political offence, but of the
high crimes and misdemeanors" with which
he was charged in the articles preferred nv
the House, and for which alone he was upon
trial. The members of the court before which
he was arraigned, have been acting under the
solemnity Of aal oath, which bound them to
render decision in accordance with the law
and the evidence. They were no Logger Seua-
tors representing their respective States and
to be held accountable to those by whom thew
had been chosen; no longer representatives of
political party, whose principles they es-
poused and whose policy they were bound to
carry out, but jurors, or rather Jurors and
judges IN e,whose duty it was conscentiously
10 weigh the evidence, and truly to interpret the
law. They may be mistaken as other Jurors or
judges may be mistaken; but their motives
can no more be questioned than those of other
Jurors or Judges. Outsiders, who are swayed
by their feelings, who have q paid a cursory
attention to the proceedings, and have. Der.
haps, glanced at the statutes involved, NAV
well defer to the opinions of Senators acting
under an oath, who bave listened patiently
day after day to evidence and arguments, who
have critically examined the law and prece-
dents bearing upon the questions involved,
and many OF whom are peculiarly fitted by
nature and by professional training, to
charge the duly they have sworn 10 Ierform
When such lawyers as Trumbull and Fessen-
den declare that high crimes and msdemean-
orS have not been proved against the accused
IL is not Tor laymen to assume that thew are
mistaken. When Republican Senators So nm
right and intelligent as Grimes and Hender-
son resist popular pressure and persona ap-
peals stronger than were ever before brouoht
to bear upon the members of a court and in
the case, too, of man to when they axe ner
sonaly and politically hostile, it must be be-
cause they act upon their views of the law
and in conformity with the dictates of their
cOnsciences; for every other motive would
opinions of Senators who take a different
view OF the case, and, therefore, vote accord
ingly, are equally entitled to respect, but not
more so.
In common with all who disapprove of John
sons course, we profoundly regret that the
administration of the government is to re-
main in his hands. 1t is desirable that the
Executive should cooperate with Congress in
policy that aims at the regeneration of the
South. But it is not desirable that this result
should be reached by any road but the road of
Justice. 1t is not desirable that upon the first
t S1a of Chief Magistrate of the United
9,a1es a bad precedent should be established.
I De.er the acquittal of johnson, than his con-
e ei' bt' upon grounds that might be condemn
tria ~ v tiie next generation The record of this
bu th "i,, pass into history 1t will be studied
t g e"o young i men who are to govern the fu-
si"bt will "" not oe scanned by lawyers whose
temporary benefit to the republic is as moth
which would be inflicted by the dnnnS;t taJaIy
President upon o i1dS td grounds par
of conscientious performance Of a iudic;al
duty.