The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-06-03
THE NORTHERN PRESS ON I'M
PARCHMENT.
JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE IN THE SENATE.
from the Providence Journal, Senator
Anthony's paper

j
The New York Tribune has continued
to argue the impeachment by special ap
peals to the Senators up to the very day
before their judgment is to be given. Ii
its article Of yesterday it utters what il
calls its last words to the Senate before
the verdict" They are Of the nature of al
appeal to the Republican Senators, as
such, to go, one and all, for the conviction
and removal Of the President. 1t declares
that every one of them who rises IN his
seat to day and votes "not guilty" will
virtually say, | am the same as Andrew
Johnson ] am his defender and apologist
90 into history as his companion hi.
deeds are my deeds; his speeches are my
speeches; | give to his past career my APP
proval | accept the responsibility of any.
thing he may do in the future" All this
followed by much more to the same effect
the design ofwhich is to place any Repub,
lican Senator who may be unable, consci-
entiously, to vote for conviction before the
public. 1t tells them they "may well
pray for -oblivion,"' and warns them to
6 pause before by their votes they write
their names with the infamous and degra-
ded men who in times of national trial
sought to betray their country.
Talk like this, we should say, must be as
ofensiveto allhigh minded Senators feyery
shade of opinion, as it certainly is unworthy
Of newspaper like the Tribune. That paper
aud some Others have had far too much of
it ever since the impeachment trial has
been in progress, and it is not for want of
any effort which they could make that the
trial has not been degraded to a mere pro-
ceeding of attainder before q legislature of
partisans. In spite Of all such endesvors,
however, the Senate has maintained its iu-
dicial character, result which we owe to
certain members Of that body who were de-
termined not to be compromised in this
business by their political connections, and
were unalterable in their purpose to give
the accused President fair aud impartial
trial. This, also, we must not forget, was
from the beginning the determination of
the Chief Justice, whose first appearance
upon the scene called forth so many hostile
criticisms from those who desired mere
political Judgment. Indeed it is not too
much to say that the country is cry large
ly indebted to the influence which he brought
to the trial for the elevated tone which has
marked the proceeding at every stage of
its progress, With this tone so Carefully
maintained by most of the Senators, we
have been constantly surprised at the ef-
forts constantly made by certain presses to
interpose considerations of personal or par
ty expedieney that were obviously SO much
OF variance with it.
1t is certainly no more true of Republi-
can Senators who may not be satisfied that
the President is guilty of the crimes and
misdemeanors with which he is charged,
that they thereby oppose him and make
themselves like him, and that they become
his apologists and defenders, than the same
things were true of Judge Marshall who &C
quilted Aaron Burr. when tried for high
treason. All that Judge Marshall said in
his charge to the Jury in that trial was,
that whatever else Aaron Burr had done,
1t was not clear that he had committed
treason. And all that any Senators who
to-day may vote not guilty will say is,
that they do not think that the crimes
charged in the impeachment of the Presi-
dent have been legally proven. This is all
that they can possibly mean by the vote,
and should any Republican Senators thus
vote, it will be the paltriest and narrowest
act of party prescription that can be con-
eelved to question their motives or to as
perse their character. 1t will be gross in
justice, as well as folly, to hold them up as
endorsing the President because they may
not think the charges brought against him
are legally sustained. 1t may be that no
Republican Senators will feel called upon
by their duty to vote for acquittal but
should they do so, we maintain, that other
.hings being equal, that they will be enti-
lied to the credit of conscientious indepen-
fence fully as much as those who vote the
'ther way. 1t is always easier to go with
mes party than against it, and the Repub-
lean Senators, should there be any, who in
his case may feel bound to vote for the &C
luittal Of the President, can scarcely be
controlled by any other consideration than
he simple desire to do {" impartial justice"
to the oaths which they have tn
Ken. When Senators are engaged in the
business Of legislation We may ply them
With considerations of expediency and of
party interest. But when they put on this.
judicial character, and sit as q court of i'm
parchment, and especially when they are
,alled to pronounce judgment in the most
trial of the age, and one that
will be historic forever, let US, at the very
east, afford them an opportunity to make
heir decision Independently and conscen-
'iously, without fear, favor, or hope of re-
ward.
DRAGooN1NG IN THE SENATE.