New-York tribune., 1868-07-01
FEssENDENs VINDICATIOT.
THE BOSTON BANQUET--MR. FEssENDEN DE
CLINEs THE NOMINATION.

THE BOSTON BANQUET-MR. FEssENDEN DE-
CLINEs THE NOMINATION..
Gov. Bullock, Representatives Washburn and
Eliot, James Russell Lowell Samuel Bowles A. A. Law
renee Richard II. Dana, and others, having rendered
Senator fessenden banquet the Senator has written
reply respectfully declining the honor and vndicatnR
his action IN the Impeachment OF Andrew Johnson lie
says
do not wonder that the idea OF impeachment pOpu
lar did surprise me that under such circumstances
but few could stop consider that the long catalogue or
the Presidents alleged oenses prior to the removal OF Mr.
Stanton, had for the most part been under investigation
by learned and able Committee OF the House. mad been
reported upon and that the House by very large ma
iOrity had voted against an impeachment for those
Offenses and, accordingly, with the exception OF the
charge in the Tenth Article winch was aso prior In date
which he was finally tried Again, by the puDllG az
Mr.. stanton the President had violated law passed ex
pressy with view TO protect that officer against re-
noval unless with the advice and consent OF the Sem
ate Lsboring under the strong impressions produced
by disappointment aud anger at the Presidents policy
acts of omission and commission and the fixed opinion
that had wfuly violated act OF Congress- II Is not
strange that the great majority OF those who elected
Mr. johnson could why he should not be at
once removed from Office any good excuse for hesa
pronounce his sentence Nor was this all As the
trial proceeded and 1t became doubtful whether the
suit much desired would be accomplished the public
aggravated through the press by appeals to party
interests and party prejudice IL was assuIhed
that the too clear for argument; that the
existence Of the Republican party was staked upon the
that party who should hesitate TO convict must neces
say 6e false 70 his principle controlled M by base II not
accordingly had 70 the most powerful engnery ot
their way ~ the public through the appropriate
channels Denunciaton vituperatiOn, caumny threats
fuseiy hurled at all might dare 70 dsobey public
sentiment. The most direful consequences pre-
dlcted In case impeachment should fail Union men,
white and cUlored be murdered driven
homes and all the horrors OF another revolution bloOder
than the rs be let loose upon devoted land
the excitement elsewhere however, was trifing when
compared with that which prevailed at the capital Here
a change Of administration had long been contemplated
and was now counted on as a certainty That ookedor
change had Its usual attendants The coming In OF
President could hardly have warmed into life
merous brood Of xpectants, stimulated eXten
hopes OF bonors and profits The city was filed with
they hoped aud believed, for their benefit Gamblers
thronged the saloons stalking than they were able
TO pay upon conviction or acquittal. As these
hopes rose or fell with the rumOrs Of the hour
as impeachment stock went up or down upon
the political exchange among the crowd OF hun;
the character and reputation Of those Senators upon
the telegraph at hand to carry ts wires 70 the
homes and friends Of those Senators every caumny
aud magnity could invent and while portion OF the
press claiming for itself character for deceney and
even for Christian virtue stood ready TO indofse and CIR
culate the lie. What effect such condition OF things
not easy To determine The result has shown that In the
estimation Of that portion of the public which have at
inc opinions OF senators might be upon particular qnes
lions 80 tnat conviction and removal were secured me
upon which II was founded the removal Of the Sec
rotary OF War Two honorable ana learned Senator's not
included IN the seYen announced their opinions that
the President was not guilty upon this article and 1t was
not considered IN them IN Judgment, much
less betrayal OF party long they able TO vote
for conviction upon the eleventh Other Senators their
opinions declared themselves unable 10 sustain the fourth
hh sixth, seventh, ninth and tenth No articles could
be found which would secure the vote OF S5 Senators ex
cept the second third aud eleventh And yetthe political
orthodoxy OF Senators saved by vote for conVlc
tion upon something. To all such the full right OF
independent Judgment fully conceded while such as
claimed and exercised the same right upon all the art
cles were upsparngy Denounced qs traitors, ggd pro