Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-06-17

A pologies of TrumbulI and Chase.

II would be very natural for these men,
smarting as they are, under the censure OF
millions Of the people, to present apologies
for their course ON the impeachment They
feel the necessity of justilying their course,
while all who voted for impeachment as yet
permit the action to justify itself They have
no misgiyings to soothe and to calm. They
heard the evidence, they knew the law, and
thirty five good men, as able at least as any
Senators. voted the President guilty Of high
crimes and misdemeanors, within the meaning
of the statute Seven voted him not guilty.
Nobody can pretend that these seven have any
better knowledge of law than seven 9TH
ers who might be taken by lot out the thirty
Eve. Fessendcn might perhaps be compared
with Sumner, and il could be no great compli-
ment TO the latter to say that in attainment,
acumon and craftsmanship, he is Fesscndcn's
superior. Trumbul may be compared to
Edmunds, but who mpposes that his superior
legal skill, discernmcnt, candor, or impartial
ity enabled him to form better judgment
than the latter2 Both Fcssondcn and Trum-
bull were said to be disa1cctcd with Wade,
who seemed to have triumphcd over them in
the election to the Presidency in the Senate.
Perhaps that may have determined their vote.
IL might have had something to do with
Chase's evident familiarity with johnson and
the politicians that surround him. Mr. Wal
ton says Mr. Fessenden is his friend aud inti-
mate acquaintance, aud is therefore above
suspicion of venality. BE it So Each of
the other six who voted against impeachment
have other friends who can vouch as strongly
for them But still it is said huge sums of
money have been raised TO influence the trial.
If so, they may have all gone to lawyers to
dclray other expenses But 1t is singular
that men who so lately denounced the prcsi-
dent, and declared him worthy Of impench-
ment, should so Suddenly have changed opin-
ions concealed themalso from their colleagues
become familiar with Democrats whom they
had opposed before, aud voted with them now.
Chase and Trumbull may point TO their great
names and their past services and say that
when the excitement of the hour has passed,
the nation will approve their action. They
can more truly say, when the nation iorgets
their wicked delinquency. by the recurrence
Of some new atrocity, they may be forgotten
Whether they were bribed, deeply prejudiced,
or Jealous Of somebody that seemed likely to
gain power faster than they, it is not necessa-
ny to determine But until they can make
the world believe that the thirty five men who
voted upon their oaths according to law and
evidence, where there was no conflicting tes-
timouy, were all corrupted or incapable the
seven must bear the charge of selling them
selves TO the wrong, though they increase not
their wealth by their price. They may tell
of the excitement Of the hour it IL all mis-
placed When crime is fresh, it ought to be
Judged. When the evidence can be- dispas-
sionatey belore.a jury let them pass upon t,
and NOT wait until half the world Is oblivous
Of it, Their apologies show that they feel
guilty, and we leave them TO their own re-
proachcs r. $. II.