New-York tribune., 1868-05-14
THE FREE.TRADE CONSPIRACY AGALNS
JUSTICE


The organs Of tho Free-Trade notion, and
the agents of the British manufacturers, are
engaged in a desperate effort to secure the
acquittal of Johnson, on the ground that he is
a Free Trader, and the impeachment, in adj
vance, of Mr.. Wade as believer in Protection
to American Industry. They alege that if the
votes of Senators Grimes and Fessenden, and
other Free-Trade Republican Senators, shall be
cast for the acquittal Of johnson, 1t will be not
because they believe him innocent of the high
crimes and misdemeanors with which he Is
charged, but because they are opposed to Mr..
Wades doctrines upon the Tariff question.
They allege that Mr.. Wade has promised the
Tariff lobby an increase in the tariff on imports
No lobby is or has been seeking an increase OF
the duties on Imports Mr.. Wade has made no
promise to any man, or through any organ
whatever, what he would or would not do In
case he should become President beyond that
found in the record of long, bold, and un-
wavering public career. Indeed, moments
reflection would show how little occasion there
could be to ask such promise Mr. Wade, as
President, would have power TO originate
a Tariff law. lie could only sign or veto such
a law as Congress should pass. The passage
of Tariff law would depend upon Congress,
not on the President, and Mr.. Wades vote as
a Protectionist would be worth more In the
Senate than would his signature as a President.
The only change Of the tariff now urged
upon Congress is reduction, and not an in
crease of the rate. That reduction was moved
by Mr.. Grimes of Iowa upon the bill which
sought to relieve domestic labor of excise du-
ties American importers and European manu-
faoturers are combined to secure this reduc-
ton. To that end the Free-Trade League and
the Free Trade Press have Of lato been stimu-
lated to unwonted activity and violence. Mr..
Wade has throughout his whole life been classed
among Protectionists. Mr.. Wade has uniformly
held it to be the part of wisdom for the
American people to have their work done at
home so far as practicable. This opinion has
never before been imputed to him for crime.
Knowing it, the State of Ohio sent him to the
Senate. Knowing it, the Senate made him
President pro tenn. Having been made Senator
by Ohio and President pro TEN. by the Senate,
it so happens that Mr.. Andrew johnson cannot
be convicted and removed from Office except
with the result of making Mr.. Wade President
of the United States for some eight or ten
months.
This result the Free-Trade organs say,
must be avoided at all hazards. Impeach-
ment must be defeated. Andrew johnson
T. il the Judgment of the House Of Repre-
sentatives ana in the judgment of the
country, guilty of high crimes and misdemea-
nors. But the Free-Traders say Mr.. Wade is
guilty of greater ones. Mr.. johnson is only
false to the Constitution and Laws Of the
United States; Mr.. Wade is false to the inter-
ests of the manufacturers Of Great Britain.
Mr.. Johnson is on trial before the Senate for
the crimes laid to his charge by the House.
The country is hushed to hear Judgment upon
him. But the free-traders call for judgment
upon Mr. Wade instead. Impeachment must
be defeated, because Impeachment would re-
place johnson with Wade. IF johnson is
acquitted, upon their heads" (the Protection
ists) "be the guilty responsibility"
By the same process of reasoning, the North
was always held by the Rebels responsible" for
their treason. If the North had not been
hostile to Slavery, the South would not have
attempted to destroy the Government. Ihe
South only committed the crime; the North In
cured the guilt They ought not to have been
opposed to Slavery. Let us hope that the
Senate Will be suffered to pass judgment upon
Mr.. johnson according to the measure OF his
guilt, and will postpone the trial OF the I'M
peachment which the Free-Traders present
against Mr.. Wade, until the pending trial is
concluded.