The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-05-14

him gracefully surrender his great powers to
the hands that conferred them /; and under
the softening influences of time | came to re-
gard him, not as a tyrant, but as one Of the
most honest and patriotic of men. Now,
listen for n moment to one who perhaps
understands Andrew johnson better than
most OF you. for his opportunities have been
greater. When nearly two years ago he
called me from the pursuits of professional
life to take seat in his Cabinet | answered
the call under a sense of public duty. /
came here almost stranger to him and
every member of his Cabinet, except Mr..
Stanton. We had been friends for many
years. Senators. need tell you that all my
tendencies are conservative You, Mr.. Chief
Justice, who have known me for third of
a century, can bear me witness. Law, not
arms, Is my profession. From the moment
/ was horored with seat In tie Cabinet Of
Mr.. johnson not step was taken thSt did
not come under my observation, not word
was said that escaped nv attention. | re-
garded him closely in Cabinet. and in still
more private and confidential conversation.
| saw him often tempted with bad advice. l
know that evil counsellprs were more than
once around him. l observed him with n
tense anxiety. But never in word, in deed,
in thought, in action, did | discover in that
man anything but loyalty to the Constitution
and the laws He stood firm az rock
against all temptation to abuse his own pow
ers, or to exercise those which were not con-
fer-ed upon him. Steadfast and self-reiiant
in the midst of sll difficulty, when dangers
threatened, when temptations were strong,
be locked only to the Constitution Of his
country and to the people. Yes, Senators,
| have seen that man tried as few have been
;aI q ahnSPI
have seen him endure day after day provo
cations such as few men have ever been called
upon to meet. No man could have met
them with more sublime patience. Sooner
or later, however, knew the explosion must
come, and when it did come my only wonder
was that it had been so long delayed. Yes,
Senators, with all his faults the President
has been more slnned against than sinning.
The Constitution of the country Is as safe in
his hands from violence as it was in the
hands Of Washington. But if. Senators,
you condemn him, if you strip him Of the
robes Of Office, il you degrade him to the ut
most stretch of your power, marx the pro-
phesy The strong arm of the people will
be about him. They will find way to
raise him from any depths to which you
may consign him. and we shall live to see
him redeemed and to hear the majestic voice
| OF the people w ell ODuS, Idltnlul servant, I,
you shall have your reward" But if, Sen
| ators, as I cannot believe. but as has been
| boldly said with almost official sanction.
your votes have been canvasscd aud the
doom of the President is sealed, then let
that Judgment not be pronounced in this
Senate Chamber; not here. where our Ca
millus, in the hour of our greatest peril.
single-handed, met and baefid the enemies
Of the Republic; not here. where he stood
faithful among the faithless; not here,
where he fought the good fight for the Union
and the Constitution not in this chamber,
whose walls echo with that clarion voice
that, In the davs of our greatest danger,
carried hope and comfort to many a de-
spending heart, strong as an army with
banuers. No, not here. Seek out, rather
the darkest ard gloomiest chamber in the
subterranean recesses of this capitol, where
the cheerful light of day never enters.
| There erect tho altar and immolate the vic =
| tim"