The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-07-11
SAN FRANCISCO CORRESPONDENCE
.sR. W. wooD.''-No. Is.
SAN FRANCISCO, June II, 1868.
EbAn n Sntrlars-

SAN Francisco, June II, 1868.
Eben K. Smokers.
We have again been entertained by the opinions of
this sojourner at your group. The Alta of June 10
publishes a long letter giving an account of the Vol
cano, concluding with reference to the management
of the steamer and topics thereto relating. An hon.
est opinion is not out of place, perhaps but a spite
full and venomous spirit weakens an argument mate
rally. In abiding to the firm who have the steamer
agency, Smokers asserts that it sympathised with the
rebels during the late war, a statement believed to be
untrue, and calculated to create a prejudice, and to
which l propose to briefly refer, as the writer exhi-
bits an objectionable ignorance of our National char
acer, for the American people are singularly lenient
towards sympathisers with secession, and even with the
rebels themselves. Therefore an attempt to stir up
sectional feeling is futile, for no Union man, however
ardent, would, even he had power, attempt to break
up the business of a secessionist,-i is only from
places of trust in the government that they once at
tempted to destroy that the Republicans seek to ex-
clude rebels. If the statement concerning Messrs
Hackfeld s. Co. is true, (Which L very much doubt)
while we regret their poor taste in preferring treason
to loyalty, they may still rest assured that their bust
ness prospects, Smokers to the contrary notwith-
standing, are safe but if they make an effort to Sc
cure a political office in this country, every Union
man, the writer included, will come down upon them
like n "thousand of brick" While upon this SUBJ
ject, it may not be out of place to add, that people,
here consider it strange that no subsidy has been pros
vided by the Hawaiian Government, and that local
Discussions and petty jellousies will tend towards de-
priving the islanders of the steam line for which
they have, for so long a time, been clamorous.
Impeachment.
The agony is over at last. Already you are in
formed as to the final verdict in the Impeachment
trial,-by a vote of thirty-fve, Gone less than a suf-
ficient number to convict to nineteen. Andrew
Johnson may be justly said to :" hang upon the verge
of the government until his term expires. The
postponement expressed by dissenting Republican Sem
ators. prepared the public mind for a verdict of ac-
quittal, which was received with great but well sup
pressed indignation by Union men, who unjustly de-
nounced the Senators that voted g not guilty. as OPP
posing the interests of the nation. Democrats were
by no means jubilant-to them also it was a bitter
disappointment that impeachment was a failure the
anticipation of radical administration to condemn,
nerved them to vituperative powers but now, alas,
their thunder is useless, while their widely circulated
accusations against the Republican members of the
Senate as a partisan body are utterly repudiated
by the facts for it has been conclusively- shown that
the only "partisanship'' evinced was by the Demo
Gratis, who voted in solid combination against the
prosecution upon every question. points of order
even, without one exception. Singular wisdom that
caused these enlightened Senators to show faultless
judgment upon every test question, while Republic
ans constantly divided thus exhibiting a diversity
of opinion illustrative of weaker mortsls.
The impression that the Union party has los, power
by the failure of impeachment, is, I think, a false
one. 1t is far more pr babe that the impartial and
honest trial will rebound to the credit of the powerful
faction, for the President is indebted for his acquit-
tai to his political enemies, while a conviction urged
by frantic politicians, and obtained through party
would have been a disgrace to the country.
An idea prevails, also, that it would have been bet
ter for the Republican party that impeachment had
never been attempted ; but believe this to be errone-
Gus. Had the House timidly avoided impeachment.
clamorous for the arrangement of the
would have been dissatisfied and democrat
lied. Now, though smarting under the disappoint-
ment of his retention in Office, at least one consola-
ton remains-that Andrew johnson stands morally
before the world, by a vote in the House of
rs to 46, and in the Senate of 35 to 10 and that
the Republican party is certainly no longer RESPONSE
for his actions. Much interest is evinced to learn
the effect upon the future conduct of the President,
speculation is useless.
In regard to dissenting Republican Senators there
is every reason to believe that their abilities and in
fuence will be directed, as in the past, to the con-
Of the Reconstruction measures of Con-
gress and other important prospects, and it is posi-
that future patriotic efforts may reinstate them
the good graces of the party to which they owe
their present positions. But it may prove otherwise,
in which case, if they desire further honors and
they must, in imitation of other second
hand Republicans, apply to the Democracy, by whom
they will be encouraged just as long as they have in
fuence and pOwer-no longer. The terms of the
seven dissenting Republican Senators expire as fol-
lows: Henderson and Van Wrinkle, March 4th next
Grimes, Ross and Fowler, in 1871, and
Trumbull in 1873.
Gold have not been influenced at all by the great
drama. Quiet reigns throughout the