The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-05-29
Recreant Leaders
From tho Philadelphia North American.

From tho Philadelphia North American.
We arc asked to respect what Is called the in
dependent action Of the rccusant Senator's ON &C
count Of their previous high character and ma
tional fame, and II their conduct were not liable
to grave suspicious Of very disgraccful char
acter, We should be extremely 10th to ccnsuro
any one of them for refusing to convict the great
criminal, since the very nature Of legal trial
demands Freedom Of judgement on the part OF
those by whom the verdict Is to be rendered.
But the circumstances are too strange to allow
any of the recreants to escape without censure.
A principle undcrlics all these charges, Of which
not one Of these men could plead ignorance. II
Is that the laws shall, under oil circumstances,
DO enforced and obeyed. Johnson's conduct
was, In effect, notification. On this ground the
Republican party had taken Its stand. On this
ground every one of these very Senators had
voted with Il and spoken out In strong language.
Notification having for tho first time Tade its
appearance In the acts Of tho President, 1t was
the duty Of Congress to impeach him for 1t.
BY what strange process OF argument, then,
can II be reckoned high-mindcd independence In
these men to stultify their own recordl This
was not chance struggle, nor an incidental Is
sue. II had been long foresecn, long prepared
for The party had been driven to II reluctant
ly. Il had determined to have final grnpplc
with the monster notification, and to kill 1t for
ever According to present appearances. these
men were willing enough to keep the whole
country In turmoil by the agitation Of this sub
icct. They were ready to attack, to denounce,
10 defy. To obstruct ito do anything. In fact,
EXCEPT lust the one thing that would forever
have sGueched it-impcach the great nulllfer.
We have sincerely tried to bear with thesc
Senator's for the sake Of their high regulations,
but their apostacy defes excuse, and our indiS..
nation prevents our believing anything good Of
them. II there ever were traitors, these men
are such. They have inflicted such IN injury
upon the country a. renders them only fit COM
panions for Andrew johnson and William IL.
Seward. We observe that rome journals affect
great surprise at the intimation that these men
were bribed. Let US ask whether 1t Is any less
d.graccful to betray great cause out Of jeal-
ousy Of political rival than to take pay In
grcenbacks for votcf The latter Is tangible
thing. We can reach and punish II. But the
former Is worse, because 1t cannot be proven or
punished. al. ...,.
The little squat Of soreheadel malcontcnts,
headed ly Mr.. Fessenjcn was their candidate,
and he was the worst disappointed man Of the
gang. Since then he has occupied his time In
sneering ut men like Sumner, In carping ut the
course Of Senators who voted against HIN, In
clbowing himself to the position Of general
censor, as that. in his judgement, was tho flnc-
ton Of leader. Old Grimes, with less ability,
has been moro Of a nuisance, because he made
more fuss. |,..
II money was used to convince the sorchcpls
Of the innocence Of johnson, rs Is 50 generally
suspected. the ground was preplrel for II by
this disappointment aud personal antagonism to
the elevation of VALE, and whether money was
used or not, there Is not q man among the 70
cuauts who Is not personal enemy TO Wade,
and who was not known beforehand to be such.
1t Is possible that Andrew johnson may yet
be convicted and removed. But this cannot
satisfy the public mind. Those meu who have
been trusted IS Republican leylcu until they
fancicd that they ownci the party can have no
further confidence from the masses. Our ju,lg-
ment IL that their DETECTION II NJ sure Is that Of
Dixon and Doolittle, and that Il Is folly To look
to them at all a. members Of the party. The
issue il against null location, and as they side
with our enemies VIC must part company. Tho
principle Is more important than their services.