New-York tribune., 1868-05-13
TIE SITRATION.

pressed by our friends generally, and especially
by our Washington correspondent, in refer
ence to impeachment. We have assurances
that Mr.. Trumbull has made general speech
declining to vote for certain articles, and leav-
ing him free to vote for other articles. Mr.
Sherman has taken the same ground, probably
more explicitly, and yet be will vote to con-
vict on certain of the charges. Mr.. Hender-
sons speech only covers the first seven articles
The eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh,
which seem to embody the graVamen
of the proceedings against the President, are
still open to his judgment and no may vote to
sustain either or oil of them. We should prefer
a decision on the second and third articles
They seem to involve the principle at stake in
the Impeachment trial, and a vote Of convic-
ton upon any other points would not be as
satisfactory to US.
The only Republican Senators who have COM
mitted themselves against the articles are
Grimes and Fessenden, and we are not without
hopes that Mr.. Fessenden may find 1t his
duty to vote "Yea" upon the last three.
But even conceding that these Senators
should vote Nay" upon every article Of impeach-
mont, there still remain half-a-dozen other
gentlemen, every ono of whom may be counted
in favor of the country. AS for Mr. Crimes,
he evidently made up bis mind before the
trial began. He is one OF the unhappy ouriosi-
ties of the Senate. The only reason to our
mind, that he did nOtlleave the Republican
party and join Mr.. johnson was that he would
be then under the necessity OF agreeing with
somebody, which seems to be foreign to his
nature. Those who know Mr.. Grimes's temper
can easily understand how he has become
the Timon of the Senate. A Republican, raised
to eminence BY Republicans-trusted, honored,
promoted and Cherished-now that he re-
tires from public Life the necessity OF bis
nature seems to compel him 20 turn and
send Parthan arrow at the party bfe lt Is
not too much TO expect these secessions' The
history Of this day merely repeats the history
of other days. 1t seems as IL no generation
could pass without giving us one man to
live among the Warnings Of History. We
have had Benedict Arnold, Aaron Burr, Jeiier-
son Davis. and now we have James
w. Grimes We cannot give the Senator from
Iowa the justification of being Judge" IL
he is q judge. why Is Il that his opinions were
pronounced and known to oil men before Inn
peachmentf Can we call that Senator judicial
who, atrabilious dissatisfied, morbid and un-
happy, has prided himself upon denouneing
this proceeding on any and every occasion, aud
making himself as conspicuously It's opponent
as Mr. Garret .DayisS Can we call that man
"judgon who. long before the case was brought
to his mind, was as loud as a curb-stone rQwdy
in bis expressions OF opinion as to guilt or inno
cencei Can we oall that man "juror" who
sinks bis dignity In vindlctiYe denunclatiOn Of
every msp concerned with impeachment Is
ft DOT balterin9 With honesty TO attribute
" conscientiousness to a Senator who has
taken every means 10 bis power to show us
lie iS governed by nothing but passion and
chagriu "a 4''r,'sr ~
We speak THUS plainly of Mr.. Crimes be-
cause we have no patience with him. II is
proper that he should stand In bis true light
The time may como for close analysis Of his
character aud motives. Just DOW the point we
wish TO make Ia, that be shall not be considered
as Senator, "acting oonsclentiously upon his
OATH" because he has.himself voluntarily and
repeatedly abnegated every Office that can be-
long TO q judge or to juror, We might urge
upon Mr.. Grimes the claims OF the Repub-
lican party. We might urge hron him
the salvation Of his country. - But if o
man Is insensble to the instincts Of his place,
especially his duties az a Judge; IL he takes
pains to drag himself and the Senatorial Office
into the streets and newspapers, why seek to
appeal TO those higher considerations that are
supposed to influence the decision OF Sem
ator sitting In COURT Nothing remains TO Nr.
GrmGs but the future be has 80 of6ciously
welcomed. and nothing eemains to us as 0
party and especially to- our friends In Iowa,
who honored, trusted, and promoted this man,
but to make him an example to renegades for
al time to come
The opinion we pass upon Mr, Grimes we
do not feel at liberty TO extend to any other
Senator ID our party. He has made himself
90 conspicuous, be has been 80 blatant in his
course that It is not anticipating or interfering
with the Office Of tho Senate to arraign him now.
We are still willing to believe ip Mr.. Fessenden,
Mr.. Trumbull, and Mr. He6defson. We do not
see evidence TO Convince de that either Of these
gentlemen has made up his mind to vote ab.
solutely "NOp on every article Of impeachment,
The tumors that Ay around the streets, the
stories OF previOusly-etpresse opinions, the
suggestions Of The New York World that
millions of dollars have been raised TO control
theie votes, we dismiss as the Idle wind that
passes by. When Mr Fessenden and Mr.
Trunbuii finally consent TO place themselves
upon tho record as the apologists and de-
Tenders Of Andrew johnson, 1t will be time
to discuss their act but just now we feel that
their intentions have been misunderstood by
our friends in q moment Of panic.
We confne ourselves to-day to the mere
narration OF the progress of Impeachment. 1t
Is not necessary for us to repeat the arguments
we have made during the last few months
Our case Is closed. We have no new thought