The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-07-09

gard all external influences, and all
attempts to control my judgment by
appeals to a party nature, addressed
either 90 my hopes or fears. In
word, consider tho matter entire.
ly beyond and above party jurisd'c
tion.
"Tho conclusion at which | arriv-
cd IS well known ID you. My
reasons arc before the country, and
1 do not desire to repeat thom. All
| claim for tholn is that, IN com
mon justice, they may DO beloved
10 be my truo reasons. For them
and for tho vote gave | offer no
excuse or apology, and ask no vim
dication nor do | consider myself
entitled TO any especin. credit for
courage or consciontiousnoss IN the
discharge Of what l consider an
impcrItlve duty. could not, 1t is
true shut my eyes to tho fact that,
by voting to acquit tho President,
l should disappOint the hopos Of
those who honestly desired his
conviction, and expose myself to
severe animsdversivn from tho long
tried and highly.vRluod friends,
and the great mass of that party
for tho success Of which i earnestly
and faithfully lnbored. All this
was exceedingly painful TO contom-
plate, for man in public life docs
not willingly place himself in an.
tagonism with his political friends,
or hazard tho loss of popular favor.
Nevertheless, it did seem TO me
that considerations hKo these were
not to be taken into the account.
Ono thing the people had q
right 10 demand OF mo, before and
above all others, to wit: that, IN
dlscharglng tho great trust they
had committed 10 my hands, /
should shrink from no responsible.
ty which that trust imposed, and
allow no coward fears Of personal
consequences to lead me asti ay
from tho path ofoffcial duty; and l
aattcred-pcrhAps deluded-mYself
with the hope that the testimony Of
n Tito, including moro than fourteen
years Of consecutive public service,
would protect mo against tho vilo
calnmnies, of those who sought and
affected to hnd for course Of action
by whirh / could gam nothing rnd
might loso much, motives criminal
or mean. THIS hope was founded
on belief in tho intelligence and
candor of tho American people,
who seldom fail eventually to justi-
| fy those who serve them faithfully
l am proud and happy to Aeknowl
edge that you, gentlemen, have
strengthened and confirmed that
confidence.
"You do not, | am sure, ovcrrate
the Importance Of preserving and
supporting judicial independence
and judicial integrity. Permit me
to say that Legislative independence
is Of equal value; not that Indcpcnd-
enco which dcfios the popular will,
or disrcGards public opinion, but
that which prefers n conscientious
ness ot integrity to popular applaus.
In our country the Inducements to
sacrifice tho right to tho oxpediont,
especially in party questions, are
sufficiently strong 10 preclude al
reasonable apprehcnsions of will .
ful disregard of constituencies. 1t
Is easy and pleasant 10 float with
tho current. 1t may not always be
pleasant to reflect that, by 80 doirg
q bad precedent has boon cstab-
lished, or blow struck, tho evil
consequences Of which may be felt
in all future time.
ESPECIALLY in questions involv-
ing great principles affecting the
framework Of government itself, II
is Of the last Importance that nc
sacrifice be made TO mere temporary
expOdlency. There nro periods in
the history ofall governments when
great danger arises from this source
and all wise rulers will carefully
guard against such dangers. / re.
gard the present rs one Of thos'
periods in our history; but, as II
tho recent conflict of arms, tho pa-
triotic devotion and energy Of tho
people carried them safely and
triumphantly through, so now
trust and believe their calmness anC
moderation in the exercise Of pOlit
ical power will finally soften all tn,
asporitics, and smooth tho troubled
waters of civil strife.
"Again thanking you, gentlemen
for the compliment rendered me
and the more OF coupling an homo
20 myself with your desire to recog
niEe and vindicato an importan
principle, and trusting that / ma,
hereafter, atno distant period, hav'
the pleasure of meeting you on som
less formal occasion.
~ have the honor TO bc,
"Most respectfully yours.
'W. p. FESSENDEN."