Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-09
EX-SENATOR Ross OK KANSAS
A Romantic sequel to the johnson
Impeachment.

Amongst the people going to Philadelphia
"a locker on merely is Edmund Gross, Of
Kansas. 1 do not know any case in mod
ern political experience, at al approaching
the romance, pluck and misfortune Of this
quiet, modest, hard working western citizen.
He had been a printer all his days, and,
when the war broke out, shouldered bis
musket in the ranks. At the conclusion Of
the war he was elevated to the
United States Senate rare Instance OF
thoughtfulness and gratitude on the
part Of the Kansas people. No sooner had
be been elected than be was sci upon by
the unscrupulous Sidney Clarke, who lives
in the same towp with Ross, and, there
fore, felt that, to get TO the Senate, he must
crush Ross out, because two Senators
could not be elected from the same locality.
Pomeroy and Clarke had 1t arranged, when
the Impeachment trial of johnson occurred,
that, If Ross should vote for conviction,
he would anyway lose all his office
holders in the State, because Ben Wade
had promised Pomeroy the patronage. Ii
Ross should vote the other way, he would
be ruined amongst the Republicans of Kan
sas. Ross did vote the other way, and be-
ing a man of less stature and record than
Fessenden, Grimes and other men Of wealth
and consideration, the mean vengeance OF
that impeachmenhspirit tell upon the quiet,
inoffensive and diigent mechanic, who, nei-
Their at that time nor at present, pos
sessed any money except his sal
ary. But when Ross left the Sem
ate his character, notwithstanding the
bloodthirsty cry against him, seemed so
pure, compared to later revelations about
his colleagues, that at one time he really
seemed to have fair chance Of reelection,
| his impeachment record to the contrary
Notwithstanding. Clarke was beaten both
| for the upper and lower house, and Pom
eroy was burned in efigy in the town of
| Topeka. Ross returned to Kansas worse
/ off than nothing, and with the uR-
reasoning resentment of hundreds of per
sons against him, many Of whom hated
| him he more because they felt, after
that lapse, the contemptibility Of their for
| mer fury, and they made a surly struggle
for consistency. In the interval, new men
were driving the mercantile enterprises in
| Lawrence, and Ross found absolutely moth
ing to do; he was without capital and IN
debt-the $1,000 per annum received in
Washington city not having sutflced, as 1t
sufices in no case that know Of, TO sup
port himself and family of six children.
| He actually asked work amongst the printers
at the case to keep the pot boiling; and even
| nthis extremity the Printers Union rose up
and said that Ross must first join Their con-
Germ before he could get a job. Perfectly
temperate, unfinching, cheerful, and COM
forted by the recollection of an honest life and
nothing ill-deserved, Ross was solicited by
the people in different parts Of the State to
move amongst them aud set up newspa-
per-which, beyond the Mississippi, is the
beginning of every new town. de was
given an interest in the town Of Montgome-
~, on the Verdigris river, in extreme South
ern Kansas; and there, with his family
around him, working at the case and the
press, our United States Senator started
Ross PdpeT-so entitled-and edited II
with the cheerful vigor which was pathetic
to all who knew his circumstances here
Suddenly, a storm arose, about Two
months ago, which swept across the plains
and parairies like a whirlwind, lifted up
Ross printing Office, roof and contents, and
broke the press to pieces, and scattered the
TYNE over all that landscape. 1t really
seemed as if misfortune could leave not one
test untried upon one whom she had al
ready wronged repeatedly Without as
couragiDg him one whit. Senator Ross had
= 1
poor as lie was he came to Cincinnati, say
ing nothing about distress.
But the news Of the mans fortitude, pa.
thence and manly qualities had preceded
him. and generous hands were stretched
ont amongst the men who nominated HOr-
ace Greeley, to give a brother editor a Ilft
and God-speed. Equipped with new out
fit of type, a new press, and the other In
strumentaiities of civilization which make
ND a printing office, Ross left that gather
, iag with a lighter heart, and in few day
I. or weeks, we shall have Ross Paper agaiI
, leading the fight for Horace Greeley, OF
, the borders of the Indian Territory.
l said to Senator Ross yesterday; "f OF
3 must have been Of advantage insensibl,
I. 10 interpretations or persons while il
, the Senate; it is legitimate, in your con
{: dition, that they should give you som
help"
= aNo," said Ross, 81 think that would nc
/. do, II l had gone home from Washington
> and added a kitchen to my house, or
!, much as a stable, there would have been
> cry all over the State of Behold some
f the money he got from the impeachmen
!, trial."
! The further we get from that blood
;. assize which was attempted to be carrie
/, out to the extent of deposing and disgra'
!, ing a President, that few dissppolnte
I men might get the patronage OF the GOV
n ernment, the more cruel and Infamous doe
/ the Impeachment movement seem to b.
:. It was fow-water mark for moral politics
. America. 1t merely gave dignity to th
= man whom it sought to remove. 1t wa
:. perfectly unreasonable and atrOcious in i
~ spirit, and, If there were pejurers an
: purchased men in that assiz
Z thew voted aye and not nay, @
:. Johnson's conviction. They voted in terri
r of those bowling constituencies which
proud man should have snapped his ing
at, They voted for the muck Of office, al
p some of them who voted aye, would ha
. voted, under equal stimulus, even to ha
altered the name Of their country, or /
character as a republic. Posterity seryt
a. warning on the Impeachment trial, and
y not vet done with it. Many men who
pected to figure there like Sheridan and F.
- at the trial Of Warren Hastings viii go in
l, 1 the dock lower than the impeached prison
y for remaining time.
ct HOW TO SLEEP.