New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-07-18
End OF the Last Anii-Impeacher
Ap0stafe

The New York Times, which at intervals
for the last year has amused itself and the
public by subjecting Lyman Trumbull, the
last Of the Republican Senators who violated
his oath and prostituted his position to save
Johnson from the punishment justly due to
his crimes, to that sort OF slow torture to
which certain Indian tribes treat their prison.
ers before putting them to death. Two
weeks ago, however, it took compassion ON
the "last of the apo states, )" and put its can't
ing and treacherous victim out of his misery
by impaling him alive.
In an article of consummate ability and ter
rible severity, almost every line of which con-
tains statements of facts that would ''damn to
everlasting infamy''. a much better man than
Trumbull, the Times arraigns the Illinois "re-
former" impostor of high crimes and INSIDE
meanors, not only against the Republican
party, but against the laws of his own State,
against the laws of the United States, against
patriotism, morality, and honesty. The Times
proves in its indictment of this noisy profess
sor of political and personal purity
First. That for thirty years he has been an
officc-holder, all the time nosily dcnouncing
ce-holders, and always clamoring for more.
Second That he climbed into the United
States Senate by shamelessly trampling on
the constitution of his State, which rendered
him ineligible to the Office, because at the
same time he was judge Of State court.
Third. That money was used to secure the
election of a Legislature in his interest for a
second term in 1861, his own brother-in-law,
Jaynes, holding the balance in the Senate.
Fourth. That soon after he thus dishonesty
secured his election, he insolently demanded
the appointment of this same brother-in-law,
Jaynes, from President Lincoln, to the Gov
ernorship of a Western Territory, though Mr..
Lincoln strongly objected, on the ground that
it would throw the control of the Senate into
the hands of the Copperheads. Trumbull
was importunate. Mr.. Lincoln yielded, and
the calamity he feared happened, and the
war measures of the President in that State
were greatly embarrassed thereby.
Fifth. Trumbull was not satisfied with the
position of his brother-in-law after he had
held it three or four years, and not long after
Grants election, imperiously demanded that
Gen. Bloomfield, a distinguished one-armed
officer, holding the Office of pension agent in
Springfield, Illinois, should be removed and
this man Jayne appointed to the place!
Sirth. Having achieved this great victory
by the sacrifice of gallant, crippled Union
soldier, he grew still more greedy for Office for
his family, and required the President to APP
point one of his sons collector of internal
revenue in Montana Territory. The Presi-
dent finally declining, on account of the
doubtful character of the applicant, Trum-
bull had the eff'rontery violently to threaten
him with his opposition
Serenth. For years past Trumbull has kept
one of his sons in Office III the Senate Commit
tee, of which he is chairman, at seven dollars
a day and as much more in stealings. And
yet no man has abused Gen. Grant more
vilely for nepotism!
Eighth. Brown, the late luxurious and POM
pous Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate, who
built the magnificent block on Capitol Hill,
where he and Tru1nbull so long lived, out of
the spoils of office, and who lived in such
regal style, was protege and pet of the Hi
nois puritan, and was brought here by him
from his own State.
Ninth. Though constantly deafening the
public ear by his Outcries against the abuse of
political patronage, this man Trumbull,
besides personal applications for relatives
and political tools, stands recorded upwards
Of one hundred times, after Gen. Grant came
into power, as recommending appointments !!
Tenth. Trumbull supported and voted for
all the enforcement acts, for which he is
now so shamelessly and villainously abusing
the President and the Republican party.
Eleventh. In consideration Of large grant
of land by Congress, the Illinois Central Rail-
road was bound to transport troops in times
of war free of charge. This law being lost
sight of during the excitement of the rebellion,
the company was paid by the Government
over 50 ,0O0, 600 for that service. When the
error was discovered a bill was reported COM
polling them to refund the money. Trlmbull
used all his power in both branches of Con-
gress against the bill, and succeeded in
cheating the Government out of these 80 ,O0O,-
600 and upwards. The price paid him, and
the conditions upon which he rendered the
road this great service, was that his brother
and law partner, George Trumbull, notorious
ly incompetent, should be made General At
torney of the road. And the price was
promptly paid, though it involved the re-
moval of an able and competent man.
1acelfM. In violation of law of Congress
Trlmbull received fee of $4,000 from the
Government in the McCardle case while still
Senator, for a few hours service, after Sena-
tor Edmunds had refused to act on the ground
that the laws prohibited it, And this fee he
received while the impeachment trial was
pending!
Such is the arraignment of one of the lead
ing Greelcy-rebel sympathizing reformers,"
one of the precious band of Liberal Repub-
licans" who have turned traitors to their
principles on the alleged ground of Republic
can corruption Is it not beautiful record,
d is not such a man very proper leader
in the reform movement started at Cincin-
natl, and breathed into life by the Tammany