Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-06-15
EX-SENATOR. ROSS OF KANSAS.

EX-SENATOR. ROSS OF KANSAS
A Romantic sequel 90 the johnson
~ impeachment,
From Gath's Letter to the Chicago Tribune.
!, Amongst the people going to Phila
delphia "a locker on merely is EdmunC
G. Ross, of Kansas | do not know
any case in modern political expert
ence at all approaching the romance
pluck and misfortune of this quiet, mod
est, hard-working Western citizen. II,
had been printer all his days, anC
when the war broke out, shouldered bis
musket in the ranks At the conclusier
of the war he was elevated to the Uni
ted States Senate-a rare instance o.
thoughtfulness and gratitude on the part
of the Kansas people. No sooner haG
he been elected than he was set upon BY
the unscrapulous Sidney Clarke, who
lives in the same town with Ross, and
therefore, felt that, TO get TO the Senate
he must crush Ross. out, because two
1 Senators could not be elected from the
same locality. Pomeroy and Clarke
had it arranged, when the impeachment
trial of johnson occurred, that if Ross
should vote for conviction, he would any
way lose all his ffice-holders in the
State because Ben Wade had promised
Pomeroy the patronage. IfRoss should
vote the other way be would be ruined
amongst the Republicans of Kansas.
Ross did vote the other way, and being
/ q man of less stature and record than
Fessenden, Grimes aud other men oi
wealth and consideration, the mean ven-
geance of that impeachment spirit fell
upon the quiet, inoffensive and diligent
mechanic, who. neither at that time nor
at present, possessed any money except
his salary. But when Ross left the Sen.
ate his character, Notwithstanding the
bloodthirsty cry against him, seemed so
pure, compared to INTERPRETATIONS about
his colleagues, that az one time he really
seemed to have fair chance of re-elec-
tion, his impeachment record to the con-
trary, notwithstanding. Clarke was
beaten, both for the upper and lower
house, and Pomeroy was burned in effigy
in the town Of Topeka Ross returned
to Kansas worse off than nothing, and
with the unreasoning resentment of hun
dreds of persons against him, many of
whom hated him the more because they
felt, after the lapse, the contempti-
bility OF their former fury, and they
made surly struggle for consistency.
In the interval, new men were driving
the mercantile enterprises in Law.
renee, and Ross found absolutely moth
ng to do; he was without capital and in
doh fha =
Washington City not having snficed, as
lit suffices in no case that 1 know of, to
support himself and family Of six
children. He actually asked work
amongst the printers at the case to keep
the pot boiling; and even in this ex-
tremity the Printers Union rose up and
said that Ross must first join their con-
cern before he could get a job. Per-
fectly temperate, unHinching, cheerful
and eomforted 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 and set up a newspaper-which,
beyond the Mississippi, is the beginning
of every new town. He was given an
interest in the town Of Montgomery, on
the Verdigris river, in extreme Southern
Kansas; and there, with his family
around him, working at the case and
the press, our United States Senator
started Ross Paper-so entitled-and
edited it with the cheerful vigor which
was pathetic to all who knew his circum-
stances here.
Suddenly, a storm arose, about two
months ago, which swept across the
plains and prairies like whirlwind,
lifted up Ross printing office, roof and
contents, and broke the press to pieces,
aud scattered the type over all that land
scape. 1t really seemed as if misfor-
tune could leave not one test untried
upon one whom she had already wronged
repeatedly without discouraging him one
whit. Senator Ross had previously de-
clared for Horace Greeley, and, poor as
he was he came 10 Cincinnati, saying
nothing about distress. ....
But the news of the mans fortitude, |
patience and manly qualities had pre- |
ceded him, and generous hands were |
stretched out among the men who NOM
mated Horace Greeley, to give brother
editor a lift and God-speed. Equipped
with a new outfit of type, a new press,
aud the other instrumentalities Of civif-
zation which make up a printing office,
Ross left that gathering with a lighter
heart, and in few days or weeks, we
shall have Ross Paper again leading the
fight for Horace Greeley, on the borders
of the Indian Territory. ......-
said to Senator Ross yesterday; You
must have been of advantage insensibly
to incorporations or persons while in the
Senate; it is legitimate, IN your condi-
ton, that they should give you some
help"
: fNo, said Ross II think that would
not do. If had gone home from Wash
ington, and added kitchen TO my
house, or so much as a stable, there
would have been cry all over the State
of behold some of the money he got
from the impeachment trial y r r.rn
The further we get from that bloody
sssize which was attempted to be carried
out to the extent Of deposing and dis
grazing a President that few disap-
pointed men might get the patronage
Of the government, the more cruel and
infamous does the impeachment move
ment seem TO be. II was low-water
mark for moral politics in America.
1t merely gave dignity to the man whom