Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-02-05


The return of ex-President Andrew John
son TO the Senate of the United States is
decidedly the sensation of this day of start
ling political events. His chances OF cleo
ton did not appear to be very strong TIL
Monday when Mr. Bates, who was the lead
;nc candidate against johnson, suddenly
withdrew his name when he was within
three votes Of election. Governor Brown,
of Tennessee. who had retired from the field,
then came to the front. His nomination was
followed by the adjournment of the Legisia-
ture, both parties apparently being afraid to
trust their fortunes to an immediate ballot
Next day Governor Brown had got some
light on the subject which induced him to
decline to permit the use Of his name. The
opposition TO johnson, though majority OF
the Legislature, coald not then be concen-
trated on any enc, and johnson was elected
on the 18th ballot by two majority, amid
wild excitement.
All who remember Andy's circle speeches,
will not forget that he commenced public
life as Alderman Of the village of Greenville,
Tenn: that he rose to be State Senator,
and then member Of Congress, and then
Governor. and thea United States Senator,
always as - Democrat. When the war
broke cut he took the side Of the mon 4;
was raade B-igader General and military
Governor Of Tennessee and in 1864 was
nominated for Vice President and elected on
the ticket with Mr. Lincoln. lie was sworn
into Office. March 4. 1865, in a decided '
confused condition Of mind and body.
"a Mr.. Lnco,n's death, April 18th, lob5,
he became President. He vetoed the civil
Rights biz. the Constitutional amendment,
the military government bill, and most oil
the more important bills passed by Congress
lie SUSPENDED Secretary Stanton, and when
Conr.ess rc-;ns,sted him, he removed him
and put Adiuant-General Thomas in his
place. For this violation Of the tenure OF
Office act aai for attempting to bring Con
gras, ia,o disgrace, by yituperation and
menace. in lis numerous speeches while
swinein. around the circle" he was in
peachcd by the House. and tried by the Sen
ate. Ben Butler was chief prosecutor, and
JUDGE h. L. Curtis and Vim. VI. Eyarts,
were among the Presidents counsel. The
,,tc in the senate stood s. for conviction
TO l9for acquitjal, and as a two-thirdS vote
was required to convict, he was declared ac-
quilted. 1t the close of his term as Presl-
dent he retired to private life, and was sup
posed TO Re politically dead. lie has been a
very uneasy corpse, however, and Is now
Fully ro-alrectcd. lie goes back now to the
Senate, to 1t by the side Of Anthony, and
Conkling, and EdIaunds, and Frelinshuysen,
and Morrill,. and Morton, and sherman, and
other Senators who seven years ago voted to
convict him Of 81 high risdemeanors. lie is
reported. however, a. saying that he shall
t.ke his seat without feelings Of personal
hostility towards any one. OF course, he
has taken an early opportunity to declare
that he stall stand by the constitution, lie
/, the only ex-Pre~ideni living, and the only
e1-President ever elected to the senate. lie
is getting ol3-he lacks but three years OF
three score ana ten but he is still pretty
vigorous, ana it i not unlikely that he vii.
make .ame lively times in the Senate. vet.