The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-04-07
'.s'.i5l'is Sex s.s,ss72: ~. - =
An Historic Picture.
The Late Ovation to Andy Johnson in
the Senate.
A PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTION OF THE
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

A PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTION OF TIE
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.
In it's association it was an historical
picture worthy of perpetuity, that of
johnson and Hamlin standing side by
side each 70 take his oath anew as a
senator of the United States. Both were
born within the same year, each being
sixty-six years of age. Both were of
about the same height and. general out
line, both partaking largely of the same
organic temperament, both dark, strong
and muscular. Both have been in pub
lie life about forty years, and once look
ed good for at least twenty. MORE
Hannibal Hamlin stood there hale, but
Enthusiastically an old man. His bent
shoulders, his crisp locks, Ills bald
head, his round spectacles, his shrill
voice, all contributed to a realization of
this fact. Beside him stood his old-time
rival, perfectly unhurt. Andrew john
son does not look more than tifty-five
years of age, and young. for. that. His
curling gray hair is far from, white,
and gives no hint of badness. His face,
with all its strong lines, bears very few
of the wrinkles of age. He is perfectly
erect, his step light and firm. Each, Of
these men had at some time felt that he
owed the other a grudge. Hamlin felt
aggrieved when he was deposed from
the Vice-President's chair to make room
for this Southern patriot" and the
Southern patriot" received ,Hamlin's
vote against him Oh his impeachment
trial, as one more insult added to over
whelming injury. 10 outward seeming
these wrongs were now as if they had
never been. After they bad taken their
oath of Office, each man turned with a
smile and extended his hand to the 9TH
er. They each strobe to his senatorial
seat at opposite ends of the chamber.
Andy with his head back, bearing to
his. hand a little bouquet of flowers,
whicliin some inexplainable way made
him look very fine and funny indeed.
Then that reception, which he held a
few minutes later, beside his chair,
was significant. Men, women and chill
dren, BLACK and white, poured into a
side door, pressed up to him, extended
their hands, and passed on to make
room for others. Hundreds must have
taken his hand in the brief noon recess.
Seven years ago, who would have be-
lieved this sight to bea possibility of the
| future? Seven years ago this month the
senate sat as court of impeachment, pre-
sided over by the efjnstice of the Uni
ted States to try for high misdemeanors,
| this man who now stood receiving an Ova-
ton as fully acknowledged and newly
confirmed senator. This sight inevitably
suggests the other. The other was the
| biggest humbug and the most perfect pa
geant ever enacted at the capitol. As a
sight it was triumphant success--as a
| high court Of justice it was a ridiculous
sham. No one who bebeld that scene can
forget it. The central figure of the court
was the chiefiustiee. He sat in the vice
presidents chair, his colossal form robed
in the toga of official authority, towering
above all around him. To his left sat the
presidents counsel. There was his nose
cutting the air: like tho PROV of a ship
No brain could ever go daft with such q
mental rudder to steer and clear it's way
There was Judge Curtis, Of Massachusetts,
impressive and impressive; and Stanbery
nervous and bilious; and Nelson wise and
slow. Opposite this council and before
the chief justice sat the Honorable Man
ayers" and prosecutors. They were very
awful in their judicial character, no doubt
but nevertheless they failed to inspire
with awe at least one spectator. There
was Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, aged and fec
BILE often borne in and out in bis chair, the
flame of his fiery life Pickering in the sock
cts of his sunken, yet still burning eyes
there was Boutwell,, narrow chested, cold
bloodless, calculating and sure, Bin CHAM
titfnl, phosphOrescent, eloquent and witty
Butler, wicked, clever, bullying and men
tally more than match for them all. o.
either side stretched away the court of TIT
combined houses Of congress. What face:
in that past that We will miss to-day
Trnmbull's clear, cold, mild, determined
Grimes marked even then for the grave
Fessenden's with its great overhangins
brow, severe mouth and sorrowful eyes
Summers with it's fine disdain aud aspec
proudly miserable. Above this majesti,
court sat another, surrounding it and IA
surprising it in scenic effect--the swarm
ing court Of beauty and fashion Tier OF
tier it arose, swayed, throbbed, fluttered
famed, erocheted and lunched. And NOR
ming receptions had been transferred tt
the senate gallery. The achievement o
the day was to secure tickets to the I'M
parchment trial. They were.issued in Inn
tied number once a week, one Of a differ
ent tint for every day. They were mar
wells of decorative art, Indicative of the ar
tistic tastes and luxurious tendencies o
the creatures for whom they were design
ed. They reduced the senate gallery init
the privacy Of the opera box to all VIII
had them. Without this embellished pass
1 port it was impossible to enter. Thus da,
after day for a month the Impeachment
trial was the full-dress occasion for tn
fashion of the capital. Ladies came earl,
lin the morning fortified with lunches
crocheting, needle-work and novels, spend
ing the entire day in the gallery. Their
was Mrs. Williams always in one particu
lar front seat directly, facing the court
supporting with her sumptuous presenc
her very stolid looking husband, and an,
other dignitary who choose to look up an
refresh his eyes with her very bright col
ors and beautiful face. Then, there wa
Mrs. Morgan, arrayed like duchess, an
Mrs. Sprague in black velvet and aZur
bonnet, yeering through a gold-mounte
ivory opera glass. Strange! But I ca
never recall the impeachment trial with
out thinking at once of the iuimitabl
grace with which she held this oper
glass, and the incompatible beauty Of tn
picture she made leaning over it. Wei
she has vanished. like mahy another beau
ty who Illuminated thatI occasion-th
grandest spectacular pageant the Amer
can capital has ever seen. Yet, bsneat
all it's pomp, circumstance and show,
was a mental and moral farce oil th
same. If not how could Andrew Johnso
be here to-day a-FWashington CORES
pondence of the Cincinnati Commercial
: r-h 81 Ill ..~.1-.- - - q 4.
A MODEST MAN CoNFUsED.-A CORES
pondent tells capital story upon the poe
: Whittier, whosis as modest as he is giftet
He was in Chicago, and went to hear d til
Rev. E. H.. Chaplin speak a lecture some
where mn town. The clergyman was elt