Ottumwa weekly courier., 1876-05-10

end is to be securedaby final trial
on this impeachment al this session
that cannot as wen be attained by a
trial at the next session of the Senate
What is the overwhelming evil this
proceeding is to correct? Is any
public officer undermining our liber-
ties or using his powerstO to opprcss the
people, and who 10 therefore such an
enemy to humanity that he must be
arrested in his wicked career by an
almost instantaneous conviction !?
No; for no public officer is touched
BY this proceeding. 1t contemplates
nothing but the infliction Of political
disabilities upon private citizen of
the State of Iowa. ,,.ss t..ss sstp
This is unqucstionably great court
but this can hardly be called great
cause. Congress has been constantly
engaged for many years in removing
political disabilities resulting from
treason; not mere theoretical and
constructive treason; not the preach
ing of sermon containing tcncts not
fashionable at court, like that for
which a clergyman was once inn
peached in England; not merely the
writing Of essays to satisfy the peo-9
pie of the right of rebellion, like that
which sent Algernon Sydney to igno-.
minions execution; but treason def.
ant and organized; treason with up
lifted crest and outstretched arm !;
treason which drenched the land with
blood and darkencd our homes with
mourning. You have been engaged
for years in removing political disa-
bilities from men guilty of such trea-
son, quickcning them with capacity
for political and official life, until
they have at last gained possession of
the southern wing of this capitol.
And this proceeding is their first
signal exercise Of authority /; and they
come to the bar of the court heralded
by prOclamations and surrounded
with pageantry which fills your gal
leries when nothing is to be done but
the filing Of single paper. And all
this to fix upon citizen of Iowa, q
Union officer, the disabilities which
the generosity of the North has re-
moved from offenders in the South.
=
And in this case whether political
disabilities shall or shall not be laid
upon Gen. Belknap is not question
of such pressing Importance that its
determination cannot be postponed to
a calmer hour. Not only has General
Belknap maintained a good character
but he has rendered important and
eminent services to the Republic, and
he stands to-day with honorable place
in history, with reputation unqucs.
toned save In regard to the transac.
tions now under consideration, testi.
fed to only by single witness, and
that witness the feeble tool Of one wo-
man bent on the destruction of anoth.
er.
Every Senator who hears me
knows that am especially estopped
to utter one disrespectful word to
this body. 1 have experienced its
generous kindness SO often that car
never entertain aught but the highesr
respect for the Senate and the warm
est affection for its members aud ne
one will do me the injustice to sup
pose that my advocacy of this motion
is inspired by any want of confidence
in the ability or integrity of thi.
court. But remember proceeding
in this body some years ago, in whicl
Senator was on trial, and happer
to know that ut that time another
Senator, who had been a member OF
the committee that had reported the
case to the Senate and had what was
substantially judicial duty to per
form In the premises, was in the dai
ly receipt of numerous letters from
his warmest friends and leading pol
iticians of his own party at home
assuring him that if he did not dt
everything in his power to expel thu
accused he never could be reelected
The Senator thus warned pursued
the course which his convictions die
tated, but the predicted consequence,
was realized.
OF course, / do not know that YOU
Senators, are daily rceivipg such let
ters in regard to this trial. But
should not be astonished to learn
that some person, unacquainted will
the prOprieties of this proceeding
had written a similar letter to som,
Senators.
The coming Presidential campaign
is already dawning upon us, and vii
increase in warmth and interest da,
by day. 1t is impossible for this cour
TO sit, amid the excitement of polit
ical canvass, entirely unaffected by
political influences and no harm car
come to the public, while the re-
sp0ndent's chances of impartial jus
ticc at your hands would be greatly
increased by postponement of this
trial until the coming political con.
test shall be settled.
We are not aware of the character
of Gen. Belknap's defence, but there
was certainly great weight due the
suggestions of his counsel. just now
the political cauldron in Washington
is boiling with uncommon violence
and both parties veing with each 9th.
er to make Belknap the vicarious
atonement for all the sins they have
each individually and collectively
committed since the foundation of the
government.
Considering that he is to be tried
by a political tribunal in the midst
of great political excitement and
| with his accusers and judges all di-
rectly OF indirectly interested in max
ing as much capital as possible out OF
his prosecution, it ought not to be
considered strange that his counsel
sought to delay his trial until after
the Presidential election. At any
rate, it does not seem to us that any
fair minded man will regard the ef-
fort to delay, as an evidence of guilt
As we have informed the readers
of the COURIER, the motion to contin.
ue was overruled, and the trial is now
proceeding on preliminary points.
An Autograph Letter sf Linceln.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON
Nov. IL, 1861.
To the Hon. Secretary Of War,
My DEAR SIR:-I personally wish
Jacob r. Freer, of New Jersey, to be
appointed Colonel for colored regi.
ment, and this regardless of whether
he can tell the exact shade Of Julias
Casar's hair. Yours Truly,
| A. LINCOLN.
| CHIPS.
Lets investigate" is the new fpl
straight.
/ In San EranniS.n Ahnrn is ono Il: