The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-10-19
Referring to the letter

his forcible way. Referring to the letter
he said; ~ 80 II
This letter was written Jan 8. 1858, long
before articles of impeachment were pre-
ferred against the President.and gives the
lie to the charge that it was at the request
of President johnson. that L appeared in
the McCardle case, or that / was employed
to give an opinion in ii. Everybody ut all
familiar with the history of those times
knows that Mr.. johnson was opposed to
the reconstruction laws, the validity of
which it was supposed. were, or might be
involved in the McCardle case. For this
reason Mr. Stanberry, his attorney general
declined to appear in the case. and Gen.
Grant, then Secretary OF war. desired
Ito engage my professional services. in
the case in the supreme court. Ii was no
part OF nay duty as senator to render
such professional services for the govern
ment. Several of the most eminent coun-
sci in the United States appeared IN
behalf of McCardle and argued the case
on two different occasions in the supreme
court--the arguments lasting several days.
On both occasions | prepared and present
ed briefs and argued the case at length 10
behalf of the government la addi-
ton to the professional services
rendered in the McOarGle case |
was subsequently retained by Edwin M.
Stanton. secretary of war, in tie case
of the state of Georgia VS. Gen Grant,
Gen. Meade aud others in the supreme
court to defend them against acts done
under the reconstruction laws. For all
these professional services received COM
pensation. part of which was paid by the
order of Secretary Stanton. and the tall
ance 10 1869. by the erder OF John A.
Rawlins, secretary of war, after Grant
became president As a senator | aided
in the passage and maintenance oil the re-
construction acts, as | conceived 1t my
duty to do; but il was no part of my duty
to defend them or the government in the
courts of the United States. unless profess
sionally employed for that purpose. When
| so employed was justly entitled to COM
| pensation from the parties who employed
me. Grant, Stanton and the Republicans
OF that day were glad enough to obtain my
professional services, and to pay tor them.
| Ii has not been uncommon for members OF
| the senate to appear both for and against
| the government in the courts of the coun-
| tFy, aud receive compensation tor their
services Senator Edmunds, of Vermont,
appeared 10 the supreme court In the case
which Involved the constituti0naiity OF the
coufscation acts, and argued in their sup
pert Senator Conkling, while member
OF the house Of representatives., was EN-.
ployed by the government as counsel and
received pay from the government for his
services. In speaking upon the propriety
of such employ 10 nt, 10 the house of rep
resentatiyes, he said:
Il should be sorry as an American to
suppose that the standard of intelligence
anywhere in the country is SO low that any
l b1sr ha hat 11cfT
guished matthew atician snd warrior. Prov
ost Marshal General Fry, believes that
| there is the siig htes improprlety Ia Il man
| who Is a tnem Der OF congress ia practicing
his profession as counsel in the courts,
or accepting from the government Of the
United States ur from any other client a
retainer fer such professional services"
| Ii Republicans DOW think there was
| anything wrong III my appearing in the
| supreme court In the McCardie and Geor-
gil. cases, why do tbey not visit their coo-
demnation on Grant. .Stauton and Raw
lins. who employed add paid me. and not
| falsely and meanly impute to me the
receipt OF money from President johnson.
as bribe to vote for his acquital? THIS
ms lcious and false assault upon my per-
sonai integrity has been. going the
rounds OF Republican papers, together
| buting to me sentiments l never enter
tanned and language L never used. This
is the first time 1 have publicly alluded to
any of them. By what turning and
taciSting the authors OF the calumnies will
| escape from the brand of falsehood which
| | have placed upon them. | know not.
| Probably ii ey will tsoist and turn to the
distortion Of other facts and the fabrica-
| tons OF either falsehood. hopping by the
false cry of stop thief" to shield the Re-
publican party from an exposure CT its
| inquiries. This was the nolioy pursued
toward Mr. Greedy and tue Feformers of
1879 They were meanly and falsely
sssailed by all the whisky thieves and cor
rdp; rings connected with the party in
power. | do not propose spending my
time defending against false accusations
or personal attacks. My public record is
before the world By it / am willing to
be judged, ara 10 trust to an intelligent
public to stamp with condemnation the
| men who would subvert it. The intellect
which is incapable sof perceiving the
| difference between the employment of a
member of congress by the government to
| defend its interests in the supreme court,
and his employment by private parties to
procure profitable jobs FROM government
officials, is to be niried.
This explanation by Senator Trum bull,
will satisfy all fair minded people, and none
but desperate Republican politicians will
continue the liz Fl.rassj IS not to be
expected from thom, however. as there is
not on element Of fairness in their mako
up. In the meantime the people will
understand the true situation aud those
who continue to make the charge that
Judge TrumbulPs fee ia the MoCardIe
case was a reward FROM ex Presid emit
johnson can only as classed as wilful
aalamniators, without aa element of truth
in them. Judge Trumbull can and will
survive the attacks of sIanderers and will
gain votes all oyer the state from the
independent class who respect him as an
honest, upright gentleman aud a statesm an
Of the highest order
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