The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-10-02
A SCRAP OF HISTORY.

nation in the world surpasses our own IN
point of absolutely interesting events. Our
record. from the time of the landing of the
Pilgrim fathers down to the inauguration
of BRNIAMIN HARRISON as President Of the
United States, is as cnticing literature
when properly told as even a well-con-
structel romance, certainly as much so as
that Of any other nation in the world. not
excepting that,of the Roman nation, within
a corresponding period.
Since this country established for itself
ithat distinct and separate maintenance
among the nations of the earth to which
the laws Of nature and Of ma
ture's GoD entitled it." it has been
productive of great many incidents
relating to personal life any one of which
might properly form the thesis Of a vast
volume, and be none the less interesting
because it related to but one person in
stead of many The life Of such men as
ABRAHAM LINCOLN and ANDREW JOHNSON,
for instance, furnish all the material ne
cessary for volumes complete within them
selves, and so comprehensive and romantic
that the reader in going through them
actually obtains somewhat Of the life and
character Of the nation itself.
One of the most notable personal cases in
or modern history is that of EDMUND G.
Ross-notable because illustrating the
possibilities and probabilities of American
manhood It is not stating it too strongly,
in the light Of all the facts, to say that the
fate Of the nation once hung upon his inii-
vidual action, and that too at a time when
he had but recently left the printers case,
and shortly after returned to it. This
point being established, does it not quite
equal the career of LOUIS NAPOLEON. VINO
went from the slums of the streets first to
the Presidency and then to the throne as
Emperor OF the nation which had subiu-
gated Russia, Germany, Austria, Italy, and
had made the whole of Europe stand in
awe Of its every movement: We feel to
state that il does, and TO add that what
Ross did and what he accomplished are
merely illustrative Of what has been done
many times in connection with our career.
only in a different way, and that the same
combination of circumstances, by means of
which such actions could be brought TO the
front, were in other cases wanting.
All readers of THH HERALD remember
the impeachment proceedings against one
of the persons herein named-ANDREw
JoaNsoS-wheu he was President of th e
United States. II was a long and exciting
trial that took place before the Senate, and
a careful canvass Of the members Of that
body, upon whose votes depended the
issue, showed that there were thirty-five
votes in favor of conviction, eighteen
against, and ue-Ross'-doubtful. Which
ever way he voted would settle the
case at once. He had previously pub
Ished a free-soil paper in Kansas, was
appointed to the Senstorship by Governor
CRAWFORD 20 fill the vacancy OccasiOned by
the death, by suicide, Of the notorious
JIM LANE, and upon the expiration Of his
appointment was elected by the legislature
70 serve the full term of six years, all, Of
course, because of his straightout Republi-
canism; yet when it came to a question Of
removing the President, they feared, and
why Because despite his fealty to the
Republican party, he was also known to be
man of principle, Of reflection, of study,
and Of that robust quality of patriotism
which exists so iufrequently in that party
that when any member of it is found IN
possession of such an attribute, ne becomes
q marked man at once, and his thick and
thin loyalty to the party is very properly
"a stion of two sides. Thus it was with Rose.
He was an American aud patriot first,
Republican next. No wonder the chiefs Of
that party were uneasy as to what he
would do when it came to the great ques-
ton Of risking the nations life because
OF the hitherto untried question Of
Hnseating the chief magistrate for purely
partisan reasons and placing the govern
meut at Washington upon purely parti-
san basis. No wonder, indeed.
As stated before, the proceedings in the
impeachment case were long drawn out,
and at last the time for voting was close at
haRd- Then came message to him from
representative Kansas Republicans, among
tnen the noted D. Il. ANTHONY, recently
governor Of the state and formerly editor
Of the Leavenworth Commercial, sheet
more noted for arrsut blackguardism than
for any of the higher characteristics of
journalism The dispatch was to the effect
that Kansas has heard the evidence and
demands the conviction of the President
To this Senator Ross replied as follows:
%, k ANTHONY hDQ OL0eT5s 4 40 uOl recognize
your right TO demand that shall vote either for
against conviction. have taken an oath 70 DO
impartial justice according to the constitution
and laws aAd trust that shall have the courage
and honesty 10 vote according 50 the dictates OF
my Judgment Bad for the highest good Of my
country.
The supreme moment Of the famous triAl
aane sO0a sfterward, aud Ross ballot was
thrown for acquistal. Tho vote stood IS to
1s. Soon afterwAri he received this dis
patch, signed 80. T. AsgHoET and others:"
Your vote WAS dictated by FoA EwI SC, not BY
your oath, Your motives are Indian contracts
:ssd greenbaciSs- Kansas repbdisteS you a. she
does al periurers and skunks.
L. vs.. BAILEY, OF Lesvenworth, tele-
r-raphed TO Ross as follows:
Probably tho rope with which ) U0AE hanged
himself Is lost, but the pistol win which JIh
LACE committed suicide IL al your service
That Is what he received for doing right
IS Con had given him to SEQ the right.
Kansas was then as now rsbidly and over
whelningIy Republican, and it fairly went
Wild when the news Of the failure of the
impeachment proceedings was reached. II
is easy to understand that Ross name was
the burden Of all conversation. On the
18th of May, 1855, the soldiers Of the regi-
ment 70 which he once belonged burned
him in efigy Ia front of the STATE louse
Topeka. Tho Leavepworth Conregpdtiee,
..Co H..