Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1892-05-13
GOV. KNOTS "REMINISCENCES.
The Impeachment Trial Of Andy Johnson;
Secretary Stanton's Brutality
Sunset Cox and Other
Great Men.
Cleveland viii be Nominated and Elected.
TO the Editor of the Interior Journal)

has an abiding place in the affection Q
young and old, that personsge is sssur
edly our genial and gifted ExGov. J
Proctor Knott. BY the boys of Cent?,
College he is especially esteemed anC
respected. Senator Vest, of Missouri
some time ago in letter to the Colleg,
magazine said it was here under the
shades OF Old Centre that John G. Young
taught him to believe in the fundamen
tai political faith and creed of Thomas
Jefferson. The years have passed away
and at last greater than John G. Young
in the science OF government is again
leading the young men of the State in
the right political paths
Gov. Knott comes over from Frankfort
every Tuesday and remains throughout
the week discharging his duties in the
chair OF Civics and Economics. In the
long, quiet afternoon his coy room at
the Clemens Hotel is always open and a
cordial welcome always greets us when
we step in to have a chat with him. We
found him just after dining, enjoying
his cigar and in his happiest mood.
When we told him We desired to hear
something OF OF his old days in Congress,
he smiled pleasantly, curled wreathy
cloud of smoke from his lips and began
with an account of Andrew Johnson's
impeachment.
"a great nation like the American
people endeavoring to depose their pres
ident," said Gov. Knott, "and that, too,
in days 50 trying and dangerous to liber-
ty and order, is no commonplace cir
cumstance. Andrew Johnson was
strong Union man during the war, and !
while at its close was not altered in his !
opinions regarding the secession move /
ment, nevertheless found himself as 4
president of the United States, far from /
fully agreeing with the radical views OF ,
his party associates. This difference led I
to serious results. They could i'll brook
a man who stood in their way with the
veto pc Yer OF the executive whenever
they advanced a measure despotic in
tendency, especially Andrew Johnson,
whom they themselves had placed in
power.
The tenure of Office act was passed in
March, 1867, unconstitutionally depriv.
ng the president OF his power to remove
l civil officer without the concurrence
)f the Senate. Affairs had already
reached crisis between Mr.. Johnson
md Edwin NJ. Stanton, his secretary of
var. Mr.. Stanton had passed through /,
very shade OF political opinion. At the
opening OF the conflict between the
states he had been an ardent believer in
secession, but changing as days went by
lad eventually become not only an I'M !
advocate of crushing the South :
" force Of arms, but at the time OF c
which speak, represented the bItterest a
OF republican radicalism. His S
ontinued arbitrary usurpations of pow j
r in the conduct OF the war department b
ID President Johnson to demand his q
ssignation in August, 1867, but the OBJ .
mate secretary covered himself with n
he tenure of office act and refused to p
,. The president, in spite of the man o
ates OF the Senate, peremptorily dis a
lissed him when it came to this. u
This conduct of the president afford 10
| the imperious majority in Congress III
luse of parchment, so Mr.. Ashley, al
! Ohio representative, introduced IL Oil
ticles charging Mr.. johnson with high th
ines and misdemeanors, his defiance ti'
the tenure OF office act being tho main so
ound against him. Thaddeus Stevens, ca
'njamin F. Butler, John A. Logan and sV
hers appeared against the president, ut
lille Henry Stanberry, Ben r. Curtis,
IN. NJ. Evarts and others defended OF
N. Stanberry was one Of the most IN
lie aud powerful attorneys Of the day. WI
% Senate became the tribunal, before WI
lich the accused must appear. Chief HI
stice Chase presided. The excitement Is
the capital was intense; the friends vi
! enemies OF Mr.. Johnson being ex- W
dinghy bitter in their feelings about Po
trial. The case was begun in March, al
dragged along until May. Taking M
dence consumed 80 much time that wa
interest of the public languished the
finally seemed to die out altogeth- spc
sile
saw Mr. Johnson often during this "
e, but he never seemed to care whit des
mt what was passing and one would wal
e judged that he had no interest per
itever at stake. The democratic fort
nbers and other friends OF the presi- firm
{ were vigilant and their repeated viii
vass of the Senate led them to believe eacl
ajority in his. favor was sure. The eve
vote which would seal his fate was ten,
g taken on May 18th. The preced- side
evening went up to the White the
Sc, as was my custom, to see and bv I
with him. found some Is demo IS
c Congressman there before me. rido
IN / came into the presence of An men