The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-05
He SAVED JOHNSON.
AAJoR ROSS VOTE KEPT THE PRES
iDGNT FROM IMPEACHMENT.

INC story OF That I'nn'ous Day IN the
United States Scnatc-The Kansas Scnn-
tors Hatred of Zen Waldo Assigned ,,s
the Motive Whic! Controlled Ills Vote.
Major +. G.. Ross, tho Little Senator
from Kansas, played II very important
part i'll tho impeachment trial of President
johnson. He was among tho first free
state men to settle in the territory of Kan
Sis and was tho editor of the first paper
published in Topeka He enlisted In a Kan
s;is regiment and was mustered out Mt tho
close of the war as major.
When Senator Jim Lane committed sui
eide in 1886, Governor Crawford appoint-
ed Major Ross to fiji the uncxpircd term,
which lasted until 1871. During the i'm
peachInent proceedings Senator Ross had
but little to say, and his probable vote on
the impeachment articles was u source of
great annoyance to tho managers of tho
trial, and their frequent efforts to discover
his 'lcanings" were always very unsatis-
factory.
Some of tho most influential men of the
state wcrd called to Washington and were
charged with the task of locating his vote
They soon discovered that Senator Ross
WAS Mi admirable hatcr of Senator Ben
Wade and that he had expressed his fears
that tho impeachment of President John
son would give to Wade u strong prestige
In the coming Republican national con
vehoion, and that the result of the i'm
parchment might be the election of Wade
to the presidency for at least four years in
stead of for the uncXpircd time of John
sons term.
n f.,f. ,,~ff
from kansas to tho rooms of Senator Ross
only the night before tho vote was to be
taken 1t was discovered that he thought
the strongest article in the imrcachmcnt
was what was called the eleventh article.
He half expressed the opinion that if the
impeachment could win at all it would
have to be on this eleventh article.
This information caused the impcach-
mcnt managers to move during the morn
ing session that tho first vote Be taken on
that article. On this motion Senator Ross
surprised all by voting in the affirmative.
This was considered an encouragement to
the prosecution.
Chief Justice Salmon p. Chase, robcd
and properly announced, entered the SEN
ate chamber mt noon and said:
1.-The senate of the United States is now
sitting ms high court of impeachment for
the trial of Andrew johnson for high
crimes and miSdemcanors. The secretary
Will call the roll of the senate" Tho sec
rotary called the first name on that roll
when the chief Justice solcmnly said:
senator Anthony, how say you; Is the
respondent Andrew Johnson, guilty or
not guilty as charged IN this articlc?"
Thus were called the names, and each
senator was Intercepted in the same man
ncr by the chief justice. All the members
of tho high court of impeachment voted as
they had been listed by the canvasscrs on
both sides until the secretary reached the
name of Senator Ross. This was known
by all to be tho crisis. Both sides needed
this vote; both hoped for it, yet both
feared the result
If Ross voted guilty" the impeach-
mcnt stood, and Ben Wade would he the
acting president Every other senator at
that moment felt of how lit lc consequence
had been his own vote compared with the
important results which must follow the
announcement of Senator Ross. Tho
crowds in the galleries almost stopped
breathing; the occupants of the diplomatic
gallery crancd their nccks 10 get but n
glimpse Of the little senator from Kansas
whilo she press gallery was u scene of
great excitement, us the reporters knew
this vote would decide the long and cycit
Chief Justice Chase, and the formal qucs-
ton propoundcd with even more ,iclibcra-
ton and greater solcmnity than to the
other senator's
hoSs knew that Kansas was solid for
impeachment He knew that To vote
against the clearly and hourly expressed
wishes of his constituents meant his polit-
ical death. He was young. popular and
ambitious. His state was lust then the
center of great interests among the poll
tlcians of the country, and he clearly saw
IN the future great possibilities for him rs
Kansas senator.
Under all those circumstances and force
full influences the friends of President
johnson could hardly dare to hope that
Ross would, rs brave IL man us he had fire.
quently proved himself to be, have the
courage to say, "Not guilty"
The little senator from Kansas quietly
arose in his scat, hurriedly glanced about
the chamber, noting hat he was the object
or more than usual attention, and, without
even noticing or appearing to realize that
his answer might change the entire course
of the affairs of this country, clearly but
not loudly said:
Not guilty.
Those were the words that broke that
oppressive stiffness Those were tho words
that changed the current of political events
III this nation. Those were the words that
closed the political career of Ben Wade and
made certain the nomination OF General
Grant in the Chicago convention. Those
were the words that gave the motive power
to start that long train of political Incl
dents embracing the Greeley movement,
the stand of the famous 500, the nomina-
ton of Garfield, tic Conklng- Garfield
quarrel and the assassination incident.
Senator Ross was buried alive in his no
lftical grave. The man whom he had saved