Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-06-14
HE SAVED JOHNSON.
MAJOR ROSS VOTE KEPT THE PRES
lDENT FROM IMPEACHMENT.

United States Senate-ThB KanOas SenR-
tors Hatred of Ben Wade Assigned as
the Motive Which Controlled His Vote.
Major f. G. Ross, the "Little Senator
from Kansas" played very important
part in the impeachment trial of President
Johnson. He was among the first free
state men to settle in the territory of Kan
sas and was the editor of the first paper
published in Topeka He enlisted in Kan
sas re-. and was mustered out at the
cleo OF 80 war as major.
". ca senator Jim Lane committed sui
eide in 1866, Governor Crawford appoint.
cd Major Ross to fill the unexpired term,
which lasted until 1871. During the i'm
parchment proceedings Senator Ross had
but little to say, and his probable vote on
the impeachment articles was n source of
great annoyance to the managers of the
trial, and their frequent efforts to discover
his 'leanings" were always very unsatis-
factory.
Some Of the most inhuent ial men of the
state were called to Washington and were
charged with the task of locating his vote.
They soon discovered that Senator Ross
was an admirable hater of Senator Ben
Wade, and that he had expressed his fears
that the impeachment of President John
son would give to Wade a strong prestige
In the coming Republican national con-
vention, and that the result Of the inn
peachmont might be tho election of Wade
to the presidency for at least four years in
stead of for the unexpired time of John
sons term.
During visit of these Statesmen"
from Kansas to the rooms Of Senator Ross
only tho night before the vote was to be
taken it was discovered that he thought
the strongest article in the impeachment
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 impeach-
ment managers to move during the morn
ing session that the 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, robed
and properly announced, entered the SEN
ate chamber at noon and said:
sitting as high court Of impeachment for
the trial of Andrew Johnson for high
crimes and misdcmeanors. The secretary
will call the roll of the senate" The 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 nrticlc?"
Thus were called the names, and each
senator was interrogated in the same man
ncr by the chief justice. All tho members
of the high court of impeachment voted as
they had been listed by the canvassers 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 impcach-
mcnt stood, and Ben Wade would be the
acting president. Every other senator at
that moment felt of how little consequence
had been his own vote compared with the
important results which must follow the
announcement of Senator Ross The
crowds in the galleries almost stopped
breathing; the occupants Of the diplomatic
gallery cranCd their nGcks to get but %
glimpse of the little senator from Kansas,
while the press gallery was a scene Of
great excitement, as the reporters knew
this vote wouIH decide the long and excit-
ing contest The namo was repeated by
Chief Justice Chase, and the formal qucs-
ton proLOundcd with even moro delibera-
ton and greater solemnity than to the
other senators.
Ross knew that Kansas was solid for
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 just then the
center Of great interests among the poll
ticians Of the country, and he clearly saw
in the future great possibilities for him as
"a Kansas senator.
Under all those circumstances and force
full influences the friends of President
johnson could hardly dare to hope that
Ross would, as bravo man as he had fire.
qucntly proved himself to be, have the
courage to say, "Not guilty"
The little senator from Kansas quietly
arose in his seat, hurricdly glanced about
the chamber, noting that no was the object
of 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:
mot guilty"
Those were the words that broke that
stiffness. Those were the words
that changed the current of political events
in 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 motivopo |
to start that long train of political Incl
dents embracing the Greeley movement, |
5hc stand Of the famous 306 the nominal |
lion of Garfield, the Conkling Garfield |
quarrel and the assassination incident
Senator Ross was buried alive in his pO |
itical grave. The man whom he had saved |
BY that vote found no opportunity to re- !
ward him, and it was not until the first |
jerm of President Cleveland that his serv-
ccs were recognized and he was appointed |
governor of the territory of New Mexico.
He served term in this office and has
;ince been publishing n newspaper at Dem
Cor. New York Times.
Publicity the Greatest Moral Force.
Here is a sentiment" which n New
York newspaper proprietor sent to be read
1t complimentary banquet to one of the
who had been at the war in