Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-12-25
HE SAVED JOHNSON.
MAJOR ROSS VOTE KEPT THE PRES
loENT FROM IMPEACHMENT.

Tho Story of That Famous Day In the
United States senato-Tho Kansas soma
tor's Hatred of bon Wade Assigned ms
tho Motive Which Controlled His Vote.
Major Il. G. Ross, tho "Llttlo Senator
from Kansas" played worry important
part In tho impeachment trial of President
johnson. Ho was among tho first FREQ
state mon to scttlo In tho territory of Kan
sas and was tho editor of tho first paper
published In Topeka. He enlisted In n Kan
sas regiment and was mustered out at tho
close OF tho war as major.
When Senator Jim Lane committed sui
eide In 1866, Governor Crawford appoint
cd Major Ross to Ill the unexpircd term,
which lastcd until 1871. During tho I'm.
parchment proceedings Senator Ross had
but littlo to say, and his probable vote on
the impeachment articles was q source of
great annoyance to tho managers of the
trial, and their frequent efforts to discover
his "loanings" wero always very unsatis-
factory.
Some of tho most influential mon of the
state woro called to Washington and wero
charged with tho task of locating his vote.
They soon Discovered that Senator Ross
was an admirable hater OF Senator Bon
Waldo, and that no had Expressed his fears
that tho impeashmont of President John
son would give to Wade u strong prestige
In tho coming Republican national con-
vention, and that tho result OF tho I'm.
poachment might bo tho clection of Waldo
to tho presidency for ut least four years in
stead of for tho unexpirod timo of John
sons torn.
During u visit OF thoso "statcsmon"
from Kansas To tho rooms of Senator Ross
only tho night before tho vote wns to bo
takon 1t was discovered that ho thought
tho strongest article In tho impeachment
was what was called tho olovonth article
Ho half expressed the opinion that IL tho
impeachment could win ut all Ii would
havo to bo ON this eleventh article.
This information caused tho impcach-
mont managers to movo during tho morn
ing session that tho first voto bo takon on
TINT article. On this motion Senator Ross
surprised nll by voting In tho affirmative
This was considered nn encouragement to
tho prosecution.
Chlof Justice Salmon p Chase, robcd
and properly announced entered tho son
ato chamber Mt noon and said:
Tho senate of tho United States Is now
sitting as high court of impeachment for
tho trial Of Andrew johnson for high
crimes and mislemeanors. Tho secretary
will call tho roll of tho senate" Tho Soc
rotary called tho first namo on that roll
when the chief Justice solomnly said:
"Senator Anthony, how say you; Is tho
respondent, Andrew Johnson, guilty or
not guilty ns charged In this articlc2'
Thus wcrc called the names, and each
senator was interrogatcd In tho same man.
ner by tho chief justice. All tho members
Of tho high court of impeachment voted rs
they had been listed by the canvasscrs on
both sides until the secretary reached tho
name Of Senator Ross. This was known
by all to bo tho crisis. Both sides needed
this vote; both hoped for it. yet both
feared tho result.
II Ross voted guilty" tho impcach-
ment STOOD and Ben Wade would 10 the
acting president. Every other senator Mt
that moment felt of how littlo consequence
had been his own vote compared with the
important results which must follow the
announcement of Senator Ross. Tho
crowds In tho galleries almost stopped
lrccthing; tho occupants of the diplomatic
P,'-.ry orancd their necks to get but O
Lli'r;so Of the little senator from Kansas,
v,"a the press gallery was scene of
rrc"t excitement, ms tho reporters knew
his vc:o woold decide the long and cxcit-
iuy Gel :sst. Tho name was repeated by
C.iiof J .srioo Chase, and tho formal ques-
ton pro,,ounded with even more delibcra-
ton and greater solemnity than to tho
other senators.
Ross knew that Kansas was solid for
impeachment. Ho knew that to voto
against tho clearly and hourly expressed
wishes of his constituents meant his polit-
ical death. 10 was young popular and
ambitious. His state was just then the
center Of great interests among tho poll
ticians OF tho country, and ho clearly saw
in the future great possibilities for him as
o Kansas senator.
Under oil those circumstances and forcc-
ful influences tho friends of President
johnson could hardly daro to hopo that
Ross would, rs brave n man rs he had fro
qucntly proved himself to bc, havo the
courage to say, "Not guilty"
Tho little senator from Kansas quietly
arose in his scat, hurriedly glanced about
the chamber, noting that ho was the object
Of more than usual attention, and, without
even noticing or appearing to realize that
his answer might change the cntiro course
OF the affairs of this country, clearly but
not loudly said:
"Not guilty."
Those were tho words that broke that
stiffness. Those were the words
that changed tho current of political events
In this nation. Those were tho words that
closed tho political career OF Ben Waldo and
madc certain tho nomination of General
Grant in the Chicago convention. Those
were tho words that gave the motive power
to start that long train of political Incl
dents embracing tho Greeley movement,
the stand of tho famous 808, tho nomina
tion of Garfield, tho Conkling Garfield
quarrel and the assassination incident
Senator Ross was buried alive in his po-
litical grave. Tho man whom hc had saved
by that vote found no opportunity to re-
ward him. and 1t was not until tho first
term Of President Cleveland that his scrv
Ices wcrc recognized and ho was appointed
governor of the territory of New Mexico.
Hc served term in this office and has
since been publishing a newspaper at Dem
ing -ToDeka Cor New York Times