Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-17
HE SAVED JOHNSON.
MAJOR ROSS, VOTE KEPT THE PRES
lpeNT FROM IMPEACHMENT.
The Story Of That Famous Day In the
United States ~Senate-The Kansas sena-
tors Hatred Of Ben Wade Assigned as

United States Senate-Tne hansas sena-
tors Hatred Of Ben Wade Assigned as
the Motive Which Controlled His Vote.
Major E.. G. Ross, the "Little Senator
from Kansas played a 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 a Kan.
sas regiment and was mustered out at tho
close of the war as major.
When Senator Jim LSle committed sui.
cid in 1856, Governor Crawford appoint.
ed 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 q source Of
great annoyance to the managers Of the
trial, and their frequent efforts to discovc,
his "~leanings" were always very unsatis.
factory.
Some of the most influential 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.
v~ention, 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 unexpired time of John
sons term.
During a visit of these Statesmen
from Kansas to the rooms of Senator Ross
only the night before the vote was to be
taken 1t 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 wiz 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 mt noon and said:
1.-THE senate of the United States Is now
sitting as a high court of impeachment for
the trial of Andrew johnson for high
crimes and misdeineanors Tho secretary
will call the roll of tho senate" The Sec
rotary called the first name on that roll,
when the chief justice solcmnly said:
"Senator Anthony, how say you; is tho
respondent, Andrew johnson, guilty or
not guilty as charged in this articles"
Thus were called the names, and each
senator was interrogated in the same man
ncr by the chief justice. All the members
of the high court of impeachment voted as
they had been listed by the canvassers on
both sides until the secretary reached tho
name of Senator Ross. This was known
by all to be the crisis. Both sides needed
this vote; both hoped for it, yet both
feared the result.
If Ross voted guilty" tho impeach-
ment stood, and Ben Wade would be tho
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 tho
announcement of senator Ross. The
crowds in the galleries almost stopped
breathing; the occupants of the diplomatic
gallery craned their nccks to get but a
glimpse of the little senator from Kansas,
while the press gallery was n scene of
great excitement, as the reporters knew
this vote would decide the long and excit-
ing contest. The name was repeated by
Chief Justice Chase, and tho formal ques-
ton propoundod witt even moro delibera-
ton and greater solcmnity than to the
other senators.
Ross 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 just then tho
center of great interests among the poll
ticians of the country, and no 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
foss would, as bravo a mar as he had fire.
qucntly proved himself to be, nave the
courage to say, "Not guilty"
The little senator from Kansas quietly
arose in his seat, hurriedly glanced about
the chamber, noting that he was the object
OF moro than usual attention, and, without
even noticing or appearing to realize that
MS 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 the words
.""o oiohSou tho currenU OF pOltlcal events
In TINS 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,
tho stand OF the famous 306, the nomina-
ton OF Garfield, the Conkling-G Garfield
quarrel and the assassination Incident.
Senator Ross was buried alive in his po-
litical grave. The man whom he had saved
by hat vote found no opportunity to re-
ward him, and it was not until tho first
term OF President Cleveland that his sery-
ices were recognized and he was appointed
governor OF the territory of New Mexico.
He served q term in this office and has
since been publishing o newspapera Mt Dem
ing.-Topcka Cor. New York Times.