Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1895-06-13
HE SAVED JOHNSON.
MAJOR ROSS VOTE KEPT THE PRES
lDENT FROM IMPEACHMENT.

The story of That Famous Day In the
United states senate-The Kansas sens-
tors Hatred of ben Wade Assigned as
the Motive Which Controlled His Vote.
! Major Il. g. Ross, the Little Senator
rom Kansas, played ~ very important
part in the impeachment trial of President
Johnson. He was among the first free
ssate men to settle I'm the territory of Kan
sas and was the editor of the first paper
published In Topeka He enlisted in Kan
sas regiment and was mustered out at the
close OF the war as major.
When Senator Jim Lane committed sui
eide in 1866, 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 a 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 influential men of the
btate 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 strong prestige
In the coming Republican national con-
vention, and that the result of the Inn
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 visit of these Statesmen"
1 from kansas IN no Of
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 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 announcements to |
the prosecution.
Chief Justice Salmon p. Chase, robed |
and properly announced entered the sem
ate chamber at noon and said:
"The senate of the United States is now |
sitting as a high court of impeachment for
the trial of Andrew johnson for high |
will call the roll of the senate" The sec
rotary called the first name ON that roll,
when the chief justice solemnly said:
Senator Anthony, how say you; is the
respondent, Andrew johnson, guilty or
not guilty as charged in this article?''
Thus were called the names, and each
senator was Intercepted in the same man
-ner by the chief justice. All the members
of the high court of impeachment voted as
they had beG2 listed by the canvassers on
both sides until the secretary reached the
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" the impeach-
ment stood, and Ben Wade would be the
acting president. Every other senator at
that moment felt of how little consequences
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 craned their necks to get but 1
glimpse of the little senator from Kansas,
while the press gallery was scene of |
great excitement, rs the reporters knew
this vote would decide the long and excit-
ing contest The name was repeated bv
Chief Justice Chase, and the formal dues-
ton propounded with even more delibera-
ton and greater solemnity than to the ,
other senator's
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-
lcal death. He was young, popular and
ambitious. His state was lust then the !,
center of great interests among the poll
Licians of the country and he clearly saw
IN the future great possibilities for him as :
q Kansas senator.
Under all those circumstances and force
'ul influences the friends of President | G
Johnson could hardly dare to hope that G
Ross would, as brave n man as he had fire. .
Iuently proved himself to be, have the n
courage to say, "Not guilty"
The little senator from Kansas quietly
arose in his seat, hurriedly glanced about
he chamber, noting that he was the object
If more than usual attention, and, without
wen noticing or appearing to realize that
us answer might change the entire course
II the affairs of this country, clearly but
lot loudly said:
"Not guilty"
Those We're the words that broke that
oppressive stiffness. Those were the words
hat changed the current of political events
n this nation. Those were the words that
losed the political career of Ben Wade and
made certain the nomination of General
irant in the Chicago convention. Those 5
we're the words that gave the motivep power !
o start that long train of political Incl
tents embracing the Greeley movement
he stand of the famous 306, the nomina :
ion of Garfield, the Conkling Garfield 4
uarrel and the assassination incident.
Senator Ross was buried alive in his po-
itical grave The man whom he had saved
y that vote found no opportunity to re
yard him, and IL was not until the first
erm of President Cleveland that his serv.
,es were recognized and he was appointed
overnor of the territory of New Mexico
lie served term In this office and has
ince been publishing a newspaper mt Dem
Nc. Topeka Cor New York Times
Publicity the Greatest Moral Force.
Here is a sentiment" which a New