Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-06-10
A NOTABLE HISTORY MAKER
History of the johnson Impeachment
Trial by Ex-senator Ed
mund G. Ross.
FRESH FROM The new MEXICAN PRESS
Personal Sketch of the Distinguished
Author-A Brave Man and True
His Part in the Impeach-
ment Drama.

The publication of "History of the
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson, Presi-
dent Of the United States, by the House
OF Representatives, and His Trial by the
Senate for High Crimes and Misdemean-
ors in Office" by Edmund G. Ross, just
issued in the form of a handsome and
substantial book from the New MEXICAN
printing plant and bindery, will naturally
again attract national attention to the
distinguished author of the book.
SKETCH OF MAJOR ROSS.
Edmund G. Ross, who is at present
most usefully employing his mature
talents, encyclopedias information and
vigorous and cultivated pen as secretary
of the New Mexico bureau of immigra-
tion, with headquarters in this famous
old capital, is one of the most interesting
aud picturesque figures in the life of this
country. He was born in Ashland, Ohio,
on December Z, 1926, became printers
apprentice in the office of the Huron
(Ohio) Commercial Advertiser at the age
of II years, and in the course of the next
three years acquired such skill and pro-
ticiency in the "art preservative of all
arts" that he was able to hold his own
with the best printers anywhere.
Besides mastering all the "tricks of his
trade" he early became diligent and
discriminating student of such books and
periodicals as fell within reach of his
eager hands, dug deep into the history of
his own and other countries, zealously
and thoughtfully studied contemporan-
eous men ana measures, and drank deep
draughts at wells of "English undefyled,"
being especially benefited and inspired by
almost literally absorbing the beautiful
style and masterful philosophy of his
great printer-prototype the immortal
Franklin. Thus, hedged about by ad-
verse circumstances, the peculiarly rugged
nature of which modern boys know moth
ing about, young Ross laid broad and
deep the foundation for character and
career at once symmetrical and worthy
of emulation.
TRAMpING SUR" PRINTER.
Soon after completing his apprentice
ship, armed only with his steel rule and
the letter of recommendation the AL
mighty had written on his boyish face,
young Ross began the ubiquitous life of a
"jur" printer. As he related to this
scribe the other day, with evident pride
and satisfaction, he followed the life of
''tramping jur" through the wilds of
Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and
Wisconsin, finally, in 1850, settling down
in Milwaukee, first as foreman of a radi-
cal abolition paper" called the Free
Democrat and afterwards as foreman of
the Milwaukee Sentinel, then the big paper
of the west. Here he remained until 1856,
when he concluded to 60 to Kansas and
take hand in the bitter and bloody bor-
der conflict then in progress upon the
question whether that territory should be
admitted into the Union as free or
slave state. Accordingly that year he
drove an OK team across the sparsely
settled prairies and plains from Mllwau-
kee, Wis, to the then frontier hamlet OF
Topeka, Kas, and Immediately engaged
actively in newspaper work both as
printer and writer, soon after acquiring
editorial control of the old Kansas Trib-
une. Having cast his first vote in 1S4S
for Martin Van Buren,, presidential can
ddate of the Free Soil Dem ocratic party,
and having become more and more i'm
bued with an adherence of the institution
of human slavery as he became more
familiar with its practical operation, he
of course ardently espoused the cause OF
the Free Sellers and speedily became
such conspicuous figure in the exciting
and
PASSIONATE STRUGGLE
that his life was frequently threatened
and he often found it necessary to bear
arms in self-protectlon before the gather
ing war-clouds actually burst upon the
land.
In 1862, he enlisted as a private soldier
in the I1th Kansas volunteer infantry,
succeeded to the captaincy of his com
pany, and in due time was promoted to
the rank of major, his regiment being
mounted about that time. During the
ensuing three and half years he saw
much hard and perilous service, as the
facts that he had three horses shot under
him and his clothing was several times
pierced with bullets bear rather strong