The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1902-04-24
ANDREW JoHSsON.
Death of Senator Fowler Recalls the Wild
War AgOinst Him.
Knoxville Sentinel,

(knoxville Sentinel)
Speaking of the death Of ex-senator
Fowler, of Tennessee, one of the seven
senators who voted against the inn
peachment of Andrew Johnson, the
Philadelphia Inquirer, . republican
paper, has this to say;
"a generation has parsed since that
trial took place, but its echoes still
ring in history. The passions of men
were aroused to such q pitch at that
time that it is remarkable there were
found in the republican party seven
senators who resisted the extraordinary
pressure to convict johnson. There
has been no more heroic action in
American politics than the conduct OF
these seven men who refused to violate
their consciences and convict a man
whom they did not believe guilty. Ev-
cry one of them was sent to a political
coventry as the well foreknew would
be the case. Every one of them was
abused without limit, and yet Of those
who were the most ardent at the time
for the conviction many have since ad-
mitted that they were wrong and that
conviction under the circumstances
would have been illegal and impolitic.
"Of the seven recalcitrant republican
senators two are still alive and one of
them was driven from his state into al
most abject poverty, the while being
accused of selling his vote. History
has done them tardy justice, which is
hardly compensation for all the con-
tumely heaped upon them at the time.
Andrew Johnson was untitled by tenn
p9rament and education for making a
good president at a critical period in
history, yet the more his career is stud
led ina ealmer period the more tits
seen that he was misjudged in Ike
fierce partisan heat that followed the
civil war.
"It is conceded by statesmen and
historians that, no matter how far short
Johnson oame Of being an ideal presi-
dent, he acted within his constitutional
authority. To have convicted him I'M
| der the circumstances would kave been
fraught with great danger to the repub-
lie. 1t is one of the greatest tributes
to the conservatism and stability of our
government that there were found in
this great crisis men willing to sacrifice
themselves that principles might live.
It was greater heroism than is usually
manifested on battlefield. Mr.. Fow'
Ter did great service to bis country,
yet went to his grave almost unknown
While martial heroes of little merit ar,
followed with heucomiums and plaudits.
No great man in American history
was probably done such injustice 81
Johnson. Neither section Of the coun
try understood him. The south hatet
him bitterly because he stuck 10 th,
Union, although in the most tryinI
period of the souths history he stucl
J firmly to othe constitution of the United
States and aid what he could to saw
the south from the mad spirit OF re
venge which then actuated its conquer
or. In the north he was vilifed as falls
to the party which had elected him an,
this savage spirit so far as to threaten
seriously his incumbency as president
There isn't any doubt now in the min
of any student of history that but 70
L the calm Judgment OF johnson, VIII
threw himself in the breach, that seri
!. GUS harm would have. been done on
country and constitution 90 violate
that our whole form Of governmer
might have been changed. Johnso
was not himself impeachable. He wa
man of violent passions and not to
l. temperate, but he was honest, incol
ruptible and bulwark against any il
vasion of constitutional liberties. Eve
now history accords him higher plae
than when he died and this place wi
= be higher and higher as the years pai
and reflection oveFcomes prejudice.