The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-06-28

given, preserving Tie even 1ellol
and course of administration and
impressed the world with the
conviction OF the strength. and
grandeur. Of Republican institu-
tons in the hands of a free and
enlightened people.
Mr.. Ross does not like to talk
of the past, but when he was
asked about the impeachment
trial he struck the floor heavily
with his long staff and said:
EN- SENATOR Ross,s OWN STORY.
Not for single moment have
! [ ever regretted my part in that
trial. I acted as ! believed hon
estly and intelligently, and when
a man in private or public life
does that, why sholld there be
regret: I know it has been
claimed that l regretted what |
! did. but there is not one word OF
truth in any such stuff. is said
| that l have suffered. Yes. that
is true. but, thank God, not Wit
a guilty or uneasy conscience. |
suffered the loss Of friends.
money, position and my political
death knell was sounded when |
cast nv vote against i!npeach-
ment. l could, and did stand it all,
because my conscience sustained
and upheld me. The vote cost
me many a struggle, but I have
always thanked God / had the
manhood to cast it. While | was
entirely and unalterably oppos-
ed to the President-I had no
earthly use for him-and while
I very much desired that he be
out of his exalted and honored
position. l threw off every pre-
iudice and determined to observe
the oath which I had taken as
Senator, Judge and juror, let
the cost be what it might.
Neither friendship, money nor
threats could cause me to waver
from my determination to see
that absolute justice was given
Johnson.
BULLDoz1NG THE OPPOSITION.
:That politics held away over
almost every action in the pro-
ceedings is matter of history.
I could not be moved by this,
although I loved my party: |
loved honor more. Every in
fuence was brought to bear on
the insurgents to get them in
line and keep them there. Money
was plentiful, and where money
wouldn't work, personal violence
was threatened. MIR. Butler
wanted a certain Senator's vote,
and said, Tell the DIN scoun-
drel that if he wants money,
there's bushels of it here The
DIN, scoundrel, as Mr.. Butler
termed it, didn't want the money
and then a project was laid to
get the Senator to Baltimore
to kidnap him-and then if he
didn't come to the terms, to get
him out of the way-assasslnate
him if necessary. The project
failed. The most desperate and
helIish efforts were made to
force a verdict Of impeachment.
l believed then and still believe
that impeachment at that time
boded control Of the Govern
ment by the worst elements OF
American politics, But the eff
fort failed-failed because moth
ing was proved-not a single
allegation of the entire indict-
ment was, OF could be proven as
an impeachable offence. Yet for
voting as 7 did I was branded as a
moral and political leper, thing
unclean, and political parish;
nv associates in the Senate re-
fused me recognition; | was
burned in ettigy throughout the
North, and as a base falsehoods
as ever came from human lips
were circulated as to my moral
character: even dragging IN the
name OF one of the purest
and best women in Washington.
Tut, tut, but I am satisfied.
At that time the country passed
the most threatening period of
its history. passed it safely, and
I rejoice that l had a hand in it.
and I am willing for true men to
Judge of the righteousness of
my acts.
THE FIGHT AGAINST JOHNSON.
The impeachment congress
,,-aS tho O,tinth-1 S66-anQ the