Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-11-28
CHAPTER XI.
THE SUPREME TEST.

1t is the glory of the American Re
public that every man who has filled
the office of president has grown in
stature when clothed with its pow
er and has proved himself worthy of
its solemn trust 1t Is our highest
claim to the respect Of the world and
the vindication of mans capacity to
govern himself
The Impeachment of President An
drew Johnson would mark either the
lowest tide-mud of degradation to
which the Republic could sink, or its
end. In this trial our system would
be put to it's severest strain. II par
tisan majority in congress could re-
move the Executive, and defy the su-
preme court stability to civic insti-
tutions was at an end, and the breath
Of a mob would become the sole stand
ard of law.
Congress had thrown to the winds
the last shreds of decency in its treat
ment of the Chief Magistrate. Stone
man led this campaign of insult, not
merely from feelings of personal hate
but because he saw that thus the pres
ident's conviction before the senate
would become all but inevitable.
When his messages arrived from the
White House they were thrown into
the waste basket without being read
amid jeers. Kisses. curses, and rlbalC
laughter.
In lieu of their reading, Stonemar
would send to the clerks desk an OBJ
scene TRADE from a party newspaper
and the clerk of the house would reaC
II amid the mocking groans laughter
and applause of the floor and galleries
A favorite clipping described the
president as IAN insolent drunker
brute. in comparison with whom Cal
igula's horse was respectable.
In the senate. whose members were
to sit as sworn judges to decide th'
questions of Impeachment. Charlie
Sumner used language so vulgar ina
he was called to order. Sustained by
the chair and the senate, he repeated
il with increased violence. concluding
with cold venom:
Andrew Johnson has become th'
successor Of Jefferson Davis. In hold
ing him up to judgment l do not dwel
on his beaStly intoXication the day NJ
took the oath as vice president no.
do dwell on his maudlin speeches by
which he has degraded the country
nor hearken to the reports o1 pardon:
sold, or of personal corruption. Thest
things are bad. But he has usurpet
the powers of congress"
Conover. the perjured wretch, II
DIlSOn lot Ills CIlllleS dS q piOA
witness in the assassination trial, now
circulated the rumor that he could give
evidence that President Johnson was
the assassin of Lincoln. Without
moments hesitation. Stoneman
henchmen sent a petition to the presl'
dent for the pardon of this villain tina
he might turn against the man Wh(
had pardoned him and swear ms me
away! This scoundrel was borne II
triumph from prison to the Capitol,an'
placed before the impeachment com
mittee. to whom he poured out nj
wOndrous tale.
The sewers and prisons were dragged
for every scrap of testimony to b'
found. and the day for the trial ap
preached.
As it drew nearer, excitement grew
intense. Swarms of adventures eX
pecting the overthrow of the govern
ment crowded into Washlng on
Dreams of honor. profits, and diVlsloi
of spoils held riot. Gamblers thronge'
the saloons and gaming houses. bet
ting their gold on the presidents heao
Stoneman found the business NOR
serious than even his daring spirit nat
dreamed. His health suddenly CAV
way under the strain, and he was pu
to bed by his physician with the warn
ing that the least excitement would D.