The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

What was the attitude Of Senator Fessen-
den toward the policy OF reconstruction?
With other leading Republicans he held
that the reconstruction Of the Union must
be carried out by Congress. Yet he would
have had Congress proceed with caution
toward President johnson, for the reason
that q quarrel might be fatal to the party
and disastrous ia. the country. He deemed
il important, however. to make the Presi-
dent understand that Congress possessed
and would exercise the right to inquire
into the condition OF the seceded States
Inc TO Ak the basis OF reconstruction.
The session OF 1s67-0s Mr.. Fessenden ex.
pected would be for him an easy. one but
though not one Of the most laborious it
proved the most uncomfortable of his
public life. This was owing TO the i'm
parchment trial. The suspension Of Mr..
Stanton, the Wa Secretary. by President
johnson. in August, 1868. had aroused the
hopes Of those who favored an impeach-
ment OF the Chief Magistrate. At that
time the House Of Representatives did
not favor the proceeding. Writing Of this
matter at the time, Mr.. Fessenden evinced
satisfaction at the decision reached by the
House, and expressed the opinion hat IL
was extremely doubtful whether charges
against President johnson such as would
justify impeachment could be sustained.
The President, y he says. has undoubtedly
been guilty OF very serious offences. the con-
sequences. I think. of bad temper and OF
self-confidence. the worst outcome Of which
has been to encourages the South in its OPP
position to the measures of Congress- and
in keeping alive a spirit of hostility. l
doubt. however. IL he has committed any
specific act which would justify before the
world his removal from Office" During
he winter OF lS88-67 the divisions between
ther radical wing and the more conservative
element, in the Republican Senate grew
more pronounced. The leading radicals de-
nounced Mr.. Fessenden as a conservative.
and his defence Of Secretary McCulloch
from their attacks provoked their wrath.
1t is well known that in March, 1888, the
House of Representatives ~impeached An
drew johnson, President Of the United
States, for high crimes and misdemeanors,
and that on the 10th Of that month the trial
in the Senate, presided over by Chief Justice
Chase, was begun. In order to convict the
President by the senate a twO-thirds vote
was necessary, and il all the Republicans
could he induced to vote for conviction il
would be certain. On the other hand
seven Republican votes for acquittal would
save him. It was known that some OF
the Republican Senators, among them
Senator Fessenden, did not think h Presi-
dents conduct was sufficient ground for
his Impeachment. The pressure brought
TO bear upon Senator Fessenden was ter
rife. The party which he had helped to
form and which ruled the country he had
done much to serve demanded with almost
unanimous voice that he accede to it's
wishes and vote for the conviction Of the
President under the penalties Of ostracism,
obloquy and political death. The Republi-
can newspaper press day after day in its
editorials exacted conviction, specified GER
tain Senator's who were considered doubtful
and threatened them with infamy in case
they did not support the movement against
President johnson. Mass meetings were
held all over the North and resolutions to
the same effect were passed. Hundreds Of
Fessenden's friends, men who had helped
him in the past TO eminence and could be
invaluable to him in the future. and even
some Of his relatives. wrote him that there
was no question about his duty to convict.
Senator Fessenden received many letters
threatening his life in the event Of his
voting against conviction.
In the State of Maine almost everybody
assumed the Presidents conviction as GER
tain and took for granted that Senator
Fessenden would vote for IL. Neal Dow,
the apostle of prohibition, babe him in a
letter to hang johnson up by the heels
like a dead crow in a cornfield, to brighten
all his, tribe" In a reply 10 Dow the Sem
ator said You cannot but be aware that in
the trial Of this impeachment l am acting
as a judge, under a I TO administer i'm
partial justice according to the Constitu-
tion and the laws Does this oath mean
anything? Is il binding upon me as a mar
of conscience or even as man Of hohorp II
so, by what right can any man upon whom no
responsibility rests and who does not even
hear the evidence, undertake TO advise me
as To what the Judgment and even the
sentence should be-" He added: Il wish
you, my dear sir, and all others MY friends
and constituents, TO understand that ],
and not they, am sitting in judgment upon,
the President. I, not they, have solemnly
sworn to do impartial justice. l, not they,
am responsible TO God and man for my
action and its consequences. Tn opinions
and wishes Of my party friends ought not
TO have a feathers wei ht with me in coming
to a conclusion"