The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-06-15
Pivotal Period in the History of
the South.

who took part ana WIS inue'i the
uiyotal figure I'm one Of the most thrill |
ing and dramatic events In the his
tory of the modern world.
Born at Ashland, Ohio. Dec. Z.
1Sa6, Edmund Gibson Ross was APP
prentice,l ut an early age TO print
err. received a limited education. and
in 1917 removed to milwaukee,. where
he was employed In the office OF the
Milwaukee Sentinel during the ensu-
ing four years. In 1856 he turned his
face West and finally located in Kan
sas. His journey to the then terri
tory was In a wagon drawnby oxen
with himself as driver and his family
az passengers. His brother had es-
tabIished the Kansas Tribune at To-
pekannd he joined him; they later
establishing the State Record. In
1853 he " az n member of the Consu-
tutional Convention and served in
the Kansas Legislature until 1861, all
the time an advocate of a free State.
and his paper the only antislavery
espubiica ton at the time. the Others
having been destroyed during the
battles between the free-soilers ana
pro-slavery people.
On the outbreak of the Civil War
he Joined Kansas regiment us pri-
waite and fought through that con-
flict for the Union. In due course he
was appointed United States Senator
succeed Jim" Lane, the notorious
Kansas Jayhawker, who had raw
AGED the frontier Of Missouri with
IRE and sword. and 1t was his fortune
to I've a member Of the court which
tried the impeachment charges
against President Andrew Johnson.
One Of the most momentous events
In American history, and perhaps
the most Hateful as far as these Sout H.
crn States of the Union are concerned
was the attempt by the Congress OF
the United States to iinpeach Andrew
johnson, President of the United
States, who had been elected Vic.
President, but had succeeded to thu
Chief Magistricy after the assiissina
ton of President Lincoln.
1t had been given out that Lincoln
upon the close of the war Of secession
and the defeat and surrender Of tin
seeding States. had determined t.
restore these States to their prOpe
status in the Union as soon as TIN
people could hold elections and re
organize their State governments
The death Of the President before h
could put his plans into execution lef
the South In a position of extrem
peril and with little hope Of securit.
from the fury Of the ferociOus poll
ticians who then had control of bot
houses of the Northern sectional Con
grpss, aud who were determined t
humble the Southern whites to til
last extreme Of indignity and to plac
them literally under the feet OF tn
negroes.
The people OF the South knew al
this, aud felt that they had nothing
to xIject IN the way Of mercy. niue
less of favor, from the man int
whose hands the executive branch Z
the Government had fallen. Andrew
johnson. although a Southern man
was regarded by his countrynlen a
a gade who had not only turne
against his people, but was believe
to entertain sentiments OF extren
bitterness toward them, and wOul
not fall to use the opportunity the
offered to satisfy his supposed desii
for revenge.
But Andrew johnson was YER
different person from what had bee
predicted concerning him. 1t Is tru
he cherished some bitterness for wha
Ind been known IA the aristocrat
Southern leaders who were suppose
To have snubbed him In Congress
hut he was one of the bravest me
IN standing for his opinions who ev,
lived, and he was Southern ma
who saw that Congress desired
destroy the South II possible. and !
WIS invincibly determined to SAY
the South by all the means In h
power.
When the malignant South-hatel
in Congress realized that the Pres
dent was the great obstacle I'm ii
way Of their ferocious designs, the
turned on him and sought to destrO
him 10y impeachment. Therefore. q
Feb. "a. 1865. the House of Represe
tatives. by vote Of 126 to IL. brougl
articles Of Impeachment on vario,