Year: 1868

The Democratic press and partisans are at
present endeavorine to make capital out of
the fact that few hot-headed and indiscreet
Congressmen, and an irresponsible rabbe of
Office seekers, attempted to bully one or two
Republican Senators into voting for the con-
yicton of the President on the articles of
impeachment. But, unfortunately for the
purposes of our opponents, the Republican
party utterly and unqualifedly repudiates
and condemns the action of those Who at
tempted to coerce or in any manner influence
Senators sitting as jurors in the impeach.
ment case. The attempt to influence the
votes Of certain Senators resulted from an
ebulition of private feeling for which individ
uals alone are responsible. Republicans, as
body, undoubtedly regret that certain
Senators saw fit to take the course they did
on the trial, but at the same time the right is
freely conceded them to render verdict in
accordance with their understanding of the
law and evidence in the case Although
they may hereafter be held to political ac.
countability by their constituents, they are
responsible for their actions as jurors only to
God and their own consciences. As sworn
jurors we hold that no one had any right to
threaten or bring any pressure to bear upon
them. and any attempt to sway their verdict
by intimidation or abuse was wholly mex
cusable. The only justifable attempts which
cOuld ba mada ~ inAuanoa tho minds Of tboso
jurors was by respectful arguments upon the
merits of the case before them, and the
masses of the Republican party repudiate the
inconsiderate action of those who attempted
to dictate how Senators should vote in the
Court of Impeachment. If subsequent rev.
elations should show that Senators were gov
erned bv dishonorable motives in making up
their verdict, or were influenced by bribes of
money or promises of positions of emolument,
then no censure can be too severe or punish
ment too great for the perjured.recreant But
If no such facts are made to appear, the ver-
diet must be accepted as having resulted from
the honest convictions of the jurors


But while all respectable Republican jour
nails condemn the attempts to overawe aud
browbeat Senators for voting as they saw
proper, how stands the Democratic record
upon the subject? From the day on which
the articles of impeachment were presented
by the House of Representatives, Democratic
journals and speakers have declared that
every Senator who voted to find the President
guilty would stand before the country as
perjured villain, devoid of conscience, and
having no regard for law or Justice. Their
sole occupation has been to intimidate and
threaten the Senate into an acquittal, without
regard to law or evidence, and the people
will hereafter hold them to their record.


No matter what may be said upon the sub.
ject, we contend that the result of the i'm
parchment trial has given renewed evidence
of the permanence and stability of republican
institutions. On the eve of great political
campaign, we have beheld the highest officer
of the Government arraigned and tried on
the charge of high crimes and misdemeanors.
and have seen the case progress and close
without political disturbance, financial panic.
or producing the slightest ripple upon the
sea of commerce. Wherefore let no man saw
the impeachment trial was an entire failure.