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sed the attention of the general public； to the interruption of legislation pending in the two Houses of Congress； and more or less to the embarrassment of the commercial activities of the country。
For the first time in the history of the government； practically eighty years； the President of the United States was at the bar of the Senate； by virtue of a constitutional warrant； on an accusation of the House of Representatives of high crimes and misdemeanors in office； and his conviction and expulsion from office demanded in the name of all the people。 No event in the civil history of the country had ever before occurred to so arouse public antipathies and public indignation against any man…and these conditions found special vent in the City of Washington； as the Capitol of the Nation； as it had become during the trial the focal point of the politically dissatisfied element of the entire country。 Its streets and all its places of gathering had swarmed for many weeks with representatives of every State of the Union； demanding in a practically united voice the deposition of the President。
On numbers of occasions during the previous history of the Government there had been heated controversies between the Congress and the Executive； but never before characterized by the intensity； not infrequently malevolence； that had come to mark this and never before had a division between the Executive and the Congress reached a point at which a suggestion of his constitutional ostracism from office had been seriously entertained； much less attempted。
But it had now come。 The active； intense interest of the country was aroused； and everywhere the division among the people was sharply defined and keen； though the numerical preponderance； it cannot be denied； was largely against the President and insistent upon his removal。
The dominant party of the country was aroused and active for the deposition of the President。 Public meetings were held throughout the North and resolutions adopted and forwarded to Senators demanding that Mr。 Johnson be promptly expelled from office by the Senateand it had become apparent； long before the taking of the vote； that absolute； swift； and ignominious expulsion from office awaited every Republican Senator who should dare to disregard that demand。
Under these conditions it was but natural that during the trial； and especially as the close approached； the streets of Washington and the lobbies of the Capitol were thronged from day to day with interested spectators from every section of the Union； or that Senators were beleaguered day and night； by interested constituents； for some word of encouragement that a change was about to come of that day's proceeding； and with threats of popular vengeance upon the failure of any Republican Senator to second that demand。
In view of this intensity of public interest it was as a matter of course that the coming of the day when the great controversy was expected to be brought to a close by the deposition of Mr。 Johnson and the seating of a new incumbent in the Presidential chair； brought to the Capitol an additional throng which long before the hour for the assembling of the Senate filled all the available space in the vast building； to witness the culmination of the great political trial of the age。
Upon the closing of the hearingeven prior thereto； and again during the few days of recess that followed； the Senate had been carefully polled； and the prospective vote of every member from whom it was possible to procure a committal； ascertained and registered in many a private memoranda。 There were fifty…four membersall present。 According to these memoranda； the vote would stand eighteen for acquittal； thirty…five for convictionone less than the number required by the Constitution to convict。 What that one vote would be； and could it be had； were anxious queries； of one to another； especially among those who had set on foot the impeachment enterprise and staked their future control of the government upon its success。 Given for conviction and upon sufficient proofs； the President MUST step down and out of his place； the highest and most honorable and honoring in dignity and sacredness of trust in the constitution of human government； a disgraced man and a political pariah。 If so cast upon insufficient proofs or from partisan considerations； the office of President of the United States would be degradedcease to be a coordinate branch of the Government； and ever after subordinated to the legislative will。 It would have practically revolutionized our splendid political fabric into a partisan Congressional autocracy。 Apolitical tragedy was imminent。
On the other hand； that vote properly given for acquittal； would at once free the Presidential office from imputed dishonor and strengthen our triple organization and distribution of powers and responsibilities。 It would preserve the even tenor and courses of administration； and effectively impress upon the world a conviction of the strength and grandeur of Republican institutions in the hands of a free and enlightened people。
The occasion was sublimely and intensely dramatic。 The President of the United States was on trial。 The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was presiding over the deliberations of the Senate sitting for the trial of the great cause。 The board of management conducting the prosecution brought by the House of Representatives was a body of able and illustrious politicians and statesmen。 The President's counsel； comprising jurists among the most eminent of the country； had summed up for the defense and were awaiting final judgment。 The Senate； transformed for the occasion into an extraordinary judicial tribunal； the highest known to our laws； the Senators at once judges and jurors with power to enforce testimony and sworn to hear all the facts bearing upon the case； was about to pronounce that judgment。
The organization of the court had been severely Democratic。 There were none of the usual accompaniments of royalty or exclusivism considered essential under aristocratic forms to impress the people with the dignity and gravity of a great occasion。 None of these were necessary； for every spectator was an intensely interested witness to the proceeding； who must bear each for himself； the public consequences of the verdict； whatever they might be； equally with every member of the court。
The venerable Chief Justice； who had so ably and impartially presided through the many tedious weeks of the trial now about to close； was in his place and called the Senate to order。
The impressive dignity of the occasion was such that there was little need of the admonition of the Chief Justice to abstention from conversation on the part of the audience during the proceeding。 No one there present； whether friend or opponent of the President； could have failed to be impressed with the tremendous consequences of the possible result of the prosecution about to be reached。 The balances were apparently at a poise。 It was plain that a single vote would be sufficient to turn the scales either wayto evict the President from his great office to go the balance of his life's journey with the brand of infamy upon his brow； or be relieved at once from the obloquy the inquisitors had sought to put upon himand more than all else； to keep the honorable roll of American Presidents unsmirched before the world； despite the action of the House。
The first vote was on the Eleventh and last Article of the Impeachment。 Senators voted in alphabetical order； and each arose and stood at his desk as his name was called by the Chief Clerk。 To each the Chief Justice propounded the solemn interrogatory〃Mr。 Senator； how say youis the respondent； Andrew Johnson； President of the United States； guilty or not guilty of a high misdemeanor as charged in this Article？〃
Mr。 Fessenden； of Maine； was the first of Republican Senators to vote 〃Not Guilty。〃 He had long been a safe and trusted leader in the Senate； and had the unquestioning confidence of his partisan colleagues； while his long experience in public life； and his great ability as a legislator； and more especially his exalted personal character； had won for him the admiration of all his associates regardless of political affiliations。 Being the first of the dissenting Republicans to vote； the influence of his action was feared by the impeachers； and most strenuous efforts had been made to induce him to retract the position he had taken to vote against conviction。 But being moved on this occasion； as he had always been on others； to act upon his own judgment and conviction； though foreseeing that this vote would probably end a long career of conspicuous public usefulness； there was no sign of hesitancy or weakness as he pronounced his verdict。
Mr。 Fowler； of Tennessee； was the next Republican to vote 〃Not Guilty。〃 He had entered the Senate but two years before； and was therefore one of the youngest Senators； with the promise of a life of political usefulness before him。 Though from the same State as the President； they were at political variance； and there was but little in common between them in other respects。 A radical partisan in all measures where radical action seemed to be called for； he