te on the tenth article first, as that
article was the strongest one and more votes could be mustered for
it than any other. It was well understood that the vote on that
article would settle the matter.

More than forty-three years have passed into history since that
memorable day when the Senate of the United States was sitting as
a Court of Impeachment for the purpose of trying the President of
the United States for high crimes and misdemeanors. The occasion
is unforgettable. As I look back now, I see arising before me the
forms and features of the great men who were sitting in that high
court: I see presiding Chief Justice Chase; I see Sumner, cold
and dignified; Wade, Trumbull, Hendricks, Conkling, Yates; I see
Logan as one of the managers on the part of the House; I see old
Thad Stevens, weak and wasted from illness, being carried in--all
long since have passed to the beyond, the accused President, the
members of the high court, the counsel. Of all the eminent men
who were present on that day, aside from the Hon. J. B. Henderson,
I do not know of a single one now living.

As the roll was called, there was such a solemn hush as only comes
when man stands in the presence of Deity. Finally, when the name
of Ross was reached and he voted "No"; when it was understood that
his vote meant acquittal, the friends of the President in the
galleries thundered forth in applause.

And thus ended for the first, and I hope the last, time the trial
of a President of the United States before the Senate, sitting as
a Court of Impeachment for high crimes and misdemeanors.

CHAPTER X
SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND GOVERNOR
1871 to 1883

After my six years' service in the Lower House of Congress, I
returned home, not expecting ever again to take office, or engage
in politics. There was a contest going on in the State over the
location of the State Capitol. The State had committed itself to
the erection of a new Capitol building, and had really made
considerable progress on its construction.

In the meantime, the question of changing the location from
Springfield to some other city was agitated. Peoria made a very
strong effort for the removal to that city. The work on the new
building, as an immediate result, was stopped. The Legislature
had adjourned, and another election of members was to occur. This
condition of local affairs existed when I returned home after my
service was finished in Washington.

The fri