Horace T. Saunders, chairman of the special committee representing the managers, made a lengthy and solid argument in favor of the prosecution, and James H. Knowlton spoke at great length, ably and convincingly, for the defendant. Mr. Arnold's closing plea for the respondent was a powerful and logical argument, such as no other man in the State could have made. He devoted his time to an examination of the testimony in the case, and paid little attention to the torrent of denunciation which Mr. Ryan had poured forth against the defendant, but let it pass as the idle wind. At the conclusion, Judge Hubbell, who had been present through all the terrible trial, made a few feeling remarks that evidently had great weight with the Senate. Among other things, he said: "I wish to say to this court and to the world that I have not shunned this investigation. In my office I have acted as I thought was right at the time, and at all times. If the proof--if the evidence--if the truth condemns me I wish this court to say that I stand condemned. Upon the law and the testimony, as you, in your consciences and understandings, believe them to exist. I wish my sentence to be pronounced!"

After the Senate had been polled upon all the charges and specifications, the President of the Senate announced the result of the trial in the following form:

"The resolution provides that the president of the Senate shall announce the decision of the court. I therefore announce that Levi Hubbell, Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit, is hereby declared by this court not guilty of the charges of corrupt conduct in office, nor of crimes and misdemeanors, as charged in the articles and specifications exhibited against him by the Assembly of the State of Wisconsin!"

The court then adjourned sine die, and thus ended the first impeachment trial ever held in Wisconsin, and one that will interest law students as long as people investigate the lives and conduct of past generations. Some extracts from the daily papers of that date will give the reader an idea of the public judgment of this impor

tant case:

(From the Janesville Gazette, July 16, 1853.)

The result is the acquittal of Judge Hubbell-a verdict, so far as we have heard an expression in this vicinity, more in accordance with the fears than the wishes or expectations of the people. For some cause long before an impeachment had been attempted, a very general feeling of distrust in the integrity of the accused had grown up and steadily strengthened, and when the charges upon which he was tried were announced, numerous and various in their nature as they were, after a lengthened examination by a committee of high personal character, they so coincided with a previously formed estimate of the character of the man, that little doubt was entertained the trial would develop sufficient to remove him from the position he had succeeded in obtaining, and was believed to have too often abused. These expectations, however, are disappointed; and now, whether the accused is to be as fortunate in removing a settled conviction from the minds of the people as in securing a verdict of acquittal from the court is yet to be known. An acquittal by a jury is not always an acquittal before the public, and the rules of a law court are not always such as govern a public verdict.

*

(From the Madison State Journal, July 12, 1853.)

Never has a longer array of charges and specifications been presented against any man-and never was man pursued with a more determined spirit of opposition, than has been Judge Hubbell. He has met those charges promptly and manfully-has courted a thorough investigation-has asked for no mercy or delay, beyond what an honest Senate could award to him-and has come out of the investigation in triumph!

*

*

*

When the decision of the court was announced, popular enthusiasm for the Judge-long held in check, could no longer be restrained. Immense crowds gathered in the streets after darkbonfires were kindled-the bells rung-fireworks displayed, and cannon discharged; while enthusiastic cheers at intervals evinced the popular feeling. [Here follows a short account of a speech he delivered to the crowd from his boarding house.]

He has ever had a strong hold upon the masses, and now, that he has passed through a fiery ordeal and come out triumphant, that hold will be still stronger.

(From the Madison Daily Argus and Democrat, August 18, 1853.)

He [Hubbell stands before [the] community to-day presenting the anomaly of a convicted criminal dispensing the forms of jus

prone, and t, 10, 5 of a his out are not always SEC1

a pu

Mahon Se Jour ol, Idk 12. 18530

var ha longer array of charges and speclications bets,
cited against abs
and 15% I was man pustel with a

ktm netsjet of oppos es n, GYPT, «S been hoge F
arges prop Jdy and mafulk

He was

as couted a tes asted for ro merCA or delay, bevor i cett'd award to 1111

decision copit was kuromood, ponylar en for the Judge ung held in click, could to i

ger be

er avds get dret in the streets after dark reka, the de the belis ruing fireworks displayed, and arged: while ciel Asiste elects at meryads exiled rfeeling [Hore follows a short «ccount of á sp een he

rong held upon the masses, and now. deal and copie m tri, mp' cit,

ai a
1d rough a her

Full streng T

bath Arg" ad Dono rat, Vigast 18, 1853)

s before the| comann to day prescribeg he terms of pis

*kama! duper sing