About Edmund G. Ross - Impeachment of a President.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR COLLECTORS : Auction information

“The INTEGRITY Cane” of Edmund G. Ross (1891)

Object: Gold-Handled Presentation Cane with InscriptionUnited States, Kansas, 1891

Historical Significance

This exceptional gold-handled cane is directly associated with Edmund G. Ross (1826–1907), United States Senator from Kansas, whose decisive “not guilty” vote during the Impeachment Trial of President Andrew Johnson stands as one of the most consequential acts of political integrity in U.S. history.

Ross’s vote, cast at great personal and political cost, preserved the constitutional balance of power and later became a defining example of moral courage. President John F. Kennedy memorialized Ross’s action in Profiles in Courage, cementing his legacy in the American historical canon.

Description of the Artifact

The cane features a gold presentation handle and bears a contemporaneous engraved inscription, formally commemorating Ross’s integrity and the historic moment it represents.

Inscription (engraved):“As a memento of his integrity. Jan. 3rd, 1891.”“Gov. E. G. Ross from his friends of the 29th Legislative Assembly.”Kansas, 1891

The inscription establishes the cane as a ceremonial gift of recognition and reconciliation, presented by Ross’s contemporaries in direct acknowledgment of his moral stand.

Provenance

This cane is part of the Eddie Ross Cobb Collection, inherited by the present owner Sueki Woodward from Susan Ross Beyer, Ross family descendant.

 

The collection includes:

• Original cabinet card photographs of Edmund G. Ross

• Large glass plate negatives

• First-edition book written by Ross about Johnsons’s impeachment

• Period newspapers and magazines

• Profiles in Courage book by John F. Kennedy

• Two photographs attributed to Mathew Brady

The cane has remained in continuous private family custody, establishing an unbroken and well-documented chain of provenance.

Comparative Market Context

While few political artifacts of this stature come to market, comparable historically significant personal objects demonstrate strong collector demand:

• P.T. Barnum’s walking stick sold for $150,000

• Johnny Cash’s carved cane sold at Sotheby’s for $78,000 (2004)

Unlike celebrity artifacts, this cane represents a defining constitutional moment, elevating its relevance for institutions, collectors of Americana, and museums.

Collector & Institutional Relevance

This artifact is ideally suited for:

• Presidential history collections

• Political and constitutional history institutions

• Museums focused on American democracy

• Advanced private collections of rare Americana

Its combination of historical importance, physical inscription, and family provenance places it in the highest tier of collectible American political artifacts.

Availability

The cane and collection is being offered via an upcoming auction. Sign up for email for date of auction and a call-back regarding more information.

Supporting documentation and archival materials are available to qualified collectors and institutions upon request.

Add a Closing Message

Why Integrity Still Matters !

Edmund G. Ross: The Man at the Crossroads

• Who Edmund G. Ross was (Senator, Governor, reformer)

• Political climate of the late 19th century

• The impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson

• Ross’s decisive vote and the personal risk it carried

Key theme: Choosing conscience over party