Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-02-12
From the Charleston Courier, Feb. 4.


The Legislature of this State adjourned al 6
O'Clock on Wednesday evening last. most
solemn and affrc ting scene was witnessed on
that day, in the Senate Chamber.
| At an early hour IN thr forenoon, message
was received from the Senate, informing the
House, that the High Court Of impeae hment
had come to dec'son in the case Of Judge
JAMES, and was ready To pronounce lis Juds-
ment, on the demand Of the House II wa,
| resolved, hat tie House should forihwil h al
| tend in the Senate Chamber, and a message TO
that eff CT was sent 10 the Sena,e, by the Man"
ayers, on the part OF the House.
Upon the return of the Managers, at a few
| minutes past eleven o'clock, The Speaker rose
and followed by all the Members, proceeded
| to the bar Of the Srnats, where he demanded
Judgment upon the impe achment preferred in
| the name of The people Of South Caroiina, a
gains, the Hon WILLIAM DoBrIN JAMES, a
! judge of the Court oil Common Pleas.
Seats having b, en- provided for the Member,
ofthe House, and the Chamber being crowd d
with spectators, d deep and solemn silence
| sued, while the Court was waiting for the APP
pearance of the accused; which WIS about Ill
teen or twenty minut,s At length Mr.. Pres
ton presented himself at he Bar, and amour
red 10 the Presden, that his Gle ut AS ready
&. hear the sentence oil the Court. The Presi-
dent told the Counsel, that Judge James pre-
Sc &c might be- dispers ed with, if il was his
own WISH no, 20 apprar before tie public on so
trying an occasion. Upon MIR. Preslon's re-
peatIrg that the accused was wiling 10 come
before The Court, he was allied IN. and took his
seat at he Bar. He made his appca, ance, sup
ported by Mr. Starke, the Secretary OF State,
"a contemporary and felow-soldier Of the Re-
voIu,ion) on the one hand, and by his son on
the other. HIS situation was, nJe' d, eminent
" calculated t. excite the sympathes Of The
IS emily in whic h he stood-a fee bic, afflicted,
and fororn old man, with family, as it is I'M
ders God, absolutely dependen, upon his salary
for ,upport--a faithful adheie,t of the good
cause in ,he revolution, who, ii is probable,
had been II commended maialy by that affect
ing consideration, TO the Duice oil the State
one who had been the companion III arms OF
he theirs Of most of those who W. re about TO
pass so dreadful doom upon him, and had o.
yer and over again ccened ma ks Of heir es-
TEEN and confdence-ont Of he trainers OF thar
very Cons tuition under whose stern functions
he was now suffering 81 much-his sorrowful,
vet resigned aad patlent air-every thing CON-
spi,ed TO awaken the liYeliesl sensibiilies Of
the spectator.
The President, after announcing to him that
the Court was prepared to declare its judg.
menr, asked him ifhe had any thing to say why
it should not be pronounced. Up this Judge
James rose, and read from small piece Of pa
per, the simple and touching address which
follows:
"M. Pyesidenf:-I have served my country
TOO long, not 10 be sensible of my duty 10 sub
mil Gas well as may) to this heavy stroke
could have wished that my old age had been
spared This awful caamIty, hut Providence has
:huught proper to bring me through the varied
and trying scenes of long life, to this bitter
period To the Almighty, and to him alone, /
look for support End consolation. pray him
to bless and prosper my country, which, while
it casts me Of, cannot, and trust .il not be
disposed to deprive me OF the consultations
which result from consciousness oi good in
ten,ions, and homes; conduct in Office"
The effect upon The assembly was so great,
That there were many Of The strrnest, both Of
his Judges and his accusers, who shed tears.
The President then said, that it became his
painful duty, the most painful Of his life, TO
pronounce, that the Hon. William D. James
had been found guilty of the first and second
articles preferred against him; that he had also
been found guilty OF the fourth article; bu, lha,
he was adjuGged not guilty Of the third and
j
the Court was, that VIM. ID. James be renoy-
ed from his said Office of Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas.
As soon as The sentence had been pronoun-
ced, and the Members of the House II Repre-
sen,atves had Withdrawn, the following pre-.
amble and resolution were taken up for consi>
Iteration in the Senate:
This Court, in discharging the painful duty
imposed upon it by the Constitution Of the
State of South Carolina, having passed sem
,enec Of reno, al from Office upon the Hon.
WIN. d James, feels it incumbent upon itself,
in justice to the Said VIM. D James, publicly
to declare their sincere conviction, that his
character for honest integrity as man, has not
been impeached by this sentence. And, in
| consideration Of the Revolutionary services OF
| the said VIM. d. JAMES. be il therefore
Resolved, That this Court recommend 10
both branches OF the Legislature, that the said
William d. James be authorised 10 draw on The
Treasurer Of the Upper Division, for the full
amount Of salary already appropriated, up to
the tst Of January, 1899.