The Yazoo Democrat. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1851-02-19
GOVERNOR QUITMAN AND THE
PICANUNE. ya tt R

GOVERNOR QUITMAN AND The
,. PICAYUNE. tsa
The principal editor Of the Picayune,
and the late editor Of the Republic, marks
Bic return TO his former position in this city,
by ono Of his most characteristically SWELL
ing and quantity wordifeh articles, Of which
Gen. Quitmah is the subject, and certain
handsomely arranged and duly rounded
sentences, scantiy Illuminated with reason
and fact, are the staple. His recent tour
through the old world has rather heightened
the natural Penchant, (sXcuse a foreign
W0rd1 OF our cOtemporary for the picturesque |
Z I'D quaint in In slyle,--and corresponding
diminished his mover oyeriiOwing stock OF
y Constitutional law The ideas Of the author |
gty and power oflhe Federal Head, and Of
THE utter insignl6cance ofthe State Govern,
ment, convened to such choice antilheses.
smack very strongly Of the notions preva-
lent in Europe about the period Of our Coz
tempOrary's visit. We will endeavOF to
apply 10 them the test Of a little American
doctrine and law,-and having no time to
hunt the dictionary for out-Ofthe.way words,
10 round off our sentences, we shall deem
our duty most efsctually performed, when
we present the law and fact in the simplest
and plainest form.
The Picayune assumes il as an obnoxi-
GUS opinion propagaled in Mississippi, that
the political Executive Of that State should
not be held 'lO an accountability which
common. folks must respect;" and then, bS
a not overly charitable suggestion, ahirms
that Che Executive Office should not be re-
garded aa a ''prerogative Of crime" Let
us see If this statement Of the Picayune be
free from prejudice and unfairness. What
is the warrant for asserting that Governor
Quiiman, or any other citizen Of Mississippi
of ordinary intelligence, ever pretended that
the Governor Of the State was above tbs
law, or had any regal prerogativs that in
vested him with an immunity from the PEN
ally Of any law which he might violate, boz
yOhd Whaithe humblesl citizen Of the State
might elaiml 't( .
nuThs Fundamental laws Of that Stale, and
che we'll established administration Of them
ARE 30 thoroughly infused with the democrat
10 spirit of equality, that it would be strange
indeed, If such an excrescence had she
forth from the political culture Of such a
l,sOil.
y The sixth article and third section of tn
constitution OF that State, is full answer t
the question so presented:
"The Governor and all civil officers sha
be liable to impeachment for any misdc
1rmeanor in office; but judgment in such case
shall not extend further than to removal fror
Office, and disqualification to hold any Offic
Of honor, trust or profit, under the STATE
But the convicted shall, nevertheless, be liz
ble and subject to indictment, trial and pul
,tshmeht, recording to law, as in other cases
1.-THE term "misdemeanor," in this q
zion, evidently does not bear tie technic
sC6mmen law meaning Of an inferior offencr
less than felony; but It is no doubt used
more nearly equivalent 20 the term, misl
MISUNDERSTANDING, of,eSufses in its comp
.hensiYenesg, high crimes and felonies
wen as petty offences. Indeed, it Is qui
.apVarent that-a Governor could be impea
.pdlor continued gross habits Of intemp
.hnct, which should disqualfy him for a pr
oEdischafge Of hi6 duties, though not cons
ulihg any criminal offence Whatever. ~
But The queslion which prominently 3
S6nts naelf on this provision Of theS g
Stiiulion, is, whether it was intended n
che Governor ofthe State, on being aecus
OfcTinS ihonld ho fta ansnsble 10 4
oouu y llttainsnable lONhs Lsgisialu
OnsimPsaohmenll And this does not 3
sent the question, NylstkeFihe Governor,
above the law, OK haso not SENS psEs0i
immauty, which The private citizen has n
So ~, Indeed, from BIS hazing a person
immunity he ls liable, ia truth, 70 Two ri
andlotwo degrees Of punishment,. rvih,
she private citizen, for the same oflencer
liable only ior one. For example, supp,
th5 aoveFnQrf should Foh the SIAC6 Tres
~. For ibis ha . liable o impsachmo
fc6n ied, shall DO re movsd ron
h.l hd iufibef d5inlgedlo Be disuutlil
E ~ lher Office of honor Or truit; 8
oileIvaf1e1d " ~ a 1as
~ biG. conillSn6ss BIZ trial In col
Whcra ha suffers The further punishment,
conT "a. Which anyI piivaiso cia
vel - subject ipf re same oilenees
ii'f cute Apparent, t1erelorp1 ihai q
o. anresi'on ofimnhhily rom puaIslIl
thrIc.n pc1,ib' arito, dndcf lhi5 tecl
i'lniiln blt isinDlg bn5 Oh 9
and az policy hnd obloc bf
clrta @ als sshslluclloh Of q
r-r % COVE nmenl. r,
~ cher words, have lh6 people Of M
fr,irl. Wen fhey have nraaed one
t ~ 4i.l 10 HIGH and
. l5l, i0'ono
rs taI Mi
ln0 h'r 4
en.2'
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