The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-02-21
NEW SERIES, VOL. 2, NO. 49,

p0slIl0n, Wnlcn ne ubsumeu anu muihtuiueu
There is one important case. however
which, in justice to Mr.. Buchanan, should
be noticed. II is the trial of Judge Peck, o.
Missouri, before the Senate of the United
States, on an impeachment preferred by the
House of Representatives against him fol
high misdemeanors in Office. This cele
brated case, for importance and thrilling ii
terest, has no parallel in the annals o.
Congress. 1t was introduced into the House
OF Representatives, by memorial, presented
by the Hon. John Scott, represe ntative from
Missouri, on the 9Th day of December, 1926
The memorial was referred to the judiciary
committee, of which Mr.. Daniel Webster
was then chairman. Here the matter rest
ed, without any definite action, till the ses
sion Of 1928. On the 18th December, lS.
80, upon motion of Mr.. McDuffie, of South
Carolina, the memorial was once more re.
ferred to the judiciary committee, now com.
posed of Messrs. Buchanan, Wickliffe
Stores, Davies, of South Carolina, Boulden
Ellsworth and White, of Louisiana. "These
gentlemen Gin the language of the Report.
cry "took up the subject with earnestness
and on the 9th Of January ensuing, the
chairman, Mr.. Buchanan, moved that they
be authorized to send for persons ara pa
pers. The motion was agreed to-witness.
es were sent for and examined, and on the
2Sd of March following, Mr.. Buchanan and
MIR. Storrs, of New York, were appointed a
committee to 60 to the bar of the Senate
and inform that body of what had been done,
ard in the name of the House of Represen.
tatives and the People of the United States,
to impeach Judge Peck of his misdemean
ors in office, and acqdant the Senate, that
the House will, in due time, exhibit partic-
ular articles of impeachment against him,
and make good the same."
We have not space to detail minutely the
proceedings In this memorable case. Suf.
fee it that on the 4th of May, 1890, the Sen.
ate resolved itself into "High Court of
impeachment" Mr.. Buchanan acting os
chairman of the managers appointed on the
part of the House. The court was then ad-
journed to May llth and afterwafd TO De-
cember 18th and 20th, when the trial pro.
ceeded. The complaint against Judge Peck
charged him with oppression and tyranny IN
bringing before his court, in q summary
and arbitrary manner, a member of the bar,
whom he accused of having commented in
the colums of a st Louis journal, on one of
his judicial opinions, which had also been
published in puolic journal for which of.
fense he punished the accused without q tri-
al or herring, by suspendng him from prac.
tlce in the court for eighteen months, and
committing him to the common prison for
twenty.four hours. .e
For the purpose of showing the impor.
tance OF the case under investigation, and
the appreciation entertained by Mr.. Buchan.
an OF the value Of the freedom of the press,
we quote from the first and second para.
graphs of his speech, as found in the pub
iished volume of the Trial of Judge Peck, I"
in the Congressional Library, p. 425:-
Il concur (says Mr.. Buchanan) with the
gentleman who last addressed you in behalf
Of the respondent (Mr Wirt.) that the fate
OF the judiciary of the United States may.
to considerable extent, depend upon the
event of this impeachment. I believe his
position TO be true, and it is that character.
istic OF this proceeding which has impressed
me with the deep sense feel of it's great
Importance. If this High Court of I'm.
peachment shall establish the claim which
has been asserted by the Respondent in be.
brlfof himself and all other Judges, that
they possess the power to proceed in sum.
mary manner against the authors of oil pub.
llcations which they may fancy or believe
70 be derogatory to their judicial dignity-ifl
hey may deprive such authors OF their con.
'titutiohal right TO trial by jury, and sub
ect them to fine and imprisonment at dis.
'retion, then, indeed. the judiciary will be
n danger. The people of this country love
heir judiciary we'll, but they love the free.
om of their press still better; and if these
wo great branches Of our civil policy, shall
e placed in hostile array against each 9th.
= BY the decision Of this Senate, God only
nows what may be the consequences. 1t is
bis consideration which has given such sol.
mn Importance to the trial in which we are
ngaged."
Mr. Buchanan proceeds in the second
aragruPh Of his speech, as follows:-aIn
le letter which Judge Peck addressed to
he House Of Representatives, in explana.
on Of the charges which had been made
gainst him by Mr. Lawless, he uses this
trcng language:-'The liberty OF the press
as always been the favorite watchword ofI,
hose who live by it's licentiousness- 1t has I
cen from time immemorial, is still, and ev-
: will be, the perpetual decaatatum on the
ps Of all libellersrf MY colleague thought |
lat this remark was a sneer at the slibertv I
The press and for expressing that con :
ctlon ne has been severely reproyed by
e Respondents counsel. Y Be that +
i may, ! will here observe, that if the 4
berty Of the press has always been the q
atchWord ot those who live BY its licen- !
q kA II Il Fl E I1