The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-11-11
An Impressive scene,

gaished share In the war of the Revolution
and afterwards was an eminent lawyer and
Jadge in South Carolina Habits Of intern.
rerance overeame him. His DEGREES were moi
to be relied on, and the impeachment follow.
ed. Ii was a painful scene, and is feelingly de.
seribed in the following letter by an eye-wit.
ness and participant. which we copy from thu
advance sheets OF ONealls forthcoming book
the Bench and Bar of South Carolina,
MY old friend, Colonel ION was in the chair.
| pIesiulhe Win that grave and dignified solem-
| hi,y Which the occasion would have eliciteo
from an experienced Chancellor and with
| tnat kindness and gentleness, and considera.
| ton Tor the accused, which was in keeping
MIN WI; ms own generous and elevated disposi-
uon. All OF us were surprised at the readi-
ness ana promptness with which he disposeti
OF every question; indeed, it would have easi.
| y been believed that the bar was his profes-
sion ana the law OF evidence his fayorite study
| w. @. Preston appeared as counsel; and
even tnen, by MS name, il was conclusive thar
| "hateSer eioquence, energy, and learning
could aehieye, was TO be accomplished. The
senate, aCung as court, sat with closed doors
| Many witnesses were examined and the trial
| progressed slowly and mournfulIy to its ter
| mination. 1t is impossi BILE for me to speak OF
the defence made by Mr.. Preston, butit is equal
~ Impossible for me to forget it; he was
| great" without an interval from the begin
| ming to the ending; but at last the day came
| and the "sternest STUFF was necessary 10 meet
| was called on by his name, the word 'sHonora-
bie'' omitted and, as he stood uncovered. the
| President put the question, "What say you =
Guilty, or not guiltyr' The Senator, placing
| his right hand upon his own breast answered
Guilty, Tor not guiliy,) on my HONOR and
| immediately took his seat, the silence of the
grave prevailing. 1t is known what was the
vei idict-a brave old soldierwas to be cashiered
the day for pronouncing sentence was fixed !
Judge James entered the Senate Chamber.
| leaning the arm of his counsel! Col. ron
rose to receive them, and looking steadfastly al
both, remained silent tor a moment, as If he
| was gathering strength to meet what was
| coming As well as can remember, he ad-
dressed the venerable sufferer in these words ::
William Dobein James, what have you to say
why sentence OF impeachment should not be
passed upon you 81 / have never witnessed
such scene We held our breath as the AK,
was falling. Your old friend and mine, Col.
Hampton was sitting next to me. Hampton
had been in battle, and had seen blood; and ii
there ever was q brave man, Hampton was one
but he gave way now, with hardly a show OF
resistance. Col. ron continued to wait for
the reply. The old man tried TO rise but could
not, without assistance. Drawing from his
pocket slip OF paper, he read as distinctly as
he was able -
"MR PRESIDENTS n x L have served nv
country too long not to be sensible OF my duty
10 submit, as well as l may, to this heavy
stroke. 4 " could have wished that my
old age had been spared this awful calamity,
but Pro vidence II has thought proper t.
| bring me, through the varied and trying
scenes of long life, to this bitter period
| + X II To the Almighty and to Him alone, i
| look for support and consolation l
| pray Him TO bless and prosper my country
which, while she casts me OIL, cannot. and !
trust will not. be disposed to deprive me oil
| the consultations which result from a con-
| sciousness If good intentions and honest con-
| duct in office.''
These We're touching words to those whc
had assis ed at the sacrifice and, he uttered
| the last syllable. he sank back into he chair
he had tn difficulty left! The whole Sen
ate was agitated beyond articulation. l look
| ed at On, aud his appearance is now before
| me ; he labored under the deepest emotion
yet all the features of his face seemed fixed ii
| was the marble expression which indicates the
power to follow duty, lead where it may but
ii was the "agony also which sometimes ac-
com panies the performal ce! Other members
We're giving vent To their feelings in audible
tones of solemn grief and then it was that ma
lures spring which had been pent up before,
found crevice in this rsck of granite. The
waters of life came forth without control
ron would have died at his post anywhere
and a any time He never knew how to sur
render; but his heart "ran oyer'' ut his eyes.
and tears of tenderness and of sorrow chased
each other down his rugged and motionless
cheek 1t was the "statue' that was Weep
ing.
Mr. Huger submitted the following resolu-
ton, and made a short speech, or rather a few
remarks they were hurried and almost iHco-
herent, but the Senate was glad to take them.
They savored of kindness and of mercy -
They were relief to those to whom they were
addressed:
h kResolred, That this Court, in discharging
thes painful duty imposed upon them by the
atate of South Carolina, having passed SEN
tence of removal from office upon the Hon.
VIM. ID. James, feels it incumbent upon itself,
in justice to the said VIM. ID. James, publicly
to declare their sincere conviction, that his
character for honest integrity man has
not reen impeached by this sentence; and, III
consideration of this belief, as well as in con-
sideration of his revolutionary services, they
recommena to both branches of the Legisla-
ture that the said w. ID. James be authorized
to draw upon the Treasurer of the Upper Di
vision for the full amount OF his salary appro-
priated up to the lst of January, 1879.
In support of which Mr.. Huger spoke as toll
lows:
''Mr. President-I have but few words to
say in support of the paper have the honor
to offer you. l need not speak when the hearts
of all have SO eloquently spoken already. l
need not appeal when every bosom Is filled to
overfowing, when every Senator is subdued
by the appeal his own nature has made. l
need not ask for the adoption of this resolu-
ton, because know ths men to whom it is
submitted. l need not press it on you, be-
cause l know that the sorrow, the deep. heart
piercing sorrow, of all who hear me, has seized
upon it already. It's carried! Mr. President,
It's carried Not by the voice OF my humble
self-not by the feelings of one whose heart is
sinking under the pressure which rests upon
it. 'Tis carried by the honor of this House.
MIR. President--that impulse is always irresis-
tibie l see the vote of every man streaming
from his eyes. l share the conflict in every
mans BOSOM Let him say ''no,'' who is more
or less than man. Let him say ''no,'' who has
forgotten the scene that has Just been consum-
mated--who has forgotten the picture which
has just been exhibited. Sir, i call upon my
friends who are about mel call upon them
to say for me what am unable to utter for
myself
'Mr. President when I think of that un-
happy man who has just departed-when l
see HIM lettering, qulyering, sinking under the
agonizlng beatings of a broken heart-when
remember that he has fought for his country
when remembe that his blood has been shed
for the purchase of that very liberty which
gives me power 10 condemn him, sir, my mind
faaters when turn upon the deed which my
OWN hand has done. l shrink beneath the
shadow of my own unworlhiness, and for
knoment-aye, for more than moment dis
own the act that has turned him upon the
world thrlftless and frlendless. When l re-
member that the blood, which is now gushing
through his veins, is the very blood in which
our Constitution is written, l ask, and ask il
triump phantiy, where is the man that calls for
another word upon the question Sir, the law
must have its victim. The law has had its
victim Yes, the altar is bedewed with the
tears OF the very men who have presided at
the sacrifice Sir, will not violate the feel
ings of the house any longer. They warn me
to be done. / leave the question just where it
ought to be, in your own hands. Looking
your God and your country IN the face, call
for your decision"
The resolution passed by an overwhelming
majority, and when the Senate adjourned each
one seemed to seek some private way To his
quarters, that he might avoid the observation
OF others.
Mr.. Huger evidently spoke without mo-
ment's preparation, aud when asked 10 furnish
" hal he had said, for publication, he declined.
protesting his utter inability TO do SO. The
words were taken by listener, ahd We're re-
ported as above in the Charleston Courier.
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