The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-10-23
Impeachment-Thc Only Four Cases
in the History OF the Government.

gives inc lOilOWInS Succlnct statement Of
the only four cases of impeachment which
have occurred since the foundation of the
Government. 1t is q radical sheet, and in
giving this somewhat interesting record,
it of course anticipates >le Impeachment
Of the President:
l. William Blount, of Tennessee, for
eome years Governor of the territory South
oi tho ONO River, having been elected to
the United States Senate, was, in 1899. ex-
PEELED from that body by Il vote of twenty
iive to one, and declared to DO ssguilty of a
high misdcmcanor entirely Inconsistent
with his public trust and duty AZ 4 Sc
nator." His offence was an ATTEMPT to Sc
ducc an United States Interpreter from his
duty, and to ahcnato the affections and
confidence OF the Indians from public
oIihcers residing among them. 1t was be-
levcd that he instigated the Indians to
assist the British in conquerin~ the Snan.
ish Is territory adjoining the United States.
Two points We're made for the defence.
Fu'I. That Blount had not done these evil
deeds III his capacity of Il public officer.
puV as private citizen. Second. That his
beng United States Senator screened
INN, for an officer elected by q State Legis-
laturc, and neither chosen nor appointed.
nor removable by the General Government.
could not be civil officer of the United
States within the scope of the impeach-
nient clauses OF tho Constitution. On these
technical grounds, tho Senate slct him
down easy by dismissing the case.
Blount had many friends ard hackers. the
Southwest being then corrupt and turbu-
lent to a degree that foreshadowed the
great rebellion lately qucllcd by the North
and West.
q In 1904, John Pickering, Judge of the
United States District Court of New Hamp-
shire, was impcachcd before the Senate. by
order ol the House, for drunkenness and
profanity on the bench, and refusing to
perform his duties in u case where no was
Gal!co TO enforce the revenue laws of the
United States. The Judge did not appear;
but his son sent q petition, setting forth
that his father was insane, and asking
leave to be heard by counsel. This was
granted, and several dispositions were put
III gong to show insanity. The reply was
Iial ne ha4 brought rum craziness" on
himself Judge Pickering had raycd and
blasphcmed on the bench i'll open court;
cursed the parties; called people (somc-
times perfect strangers to come up and
sit beside him on the bench, threatening
to cane them if they refused. We can find
no no evidence that he compared himself to
the Saviour of mankind, or blackguardcd
that branch of the Government which
voted him his 'brcad and butter" or
called for the hanging of those who diff
tcrod from him in opinion. But, perhaps,
the whlskcy of those times was not so 1cry
Judge PlckerinS having exercised judicial
authority during insanity, and not offering
to resign, the Senate voted him guilty. and
removed him from officc-ycas twenty.
nays six. All the Federal Senators voted
III the negative; just as the Democrats of
circle in political principles, would now
vote on Johnson's case, if ho were to be
impcachcd.
3. In 1905, Samuel Chase, of MARYLAND.
an Associate Justice of the United States
supreme Court, was impcached by the
House KS to 32) and tried by the Senate.
He was q srcy-hared old man, of power
full intellect, vast legal learning and ire
proachablc morals. He had sat in tho
Congress of '7G and signed the Declaration
OF Independence, and had by his zeal and
energy done wonders in redecming Mary
land from British and Tory sway, and
bringing her over to the side of American
Liberty. lie had, by hard work, sharp
figuring" and legal shrewdncss, secured
for his State 4 debt Of $3.50, 900 due her in
England before the Revolution. Not a
man of greater ability and patriotism then
faults were ultra Federal notions, an
abusive tongue and q quick temper. The
| great public services of the accused: the
national eminencc of the tribunal; the ex-
cited state of party feeling, well represents
ed by the celebrated John Randolph. Of
|
House, and the continuance of the trial for
nearly a month-all these things combined
to make Il most notable and interesting
case 1t was State trial deserving tho
brilliant descriptive pen OF Motley or Ma
caulay. Judge Chase was allowed ono
month to prepare his Defence and, in con-
| sldcra ton of his age and infirmities, he was
seated III the centrc OF the area of the Sc
nate chamber, in front of the Vice-Presi-
dent That officer was the 'black sheep"
OF our early politics, Aaron Burr, who,
with prospects and reputation blasted by
his southern tllbusterlng and his murder
of Alexander Hamilton, vet presided with
all his wonderful dignity, tact and grace.
There were eight articles of impeachment
Large numbers of witnesses were oXa-
mined on both sides, and the forensic dis
plays remind one OF Warren Hastings
trial III England, ten Years before Chase 8
counsel We're three most able lawyers
Luther Martin, Of Maryland; Charles Lee,
late United States Attorney-General; and
Robert Goodloe Harper, q former Federal
leader III the House. Randolph had six
Representatives. to help him manage the
case, and he never had Il more exciting
theme for his peculiar sarcasm.
Article charged Judge Chase with un-
fairness and oppression at the trial Of John
Fries for treason, in 1900, whereby the ac-
cused was condemned to death without
having been heard by counsel in his de-
| fence. On this article, there were 1G Sc
nators for conviction and Is for acnuittal.
Article Ii charged him with arbitrary rul-
ing In regard to a juryman, at the trial OF
James L. Calender for libel on President
Adams, in 1900. There were 10 Senators
Tor conviction and ~ for acuuttal. Article
LII charged that at the samo trial the
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