The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-01
IMPEACH MENT.
The Law of Impenchments-HOw and
when Exercised-Wn Congress Inn
peach MIR. johnson 1-Htghly Interest

peach MIR. johnson l-HAghly Interest,"
ing Document.
In view of the threatened impeachment of Mr.
Johnson by the radicals, the following, pre-
pared for the Richmond bTdmtaer, will be read
with deep interest. IL gives the law, and cites
the instances in which impeachment has been
effected =
The strong probability that the President Of the
United STATES will be impeached TINS winter, makes 1t
interesting for our reL ders to have some light thrown
upon the law OF i'm parchment.
impeachment is an old affair in the history of our
English ancestors.
The fist authentic case of impeachment was in
1876, in the reign OF Edward III. They were fire.
quent for several reigns afterwards. There were
none in the reigns OF Edward IV, Henry Will aod
When the reins Of regal power were held by feeble
hands, Impe8cl ments were most resorted to. When
the kiDgy authority was in strong hands, impeach-
ments we're not favored. THIS IS SAID by historians
House of Con mons and the preference of the Tudor
Princes for the more summary proceedings of bills
OF attaInder and the Star Chamber.
Alter the Iegn of Ezabe h impeach ments re.
vived ana between 1920 and 1888 there forty
cases OF impeachment, inc uoing the memorable
and melancholy case OF that wonderful genus, Lord
Bacon.
In the reign of William III, Anne, and George
there we're fifteen i'm parchment. In the reign of
George III only one that of Lord Love, for treason.
One OF the last was tlat of Warren HASTINGS,
so memorable on account OF the eminence of the
accused. man who stanos out tatuesque his.
tory and the extraordinary genius OF the prosecu-
tors, Edmund Burke Char esJ FOX, and Sheridan,
making 1t the most famous trial in history.
The last case OF moeachment in England was that
lmpeacnments have been found to be cumbersome
proceeding in England and they have iallen INTO
In impeachments the House of Commons act as
in the nature Of grand jury, making their pre-.
sentiment to the House of Lords
1he House OF Lords act as Judicial body
ANY member OF the House oil Commons may in
against the accused, with his pioofs ms may Oe
voted upon directly by the House, or referred to
commit, to report upon.
II tue House resolves to impeach certain men,
bers are ordered 10 proceed to the House OF LORDS
and make known the resolution OF the House AS
many members choose accompany the members
/ who communicate the impeachment to he Lords.
art articles & OF impeachment are usually prepared
ucles OF impeachment are prepared by committee
appointed Tor that purpose and are first submitted
to Inc bouse and II approved by the House, they
are delivered to the Lords.
Upon the formal impeachment, at the bar of the
Lords the party impeached is taken into custody,
but may be baed.
The Lords appoint day for the trial Commons
appoint managers to prepare evidence, and conduct
the proceedings.
An important inquiry is, What ofIenses are the
the subject OF impeachment in England
The most satisfactory TO that question ls to
refer to the prominent cases OF impeachment cited
/. Duke OF Suffolk for high treason
2 Lord Finch Sir Robert Berke ey, Lord Straflord
laws ana Introducing ARBITRARY power. Under this
Impeachment Lord SiraforI, to the eternal shame
of Ihares l, was executed.
g. Duke Of SuHok for that. being ambassador,
he consented to the de livery of divers own to the
King Of France, without priyity OF other ambas-
T. Earl o. Bristol, that being ambassador he gave
false information 10 the Kings that he did not pursue
his lnstnchons that he pursued his embassy for his
s. The famous Cardinal wolsey, for whom
Shakespeare makes us feel SO sorry by the sad
speeches he pu IN his mouth after his fall from
the King OF France when Ambassador OF Henry
vii without prlyty Of the King
| That he joined himself with the King the memo
rable words Shakespeare aludes TO, Ego ct Regius
meus'
6. The Earl of Bristol, for counselling against
war with Spain.
(1 his would constitute good Article against the
! President for advising to Grafton OF "RebelS.')
Ent eng the King to Popery
! against the advice of Parliament.
! g. The Spencers, that they gave bad counsel to
g. Ear OF Oxford, for advising prejudical peace.
10. Lord Finch, that, beng Speaker OF the Com
! IL. Duke of Buckingham, tnat, being admiral of,
he neglected the safeguard of the sea.
Ear. Oxford, for haZarding the navy ana me-
| glecting to take snips OF the enemy.
l2. Michael de la Poole that, being Chancellor,
| he acted contrary to his duty.
13. Lord Somers, for ralifyIng a peace under the
great seal not approved OF by the parties concerned
Futting the great seal to blank commission
IA. Purchasing lands of the King under their
Is Duke of Buckingham.
Iluraity OF Offices.
Purchasing offices ~
" Duke of Buckingham for giving medicine to
the KING without advice of the physicians,
| lS. The Spencers that they prevented the great
men OF the Tealm from giving counsel TO the King,
| except i'll their presence.
For putting, good MAGISTRATES out Of office and md
putting III bad, (Another precedent, turning out
| radicals and putting IN Copperheads
10. Earl of Oxford, tor encouraging pirates
20. Sir G. Mourpesson for procurement of patents
2i. Lord Bacon, alas for poor human naturei-fOr
tax ng brlbes - r'.. .
| forest.
Fur threatening other judges to make them SUBJ
scribe TO hls opinion.
For deliv, ring opinions knowing them to be con-
| trarY to law.
| For drawing busneSs of the courts to his chamber
| 23 For extOrlOns and d,cslts.
"a Cardinal Wolsey for exercising Legislative
% For converting public money to his own use.
For procuring eXorbltant grants OF landi from
the King
For obtaining grants of money when there was
war ana heavy taxes.
All are familiar with Warren Hastings trial, and
| it IS not necessary, Therefore, to allude to the
char ges against him.
From this summary Of the principal cases Of i'm.
| peaeLment winch have Occurred In England we
| think 1t follows that according to the practice
there The b ouse OF Common ms have been in the usage
OF impeachlng for any thing they chose to consider
| an o6ense Evidently whenever the House OF
| Commons wanted TO get rid OF public officer, all
| they had to do to get up an impeachment was TO
work up the best charge they could against him
There was no limit to the exercise of the power of
| impeachment but their own discretion. Impeach.
| ment was political cOntrN ance to get rid OF
| obnoxious officer The Practical result was that
every man held his Office &C the discretion of
| jority of Il House of Commons and majority of
| tue House oil Lords
such was the practice and therefore the parlia-
menIary law OF impeachment in England when the
| Constitution of the United States was adopted.
no d. DrnVidAq -