The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1866-11-07

al his wonderful dignity, tact and grace
There were eight articles of impeach
ment. Largo numbers of witnesses
were examined OH both sides, and the
forensic displays remind ono of Warren
Hastings trial in England, ten years be.
i. fore. Chase's counsel were three most
ablo lawyers-Luthcr Martin, Of Mary
land; Charles Lee, late United State;
! Attorney General; and Robert Goodloe
Harper, a former Federal leader in tho
House. Randolph had six Representa-
tives to help him manage the case, and
he never had more exciting theme fol
his peculiar sarcasm.
Article I. Charged Judge Chase
with untairness and oppression at the
trial Of John Fries for treason, in 1900,
whereby the accused was condemcd to
death without having been heard by
| counsel in his defence. On this article,
| there were l6 Senators for conviction
and lS for acquittol. Article II charged
him with arbitrary ruling IN regard to u
juryman, at the trial Of James Il. CaQen
der for libel on President Adams, in
1900. There were l0Scnators for con.
yction and 24 for acquittal. Article
III charged that at the same trial tho
Judge had unjustly excluded tho cvi.
dence Of a material witness for the de-.
fence. For conviction, ls; for acqmttal,
l6 Senators. Article ~ charged him,
at the same time, with "manifest nius.
tice, impartial4Y and intompcrancc, in
refusing n postponement; in the use of
Unusual, rude and contcmptuous cx.
pressions towards the prisoners counsel,
Gin repeated and vexa,ious interrup.
tions." and in ''indcccnt solicitude" for
the conviction of the accused. For con.
viction, 10 fer acquitlal, l6. Article
V charged him with illegally refusing to
admit Calender to bail. Acquitted un.
animously. Article vi charged the
Judge with Illegally hurrying up Callen-
dcrs trial at the term Of court when he
was indicted. For conviction, d; for
acquittal 20. Article VII charged
him with descending from tho dignity
of a Judge and stoopmg to the level Of
an informer," by refusing to discharge
grand jury at New Castle, Delaware,
because thny did not indict a scdtious
printer. For conviction, 10; for acquit.
tai, d. Article VIII charged him
with making "highly indecent, intcm.
prrate andinflammatory political har.
angue" to n grand Jury at Baltimore,
attacking the legislation of Congress,
and opposing certain reforms in the
State Constitution in Maryland, thus
!'prostituting the high judicial character
with which ho was invested, to the low
purpose of an clcctioncering partisan"
For conviction, 10; for acquittal, IL. A.
two'thrds vote Of tho Senators present
not being, given in support Of any article
Of impeachment, Judge Chase was ac-
Quilted throughout. He held his scat
on tho Supreme bench during the re-
naming six years of his life.
The impeachment, though it fell
through in a legal point of view, yet had
good result in checking that judicial
arrogance. nsoloncc and spirit of brow.
beating which some magistrates display
cd, as though tho majesty OF the law
needed intellectual rufIianism to support
it. No judge, for the last sixty years,
excepting two or three in fugitive slave
law times, has ever dealt out political
slang from the bench, or attempted to
prosecute opponents by his ruling.
A. The last c.se of impeachment was
that of James H. Peck, Judge of the
United States District Court Of Nilsson.
ri, in the winter of lS30-'3l. He was
charged with "illegal, arbitrary and
oppressive conduct" in his Office rs
judge, towards one Luke e. Iaawloss All
attorney, by imprisoning his person and
depriving him, for eighteen months, Of
the practice Of his profession. Lawless
had published sharp criticism Oh Judge
Peck's decisisn in an important land
case, in which ho (Lawless)was coun:
sell, and the pugnacious lawyer was
dealt with rs above for contempt of
court" Tie matter was brought before
Congress &c an unconstitutional interior,
enco with liberty of speech and of
the press. The House impcached Judge
Peck, 1913 to 40. After u wearisome
six weeks trial, the Senate voted 81 for
conviction, % for acouittal!