The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-06-12
The Impeachment of Judge Frazier.

10 The Impeachment of Judge Frazier.
1t was announced by telegraph few days
ago, that the Senate of Tennessee, acting as q
High Court of Impeachment, had rendered
its verdict in the case of Judge Frazier, re-
moving him from office and disqualifying him
from holding any office hereafter. The trial
has excited and will continue to excite more
interest than any which has taken place in
Tennessee for years. The case was argued and
contested by the ablest counsel in the State,
the leading counsel on either side being Messrs.
Trimble and Maynard for the State and
Messrs. Ewing and East for the defence. Al
tef fair hearing the Senate decided by vote
of IA to 4, that Judge Frazier was guilty OF
high crimes and misdemeanors, requiring his
disqualification, in that he did "corruptly,
wilfully, maliciously aud feloniously issue a
writ of hdbeGS corpus upon the Sergeant-ati
Arms of the House OF Representatives, COM
manding him to appear before him with the
body of member of the House, held in custo
dy by order of said House." An importan
question Of legislative privilege is thus de-
eided. The circumstances of the case are re
cited by the Nashville correspondent of the
Tribune-who furnishes the particulars above
--as follows: .lf n.
immediately after the PRONUNCIATION of the
amendments to the Constitution proposed by
the XNX1Xth Congress, Governor DroWnioW
summoned an extra session OF the legislature W
meet ON the 4th of July, 1900, 10 cohslIer the
proposea amendments. AS soon rs thc GOV
eroar,, rrociamation was issued, it began to be
Shis,aiPs.S about among the knowing ones that
| tboIa would be no quorum present. The Leg
;siature met on the 4th and adjourned to the
| s3h on that day, and for many days follow
~ there was no quorum in the House.
| Members were in the city, but could not be
| found. Enough would appear on the floor to
make within one or two of a quorum, and then
disappear, eluding every effort OF the Sergeant
alarms to discover them. AT length tired
| with this sort of boys play, the House direct
cd the Sergeant-at-Arms to employ a posse
aud bring the delinquents to the bar. This
was done, and two members enough, with
! those present, to constitute quoum-were
arrested and brought to the Capitol, and there
| held 10 wait the pleasure of the House.
Meantime, caucusng, scheming, and threat
ening of every kind, was kept up, and at las
| the two members who had been arrested b,
the Sergeant alarms, and were in confine
ment by order OF the House, sued for writ o
| habeas corpus, which, after brief argument
was granted by Judge Frazier. The proceed
| ines in the Court were ill-suited TO the disens
! SIGN OF so important question-the pleas
| counsel Tor the recusant members being ratnel
political haraDgues than legal arg uments IN.
] the courtroom was crowded with sympatllz
ing rebels, who applauded every word utteret
| In censure of the Legislature, anu turheu th'
temple of justice intoa caucus OF demaeogaes
The case was hurried through with almost IN
| attnrnonn- and the decision being render
ed the next day. Immediately thereaftel
during the night, the capitol was invaded, tn
Sergeant-at-Arms of the House arrested an