Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-03-12

Governor Of the territory south Of the
Ohio, but then Senator Of the United
States from Tennessee in 1901, The first
information was presented by the Prcsi'
dent TO Congress, by transmitting letter
from Blount 10 newly appointed Indian
agent among the Cherokees, On account
oilthis letter explanations were asked OF
the British Minister, by which il appeared
that Blount was engaged in an intrigue
for transferring New Orleans and The
neighhoring districts, then held by Spain,
TO the British, by means Of joint eSpe'
dition, the British 10 furnish naval force,
and cooperating corps OF haokMoods-
men and Indians TO be raised ON the West
ern frontier, IL appears that Blount was
desperately involved in Western land
speoulations in Tennessee, and wished to
relieve himself by getting up an English
company for the purchase OF his lands
and that for this reason he feared the re-
transfer OF the Louisiana territory 70
France, (which was then pending and
was soon after made military and not
commercial nation, He conceived II 10
be for his interest and that Of the West
that Louisiana should pass into the pos
session Of the English rather than the
French, aud therefore he thought hc could
engage the backwoodsmen in it, II was
not a proper intrigue for United States
Senator. but il does not appear 10 have
been hostile 10 the United States, pom
this letter the House notified the Senate
OF their intention TO impeach Blount, and
accompanied the notification with this de-
mand:
Mr., PredtAt: lam commanded, in the
name Of the House of Representatives and
OF the people OF the United STATES, IT, INT
peach VIM. Blount, Senator OF the
United States, Of high crimes and mis-
dcmcanors, and 10 acquaint the Senat,
that the House of Representatives Will IN
due time exhibit particular articles against
/ him, and make good the same. am fur
I Their commanded TO demand that the said
/ VIM. Blount be sequestered from his seat
/ in the Senate; and that the Senate dc
take order for his appearance to answer
the said impeachment.
I The House, by this, declared its opinion
Of the propriety of AN officers continuing
+ the discharge Of his official du.it- whil'
under charges of impeachment. The Sen
ate thereupon required Blount 10 give Sc
curity for his appearance and they ther
responded 50 zealously TO the demand o.
/ the House for his suspension during tria
that they proceeded to expel him, TIM
! preliminary preceding occupying bu
one day. Upon this his suretleS surren
dered him into custody, and demanded Il
/ be discharged from their bond; bu
| Blount was presently released OF
much reduced bail. The House de
layed through the whole session
the bringing of echarges agains
Blouut, whom the people OF Tennessee
who saw no fault in him, had in the mean
time elected to the State Senate, and tn
Senate had elected him presiding officer
and ii is said that such was his CROWN.
:. popularity that il he had not died, h
would have been chosen Governor at tn
next election The charges were pre-
sented al the next session. As soon a
they were placed before the Senate tina
body made short work Of the trial. Bloun
who filed plea denying the.lurisdictio
of the court, on the double ground tina
Senators were not Officers" liable TO b
impcached, and that il they were, Blount
expulsion from the Senate left him n
longer Senator. hllas and lngerso
made an elaborate argument on this, an
two of the managers appointed by tn
House made an elaborate reply when tn
Senate made decision sustaining the plei
Hildreth says it does not appear whethe
they sustained it on both grounds, or o.
which of them but it may be conclude
that as Blount was not Senator, he Wa
not liable to an impeachment whose onl
result was removal from office. Thus
. will be seen that, in the first impeachmcr
case. when the'government was admins
tered by the contemporaries of the const
tuition, il was considered so clearly IN
proper that t an officer should continue
the discharge of his functions Will
r charges for his impeachment We're peno
ing, that the House demanded his suspeI
sion before they had presented the charge
and the Senate went further and expelle
: him, with but one dissenting vote. An
{ if this was the decision in the case of
Senator who could do no harm, for h
could do no official act except with m;
iUTirv Of TIM IL
: stronger are the reasons for it i'll the cas-
. of a President who, while on trial +,
high misdemeanors, remains III comman
of the army and navy, and in control {
all the powers Of corruption that are fun
nished by the enormous patronage of tn
. administration CiHciHHati Gd3c'tt.