Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-18
The First Im peachment TrIaI,

This was the case of William Blount, formerly
Governor Of the Territory south Of the Ohio, but
then Senator of the United States from Tennessee
| in 1897. The frat information was presented BY
the President to Congress, by Transmitting letter
! from Blount 70 q newly appointed Indian Agent
among the Cherokee On account of this letter
explanations were asked of the British Minister by
which Il appeared that Blount was engaged "a an
intrigue for transferring New Orleans and the
neghboring districts, then held by Spain, TO the
British, BY Of Joint expedition, the British
TO furnish naval force and cooperating corps Of
bRokswoodsmen and Indians 10 be raised on the
Western frontier.
1t appears that Blount was desperately involved
In Western land speculations in Tennessee and
wished to relieve himself by getting up English
company for the purchase Of his lands and that for
this be feared the reransfer Of the Louisiana
territory 10 France (which was then pending and
was soon after made) military and not CONNER
cal nation. BE conceived It to be for his interest,
and that Of the West that Louisiana should pass
into the possession Of the English rather than the
French, and therefore he thought he could engage
the bAckwoodsmen in it. twas not a proper IN
trigue for United States Senator, but 1t does not
appear TO hare been hostile TO the United States.
Upon this letter the House notified the Senate of
their intention to impeach Bount, and accompanied
the notification with this demand.
Nh. PRECEDENT / am commanded IN the name
Of the House " Representative and OF the people
Of the United States, to impeach Niisi.-4 Rlount
misdemeanors and 10 acquaint the Senate that the
House Of Representatives will in due time exhibit
particular articles against him, and make good the
Bame.
/ am further commanded to demand that the said
William Blount be sequestered from his seat in the
Senate and that the Senate do take order for his
appearance TO answer said impeachment.
The House. by this, declared its opinion of the
propriety of Rn officers continuing the discharge Of
bis official duties while under the charges Of i'm
parchment
The Senate thereupon required Blount 10 give Sc
curiy fog his appearance; and they then responded
so zeaeusly 70 the demand Of the House for his sus
pension during trial that they proceeded to expel
him, this preliminary proceeding occupying but one
day. Upon this his sureties surrendered him into
custody, and demanded 10 be discharged from their
bond but Blount was presently released on much
reduced bail. The House delayed through the whole
session the bringing of charges against Blount
whom the people Of Tennessee who saw no fault in
him. had in the time elected 10 the State Sem
ate and the Senate had elected him presiding Off
COR and it is said that such was his growing popu-
laYity that IL he had not died he would have been
chosen for Governor at the next election.
The charges were presented at the next session
As soon as they placed before the Senate that
body made short work Of the trial Blount au-
peared by counsel Dallas and Ingersoll, who Hled
plea denying the Jurisdiction of the Court, on the
double ground that Senators were not "oficersn
liable TO be impeaohed; and that, if they were,
Blountis expulsion from the Senate left him no
longer Senator. Dallas and Ingersoll made an
elaborate argument on this, and two of the mana
gers appointed by the House made an elaborate re-
ply when the Senate made decision sustaining the
plea Hibreth says it does not appear whether they
sustained It on both grounds or on which of them
but It may be concluded that as Blount was not a
Senator, he was not liable 70 an impeachment
whose only result was removal from Office
Thus It win 30 seen that, in the arst impeach-
ment case, wheD khe Government was administered
by the contemporaries of the Constitution, It was
considered as clearly improper that officer should
continue in the discharge Of bis functions while
charges for his impeachment we're pending, that the
House demanded his suspension before they had
presented the charges and the Senate went further
and expelled him, with but one dissenting vote
And II this was the decision in the case Of Sene-
tor who could do 10 harm, for be could do no OH
ciAl act except with majority of the Senate, how
Infinitely stronger the reasons for 1t in the case
Of President who, while on trial for high INSIDE
meRnors, remains IN command Of the army and
navy, and ia the control Of all the powers Of cor
ruption that furnished by the enormous patron
age Of the Administration p CSaeitaati Gazette