Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-04-15

So muuy references have alreauy Dcch
made to one or the other cases Of impcach-
ment hitherto tried by the Senate, and so
many references are likely to be made during
the pending trial that our readers may be
pleased to see connected view Of the four
case. that have been already passed upon by
that body. The first case of impeachment
was that of William Blount pronounced
Bluntl United States Senator from Tennes-
see. who had intrigued TO transfer New Or
leans and the neighboring districts to the
British by means ola joint expedition, Britain
to furnish q naval force, and Blount to turn-
i.h corps of backwoodsmcn and Indians to
cooperate. \ letter of his written in 1877
to newly appointed Indian agent among the
Cherokee, to induce the agent TO join the
scheme. and communicated by the latter to the
President, was the evidence upon which the
Senate promptly expelled Blount from their
body. and on which the House proceeded to
exhibit articles OF impeachment against HIM.
The trial was delayed from one cause and
another till December -, 1898, when the
Senate resolved itself for the first time into q
I high court of impeachment In the meantime
/ Blount had been elected President OF the Sem
ate Of Tennessee, in which State the proceed
ing. against him had rather increased than
diminished his popularity, and he did not
consequently personally appear to answer the
impeocbment charges. His counsel filed "a
nile, In which they denied jurisdiction of the
court an two grounds first that a Senator is
nnt a civil officer of the United States - ac-
corlinp to the intent Of the Constitution; and
second that if he were liable to impeachment
under those terms. Blounts expulsion from
the Senate left him no longer a Senator, and
consequently mo- longer a " civil officer of the
/ United States The Senate sustained this
plea but whether on both grounds. or only
on the first, doe. not appear from their pro-
ceedings except that il has been universally
held since that member of Congress Is not
civil officer in the sense Of the Constitution.
Blount died suddenly Just about year after
hi. ease was dismissed by the Senate, and just
a. he was about to be elected Governor OF
Tennessee. He was member of the Federal
Convention OF l7SI, signed the Constitution
in that capacity, had been previously twice IL
member Of the Continental Congress, and
subsequently Governor Of the Territory that
bec,me in 1896 the State of Tennessee He
was one of the first two Senators from that
State.
The second case Of impeachment was that
of JUDGE John Pickering. United States dis
| trict JUDGE for the State of New Hampshire.
The article charged him with wilful sacri-
flee of the rights of the United States in u
- .,;,l hoc,ro him and ,l.o
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"'oN , IT 80 ,a,,,;aJ ., ,'.d,aoi
OF the eight articles exhibited against the
Judse' SIX went pa'A, nNe y'"lS o''o''' " ''''
conduct III couple o' ','''S VI HUI, ""u WV
were founded Oh a la'e cn"rgo 10 a "a'y l''"'
grand jury Inc Jnuge appeared III person