The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-19
\ THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Busgct OF Important News

A Buagct OF Important News
[FRoX OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBIA, s. c., December II.
HOUSE.
The following'is the House business of Fri
day:
Mr.. Rosemon. from The medical committee re
ported tack bill to establish a hospital for th
pochen Christ Church Parish, in the County o
Charleston. Also, bill to repeal an act entitled
can act prohibiting the peading of ardent spirits
through the State" and recommended that th'
bills beIndefnio'y postponed.
The committee CT ways and means reported
back a Senate bill 20 make appropriation for the
pas ment Of per di I'm and mileage OF the members
OF the General assembly. and the salaries of che
subordinate o.hcers and other expenses incidental
thereto, and recommended the bill do pass &c
that the amount appropriated be s1s5. 900. Also
reported back the petition Of the Board Of Trade
Of Charleston, against any change In the existing
usury laws of the state, requesting t. be reli.vet
from any report, and recommend mat the petl
tion be referred to the committee on the judiciary
Adopted. Also, reported back joint resolution
authorizing the State auditor 70 suspeni proceed
ings IN certain cases. and recommended that the
same do passf
The speaker laid before the House .ne following
communication from Hon. T. O. P. Vernon; also 0
paper authorizing Pope and Haskell ts.appear as
his attorneys In the matter, and certificate of a
notary public that sickness prevented him from
attending:
To The Hon. F. j. Noses, IT., Speaker ortae Eouse
of Representatives.:
CYr harya tho f0 nl-,, N,u1a,l
ceipt OF your official communication OF yesterday
evening convey ing the resolution Of The House Of
Representatives, OF the State Of South Carolina, in
words. following, TO wit: ssThat T. o. P. Vernon,
Judge Of the seventh judicial Circuit, be, and is
hereby, impeached for high crimes aud misde.
meanors" have no complaint to make against
this action OF the House OF Representatives when
1t sees fit to prefer charges against me as public
officer provided these charges are made as to form
and substance In such manner that they can be au-
swe5ed and met by me. THIS !. the constitutional
onehaud, and 1t is my constitutional right, on the
other hand, to answer the charges, and repe
them as best may; and to this end, demand
my trial. Let the charges be now made, and
am prepared to dafend my official conduct In the
presence OF the Senate, sitting as a court OF I'm
peachment. demand the specification OF the
high crimes with which have been charged. de-
mand the specification OF misdemeanors charged
upon me in the exercise Of the functions OF the
high Office to viii have been chosen. Permit
me to say that did not seek the Office or judge In
South Carolina. was. appointed to 1t by the
General Assembly without solicitation on my part:
In point Of fact, even without my knowledge.
felt then as feel now, my unworthiness to stand
in the place OF the ilustrlous men Of this State
who have heretofore, without fear and without
reproach, worn the judicial ernne. who by their
courage their profound learning and unsnllled vlr
tue, rendered illustrloas the judicial history OF
accepted che Office with neither the hope nor
expectation that could Illustrate 1t with that
learning, or exalt 1t with that ability, which hal
to-, hinSN pt,t In h1T
sphere honestlv felt that, with Gods help,
could maintain untarnished, at least Its ancient
purity and unsnlied virtue. Great Judicial talents
tares less shining judicial quality, to Wit, ya-
dIclal integrity. may often serve the State. In
this latter quality, at least claim to be the peer
OF the first among the first, anh challenge an IN.
vestigaion, without fear OF proof TO the contrary
1t may be to my individual comfort. and, per-
haps 1t might CRAFTY some that should now
tender to the General Assembly the commission
which received from is without solicitation, &C
cepted In Difference 70 its Judgment, have hid
without dlshonor, aud am prepared to surrender
without regret. But in this grave issue, personal
consideration must yield to q sense OF puDils
duty. 10 not stand alone. The independence
and integrity OF the judicial branch OF the govern.
ment shall not be stricken down in my person
without at least fearless, though { may be In.
etfectuaS effort TO resist all assaults upon eith.r
come Aom whatever quarter they may. With
this resolve, submit myself to the action OF the
House Of Representatives, and have the honor to
communicate lrlc SGLue LuIUHPu yOu pTSSlVlIlR
officer. ] shall appear In person when summoned
by the Senate, assisted by my counsel, the Hon.
Joseph D. Pope and Colonel al: G.. HaskeI. ceun-
selors at Law, Of this City.
ana, sir, very respectfully.
Your ooedlent servant,
(Signed) T. o. r. VERNON.
The following bills were introducsd: By Wilkes,
bill to protect therIghts OF parents, and to pre-
vent the procuring and carrying from the state,
persons under the age OF twenty one years; also,
O bill to renew and extend al act to provide
mode BY which to perpetuate testimony in rcla-
tLon to deeds, wills. chooses in action, and other
papers destroyed or lost during the recent war;
Keith, a bill to authorize the county commission
ers of each county to settle all CLAIMS and evil
dences Of Indebtedness against the several town
ships in their county; Bosemon, a bill! to incor-
porate the Charleston Cleansing Companyi Smart,
bill authorizing the. State to purchase the stock
OF the Columbia Bridge Company, and to erecs q
free bridge over the Congaree River; Wallace, a
bill to amend an act entitled "An act to provide
for the appointment Of trial Justices Fro's a
bill to consolidate the offices OF land commission
er and commissioner OF agricultural statistics;
also bill to secure to county officials payment Of
their official dues by county treasurers.
Notice was given Of the following bills: Perry,
70 amend an act act entitled "An act to regulate
the rates OF toll to be taken OF the several grist
mills throughout the state;'' IaddocSs. to give
medical attendance to the poor: also, 5!! to es-
tabll1S school.houses In Colleton Coanty: Hum
bert, to regulate the mileage and per dcI, OF
grand and petit jurors; also, joint resolution
authorizing the county commissioners OF Darl-
ington County to levy special tax; Cain, TO
provide for the widows and orphans OF men mar
dered fer their political opinions OF otherwise.
Hurle:, 4 bill to empower the commissioners OF
Clarendon County to levy special tax for the
purpose of building courthouse an. jail Tor
Clarendon County; Barker, b:l, reCalTins all
parties institutiag civil actions, TO par the costs
Of sheriff, clerks and attorneys IN advance, eE-
oeptiug parties instltuting actions for the recoT-
cry OF wages or shares OF crops; Dlnn:r!y, a Dill
authorizing the appoutNent Of commissioner
for the better protection .. the poo. and orphan
children in each county; Byas. bill 20 regulate
an! secure to clerks OF circuit courts tnc;: fees
and costs In civil suits; Jamison, bill TO change
the tine and manner o. assessing persona! pro
perty in this State; Crews bill 70 authorize the
land commissioner to purchase sufficient qran-
tlty Of land, and appropriate The same for'the
free use and benefit Of all parties compelled 10
leave thar homes from the counties OF Union,
Laurens and Sparscnburg, said tracts not TO con-
tain more than one hundred acres for each family.
FRIDAYS SENATE BUSINESS.
@al in IA