The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1870-02-09
'fdmiIp Ktaoihas ano News 1trms
IMPEACHMENT OF GOV. WARMOTH.

: IMPEACHMENT OF GOV. WARMOTE
Charges Preferred Against Him-Briber,
Fraud, Corruption and seductio
Alleged.
The following charges against Gov. War
moth, We copy from the New Orleans Bulle
tin. of the I'd inst. Though Wickliffe is il
all respects as vile a robber as Warmoth, hi
charges against Warmoth, under existin,
circumstances, are entitled to considerable
weight.
Everybody should read the black cata
logue of charges against the man whom th,
Legislature wishes to arm with despotit
power, and in whose hands they propose te
place the ballot box of the State.
What honest and well informed man now
questions the soundness of the BANNER on
the carpet-bagger and scalawag question!
Who now thinks we ever hit the mule
drivers TOO nara!
1t being your especial perogative, under
the Constitution of the State, to investigate
| all charges against constitutional and other
State officials, and Henry C. Warmoth.
Governor of this State. being guilty of vari
Gus gross outrages in violating the Constitu-
ton aud trampling under foot the laws he
took solemn oath to see faithfully executed.
as we'll as preparation of the most serious
frauds upon the treasury Of the State, and
corruption in Office in levying black mail
upon numerous citizens of the State, and
many other acts of malfeasance, misfeasance.
corruption and oppression in Office, most
respectfully beg leave to submit the follow
Jug charges against said official. to sit:
l. Sections So, 81 of the Constitution
provid: that the Governor, Lieutenant Gov
ernor. Secretary of State. Auditor, Treasur-
er, Attorney General and Superintendent of
Education, for any malfeasance in Office,
shall first be impeached by your honorable
the officer thus impeached shall be trleu Uy
the Senate; and, "upon conviction by that
honorable body, he shall be dismissed from
Office; ''but the covicted party. af.er being
stripped of the robes of Office, shall never
theless be subject to criminal prosecution for
any offence he may have committed. as an
individual against the laws of his State.
The evident intention of the trainers of the
constitution was to allow no interference by
any court with State officer until your hon
or able body had prepared articles of impe-
achment against him. and the Senate had
pronounced him guilty of high crimes and
nisdemeanors, and had dismissed him from
Office.
In Aagrant violation of the plain letter
aud spirit of the constitution, Governor
WarmOth, on or about the 25th Of March.
1869. dragged me, constitutional officer OF
the State, before the Criminal Court of the
First District, aud compelled me to undergo
an ignominious trial before that court, which
had no jurisdiction 10 the premises.
Cognizant of the pretended facts (as was
there and then proved by several of his own
witnesses,) within four days after the open
ing of the last session Of your honorable
body. but NOS daring to bring the matter be-
fore your honorable body, as was his plain
duty under the constitution, he allowed the
adjurnmeat, when he Immediately dragged me
before the Aforesaid court; where, after a
full hearing of all the evidence he could rake
up by means of bribery, money and threats,
was twice h0norsbly acquitted BY . jury OF
of my own countrymen. and he baffled in his
attempts to tranp.e ON oil the constitutional
rights e the people of our State. and to rob
and plunder the treasury ad Hbitum.
2. Not satisfied with thus outraging all
decency, and violating my own and the
rights Of free people, and utterly regard.
less of the interests of the State. he hurled
upon me his Metropolitan Police, (which in
your Innocence of his designs you placed at
his disposal,) drove me from my otice to
which the people Of our State elected me,
took forcible possession OF all its books and
archives and my personal effects. ransacked
and plundered at his will, and stopped the
Whole machinery Of the State government
immensely damaging the State.
After holding violent and frauduien' pos
session of my Office for nearly two montas
he only relinquished unlawful possession
vhen the verdicts Of the juries and the pres
.nre of public sentiment warned him that M
could no longer trample on the rights OF al
outraged people with impunity'
3, Not satisfied with the commission
,ch ou>raees. he, in the month of November
! Is69. again dragged me before the sam
oonrt. and bv the aid of certain corrupt meH
Ssrs Of the grand jury Of the parish OF vi
hama. attempted to again perprtra'e I"
..me Outrage upon me as State oinc'a.. :,
; His designs being this time more full !
comprehended by the officers OF the law: =
= "a. again thwarted in bis schemes aga'n
$ the State AID against myself. -.
A In this last case, not satisfied WIN
L ..mntinr to drag me into trial against
law, this corrupt official attempted, throut
his hireling spy, one Lipshotz' to get ce11s pa
PARTIES. Who were then confined in the ia
: tn Prison, to perjure themselves by swea
n nr falsely against me. promising them
save them from the penalties OF the law
they would help him to convict me OF ITau =
r anon the treasury. But finding that \
secured positive proof against him tor So 81
t.. oru.tion of perjury he rapidly withaf
from that dangerous scheme.
as < He also violated the law he was sw'
=. =. to execute in protecting one Geo. Dearl'
y, who vas also indicted by the grand Jury
X X drfrauding the State, in refusing 10 az
.ss ..s The Sheriff to arrest him when he fo1nd
e nssy;np i in the Governors office, where
Al a. Ind been secreted; declaring that as the u
Is arnor Of the State he was responsible .
F.. that man. as he wanted to use him, ana on