Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1870-12-23
Columbia Correspondence Gsopee cou,isr,

= IVf0hOt3 correspondence Aeotoee Courier,
COLUMBIA, S. G., Dec. IL, 1870.
DEAR COURIER: On Tuesday, of last
week, tho balloting was gone into by each
House for United States Senator, but neither
candidate succeeded in getting the requisite
majority in either House. On Wednesday
the two Houses met in joint assembly, and
elected the lIou. I. j. Robertson, the present
incumbent, on the first ballot. Robertson,
received 81 votes, Butler 81, the balance
being scattered among Moses, Cardoza and
Dclany. Col. Pcarcc did not go iuto the
contest Mr. Arnim, Republican Senator
from Eagcfield, voted for Gen. Butler and
there was very kindly feeling manifested
towards him by tho colorcd members which
might have resulted in numbers Of them 70.
ting for him, had it not been for the applca.
tion Of party lash.
The concurrent resolution fixing Saturday
as the day for the election Of an Associate
Justice and Judge for the First Circuit, was
re considered, and Friday fixed on as the day
for that election, which proved too soon for
those seeking liyht, as it has been rumorcd
that fifty thousand dollars reached here that
night, from Charleston, in tho interest of
Whalcy. Wright was re elected to the Su
prcmo bench, and Graham, of Marion, to the
First Circuit, both without organized oppo
stion.
Joseph Crews, member from Laurcns, is
still busy, rs chairman of the investigating
committee, looking into Laurcns difficulties.
Judge Vernon issued writ Of haJeas cD,1us,
last week, for certain citizens of Laurcns, i'm
prisoncd in this city, to be carried before
him at Spartanburg. The writ was directed
to the Sheriff Of Rchland County, who started
with the prisoners on Saturday morning last,
but, on reaching the railroad depot, was him.
self served with summons by tile Sergeant
at arms of the House, to appear before tic
committee, which lie obcyed, tho prisoners
being rcmanded to Jail So the writ of per.
sona rights is suspended, and, thus far, re-
mains suspended, by the influence of one
member OF the House of Representatives, by
virtue OF the power vested in his committee,
to send for 'pcrsons and papers" Judge
Vernon has also been summoned before the
committee, and notice has been given in the
House Of resolutions of Impeachment.
December 10Th, On Sunday last David
| Kinslcr, Reform member from Lexington.
was found dead on the road between this city
| md his home, across the river On Monday
the House adjourned soon after meeting, in
respect to the memory of the deceased mem.
| Der.
| During the past week there has been but
| little business transacted of general interest,
except the action of the House in the case
OF Judge Vernon, and on joint resolution TO
authorize the collection of State and County
taxes. On Wednesday, Judge Vernon had
an appointment to hear the cases of the Lau.
rens prisoners, in the Court House, in this
ticn for ball. The Investigating committee ai
being anxious to suspend Judge Vernon be
fore he should act in the premises repurtcd,
soon after the House went into session, a
resolution to "impeach Judge IT, 0 p. Yer.
non, OF the Seventh Judicial Circuit, for hioh
crimes and misdemcanors." There was an
attempt to run this through in shameful
haste, hut the opposition succeeded in keep
ing OFT the vote until about halfpast two
clock, L. NJ, when it pa sea by very large
majority. The discussion on the subject
were conducted with decorum, and entered
INTO ny radicals, retormcrs and independents.
The ground taken by those who opposed tic
resolution was that the question OF impcacb.
nent was not brought upon its mcrits-hat
IN the course of proceedings thcro was mani.
Test disposition to override the people, s
rights, rather than to correct errors aud Gle
vatc tho standard of the judiciary. As soon
as the resolution wns passed, tho Scrcc.pt q.
arms was dispatched with copy of the =, 50
luton to serve on Judge Vernon, whom he
found in the court room, at seventeen min.
utes to three o clock, still engaged with the
prisoners, but so near through the case that
tho prisoners we're all discharged, and allowed
to return to their homes. SO in this, thc
principal object in the whole proceeding, Col.
Crews was wofully disappointed, for the first
time in al Of his operations to opprcss tho
Laurens people.
On Thursday, soon after the House met,
there was resolution introduced to have
Judge Vernon brought before the bar Of the
House, to show cause, if any, why he should
not be punished for contcmpt. This brought
out a lively and earnest debate again, which
lasted long while. The position taken by
The opposition was that if there had been con.
tempt, it was not in tho presence of the
House, and, therefore, not proper to be no.
ticcd--the courts being open for his prosccu.
ton, If he hud violated law in tho premises
Tho resolution passed neurly by party vote,
On Friday, Judge Vernon replied, tIroppb
his attorneys, Pope and Haskell, to tho reso
luton Of impeachment, in which he tool,
high grounds, demanded his constitutional
rights, and asked for specifications. Tie.