Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-22
NORTH CAROLINA.

EmPeachment and Trial OF GOV
HOlden-He Leaves enc state ans
Hugs q Farm IN New Jersey-Th,
Curse Of incompetent Officers-
The Convention Question.
To the Editors Of the Union aud American:
RALEIGH, N. c., March Is, 1871. --Th,
impeachment trial Of Gov. Holden il
diawing to 9 close. This, 1 think, is the
fortieih day that the case has been before
the Senate. There has been great mass
of evidence introduced, and the trial
seems 10 have been conducted with
dignity and patience. The report of the
proceedings, up to the close of the evil
dence for the prosecution, covers about
thirteen hundred pages, and the respond
ent's defense win cover about the same
number. The Senate is now hearing the
final arguments of counsel, which were
opened by the Hon. VIM. A. Graham, in
q speech of great power, in behalf of the
managers. He was followed on yester-
day by MIR. Boyden, for defense. To-day
Nc. Smith speaks, also for defense. On
Monday next Gov. Bragg will close the
argument for the prosecutors, and the
case will be submitted for decision, which
will be rendered probably on Tuesday
| next.
Thisis by far themost important trial that
has ever taken place in North Carolina.
How it viii be decided remains to be seen;
butihis much can be safely said, that moth
ing short of CONNECTION a0iH satisfy the
people. The crimes of Holden have been
so great so long continued, and so ex-
ceedingly detrimental to the interests of
the people, that they viii not and cannot
be satisfied for him to be acquitted. The
character of the witnesses introduced on
this trial by the respondent is enough to
sink his cause. Nearly every one intro
duced to prove material fact was of no.
toriously bad character. Holden himself
seems to have given the matter up. Du-
ring the examination of a witness for the
Managers, Holden, assuming that he was
insulted by the testimony, became indig-
nant, shook his fist in the face of the
witness ard left the court. He then went
North 10 give his testimony before the
Outrage Committee at Washington,
10hich had adjourned, purchased farm
in New Jersey, and as yet has not made
his appearance in Raleigh. II is thought
by some that he assumes his conviction
by the Senate as a foregone conclusion,
and that he will never come back to
North Carolina except it be under arrest
This course will perhaps save him some
trouble, as there would be many suits
aginst him by private individuals, if he
was convicted and still remained in the
State.
There are some other cases of impeach-
ment likely to be brought before the Ser
ate. One is the case of Judge Jones, of
this State, for beating and malueating one
of the female wards of the naiion-in his
own room in a state of beasuy Intoxica-
ton. He is the same who was fined S.
for being drunk and exposing lis un-
clothed person on the streets of the capt.
tai. Judge Watts is undergoing pre-
liminary examination under charge of |
bribery and corruption. But it will be
impossible for the Legislature to clean |
out this Augean stable. If drunkenness
be crime, then Chief Justice Pearson is |
guilty; if assumption of the veto power
and refusing to obey an sct of the Legis- |
lsture be crime, then the acting Govern |
or CALDWELL is guilty. If ignorance and |
be crimtE then not many
of our Judges would escape. We are |
cursed with incompetent Off |
GERS in North Carolina. But we are look |
ing forward to brighter day, if we can
get convention.
The first convention bill passed by the |
Legislature was followed by the unprece-
dented assumption of the veto power by
Gov. Caldwell. Rather than bring on |
another conflict with the Executive before |
the first closed, the Legislature waived !
their rights in the premises and intro
1uced another convention bill. This has
passed the Senate and viii come up in |
the House on Monday next. If this bill /
fail of a two-third majority in the House,
The Legislature will have 20 fall on some
Dther plan. Perhaps Caldwell viii be
and Judge Warren, President
Of the Senate, be placed N the gubernato-
rial chair. The people are determined
to have a convention. We have CONSTR
tuition forced upon US by gag Law, un-
suited to our condition ard ruinous to our
1t was manipulated by unscru-
pu'ous carpet-bsggers ard ignorant ne
yrCes, AMI placed in the hands OF officers
hat have proved to be corrupt and ag-
yressive. The Executive transcribed his
outraged the liberties Of the
people by summary arrests, imprson
nenis, fortunes, and the refusal to allow
he benefit Of habeas corpus. The Legis.
ature ruined the credit of the State and
made it bankrupt, while the Judiciary
we're VIGOROUSLY partisan, from the negro
magistrate to the Chief Justice. 1t is
,nly by a convention that these things
an be set to rights.
Next week propose TO allude TO the
,resent state of The University. l know
hat your paper reaches many friends to
his once noble institution. Your agrl-
ultural editor, and nay particular friend,
am sure, will be glad to hear from his
lima Mater-eYen though she be in the
ust. QUILL PEN.