The Van Buren press., 1871-02-07
Roll called, PRAYER and journals read.

ftne readlng OF the Journal, MI. hazer
dine rose, as he stated, to privileged
question and then, as chairman of the
committee appointed to inquire into the
malfeasance in Office of any executive or
judicial officer Of the State, submitted a
report containing articles of impeach-
ment against Lieut.. Gov Johnson. The
charge was for high crimes and misde-
meanors. He presented four specifica
tons to substantiate the charge, viz:
lst That Lieut.. Gov. Johnson did, ON
the Goth January, 1871, wilfully, cor
ruptly, and wrongfully swear in as Sen
ator Joseph Brooks, thereby becoming
guilty of high misdemeanor.
ID That he did wilfully, corrhptly,
etc, swear in Mr.. Brooks, before his
qualification as Senator had been pass
ed upon by the Senate.
Sd. That did wilfully, wrongfully, cor
ruptly, etc, refuse to entertain an appeal
from his decision, when objections were
raised to the swearing in of Mr.. Brooks
4th That he did wlfully, etc, swear
in MI Brooks, contrary to law, usage
and right, and is therefore guilty of a
high crime and misdemeanor.
AS soon as the member had finished
reading the report, and before he had Ia
ken his seat, or the speaker had stated
the question, he moved the previous
question.
Mr. Battle stated that he was mem
Der of the committee, and this was the
first time he had ever heard Of this thing !;
that he, went to the place appointed for
the meeting on Saturday evening, and the
chairman told him no quorum was pres
ent, and there would be no meeting He
asked permission to have time to prepare
n minority report
Mr. Neal wanted to know by what au.
thority this rsport is brought in here un
der the plea Of privileged question
The Speaker do not understand it
as report from the committee, but art-
clcs of impeachment preferred by the
member. The chair understands it to be
privileged question. Any citizen Of
the State or membe has right to prefer
charges against an officer.
Mr.. Howard raised the point of order
that this was a resolution, and under our
rules must lie over How can the pre-
vious question be ordered when there has
been no debate, and the question not
even stated by the chair?
The chair ruled the point Of order not
well taken.
Mr.. Smith hoped the motion would not
prevail.
The speaker decided all discussion out
Of order, and directed the clerk to call
the roll, and the motion was lost-3S to
80.
Ayes-Alcxander Allon, Barbour, Bar
row, Clayton, Cohn, Ellington, Espy,
Fricks, Garner, Goad, Gray, Haddock,
Hale, Harris, j. W., Hazeldine, Holi
baugh, James, jenkins, Johnson, Joslyn,
Kymes, Mari, Mayo, Morgan, O'Neil,
Orr, Parker, Peck, Polk, Freddy, Prig
more, Robinson, Wagner, Waters, Wiley,
Young, Mr. Speaker-3S.
Noes--Basdcn, Battle, Cate, Chamber
lain, Crump, Eubanks, Fulton, Glass,
Grady, Haskins, Harley, Harris, w. g.,
Harvey, Herring, House, Howard, Ma
son, McLendon, Meek, Minor, Neal,
Owen, Padgctt, Palmer, Pettigrew, Pitt
man, Rozelle, Scales, Smith, Stevens,
Taylor, Thompson, Tygart, Watson,
Webb, Whittemore, Wilson, W. E., VIII
son, Thos., Wood-39.
Absent--Ham, Hawkins, Cleland,
Steele
When the result of the vote was an
nounced, there was considerable applause
in the galleries and lobby, and among
members, which the speaker suppressed
The House then adjourned until 2 p.
m tomorrow, and Immediately after
there was the most intense cheering and
applause all over the Hall, in the galleries,
and even outside.
JANUARY 81, 1871.
Mr. Smith moved to take up the rcso-
luton preferring articles of impeachment
against the Lieutenant governor. After
some little discussion on points Of order,
the motion prevailed.
Mr.. Smith then moved to indefinitely
postpone
Mr. Waters moved to amend by refer
ring to the Judiciary committee. Decid-
ed out of order.
The motion to indefinitely postpone
then prevailed, by the following vote:
Ayes-Basden, Battle, Cate, Clayton,
Cleland, Crump, Espy, Eubanks, Fulton,
Glass, Grady, Gray, Haskins, Hale, Ham,
Harley, Harris, w. G., Harvey, Hawkins,
Herring, House, Howard, Mason, Nc
Lendon, Meek, Minor, Neal, Owen, Pad
gett, Palmer, Parker, Pcttigrew, Pilking
ton, Pittman, Freddy, Rozellc, Scales,
Smith, Stevens, Taylor, Thompson, Ty-
gart, Watson, Webb, Whitemore, Will
son, Thos,, Wilson, w. +, Wood-4S
Noes-Alcxandcr, Allen, Barbour, Bar
row, Chamberlain. Cohn, Ellington,
Fricks, Garner Harris, j. W., Hazeldine,
James, Jenkins, Joslyn,
Kymcs, Marr Mayo, Morgan, O'Neil,
Orr, Peck, Polk, Prigmore, Robinson,
Wagner, Waters, Wiley, Young, Mr..