New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-22
sIeiv 0rleat&s Republican.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS
DEBATES OF THE HOUSE.

The reading of the journal having been
dispensed with
Mr.. Worrall, of Jefferson: Mr.. Speaker. .!
arise to privileged question. have found
II very difficult 10 conduct the matters com
mitted to myself and other gentlemen IN
the investigation of tne First and Sixth
District courts, and believe that 1t Will DC
impossible, before tho close OF 'he session
70 prosecute these inquiries or to bring
before the House properly all that should
he brought. But l have sufficient IN my
hands to warrant me in offering, this
morning, to ask leave OF the House TO IN
troduce articles of impeachment, Tor high
crimes and misdemcanors in office against
William II. Cooley. Judge OF the Sixth
District Court. =,
that personal explanation Will Justify you
in bringing that matter up IN this connec,
ton. II YOU will ask for a suspension OF
the rules, l will put the question.
Mr.. Worrall Excuse me. Mr. Speaker.
hut II needs no suspension of the rules to
present articles of Impeachment.
The Speaker: 1t needs suspension OF the
rules to present new matter as personal
matter.
Mr.. Worrall: l have no doubt that the
House will indulge me in this matter
therefore will ask the House to permit me
at this time to introduce articles OF I'M
peachment against William Il. Cooley,
Judge of the Sixth District Court, for high
crimes and misdemeanOrs.
Mr.. Burch, of East Baton Rouge: L wish
To ask n question. Is this the ordinary
channel for bringing impeachment against
an officer.
The Speaker l don't so understand 1t to
ne The custom would be for this commit
tee TO report, and recommend that articles
of impeachment should be presented, and
then these articles would be presented.
Mr.. Burch: Is it within the province OF
any one single member to bring in articles
OF impeachment!
Mr.. Quinn, of Orleans: l don't see any
other way to reach it,
The Chair ruled that the articles could
not be presented by Mr.. WOrrall at that
ime without a suspension of the rules.
Mr.. Carr of DeSoto: l think. MI Speak
er. that it is not competent for the gentle
man to present these articles even with the
consent of the House, will call the atten-
ton of the Chairman to section thirty eight
of the Revised Statutes. the gentleman will
read it. think it will ed;ty him little, and
enlighten him upon that subject OF impeach-
ment: wherever any person shall wish
to accuse a public officer before the Legis-
la.ure. he shall address the House OF Repre-
sentatiyes memorial containing brief ex
position of the acts Of such public officer.
which are supposed to be contrary to law
the memorial shall be sworn to and signed
by him who presents it. and it shall contain
a list of the individuals who can give infor
nation relative to the facts set FORTH with
notice Of the several charges which each
individual included in the list can substan-
tate by his testimony" That Is the rnltia-
tive of an impeachment. and in order for the
gentleman to present his articles OF impeach-
ment, he must first bring in memorial stat
ing the charges, the names of the witnesses,
and what he intends to prove ny them; that
memorial is referred, by order of the House.
to a committee composed of members of the
House, and they are the only ones who are
competent to bring articles of impeachment
before this House against an officer SO
charged.
The Speaker: Twill state that the gentle
man from De Soto Mr.. Carr Is certainly
right as to the order of procedure. But the
question am deciding is not whether the
gentleman shall present articles. but
whether the House shall take it up now.
The House refused to suspend the rules
by 3S yeas to 81 nays.
MIR. WOrrall: | now move that l be per-
mitted, Immediately after the reading OF the
journal tomorrow morning, to present this
memorial.
EIr. Burch: 1t is somewhat singular, Mr..
Speaker that the gentleman wants to force
this matter upon us in this way, when he
has his remedy, to bring the matter up in
its proper channel.
Mr.. WOrrall presented a memorial to the
House, charging William II. Cooley. Judge
of the Sixth District Court. with high
crimes and misdemeanors in office. While
the document was being read. Mr. Devices,
of De Soto, objected to its being read further,
on the ground of its not. being sworn to.
Nr. WOrrall. would state to the House
that am here to swear to that.
After some further discussion of points of
order, the memorial, having been signed
and sworn to by Mr.. Worrall, was referred
by the House to special committee Of five.
to be appointed by the Speaker.
After transacting some further business
the House adjourned at three o'clock. until
tonight at seven.