The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-02-13
I WARNING TO CARPET-BAG COZ
ERNORS.
impeachment of Governor REED, Of
Florida - His Many Crimes - The
Unanimous Action OF the House-HIs
Conditional Resignation Looked For.

-. TALLAHASSEE, Februsrys. s.
| The most unexpested event so far, at least,
as the general public and most OF the politi-
clans were concerned, and one whose conse-
| quences to the State cannot yet be accurately
estimated, was the impeachment of Governor
Reed, which took place yesterday, and which
was carried by the unanimous vote Of the AS
sembly.
The Assembly met as usual, about ten
o'clock, iorty. y.eight members out of the fifty
three comprising the Assembly, being In their
seats. About eleven O'Clock, the special COM
| mittee, appointed 10 Investigate the sale Of
the Pensacola and Gulf Railroad and other
matters, consisting of Messrs Cessna, of Ala
| chua, Gillis, OF Putnam, johnson, of Jefferson,
Osgood, of Madison, and Duke, of Columbia,
announced through it's chairman, that the
committee was ready to report, and Mr. Duke
proceeded to read report covering ffty-hye
pages of foolscap.
| opinion OF the committee, the sale OF the
Pensacola and Gull Railroad was illegal by
| reason ofthe irregular aud unauthorized pro-
ceedlngs Of the trustees Of the internal I'M
provement fund at the time Of the sale. The
committee then proceeded to investigate the
conduct of Governor Reed In connection With
this road after Its transfer to the Jacksonville,
Pensacola and Mobile Railroad Company and
after very volumlnous synopsis of the EVIL.
dence sum up their conclusions and charges
as follows:
violation Of law, In the immense over issue of
bonds upon railroad not yet constructed.
'.'His violation of law In Issuing one million
i of bonds for the purchase OF the Florida, At
antlc and Gulf Central Railroad.
'His violation OF law In conspiring In fraud
/ In the issue of bonds to the Jacksonville, Pen
sacola and Mobile Railroad Company, with full
notice of the fraudulent title Of the road and
Of the lien existing upon ir.
"His violation Of law in obtaining the sum
| or $500 by corrupt influence, and attempting
to obtain 1928 900 of the proceeds OF The sale Of
bonds.
ence a judicial officer Of the State In exercise
of his judicial functions In connection with
these railroads.
"His violation of law in receiving the sum
of $40 900 to control his official conduct 10 the
matter of contract for internal improvement
lands"
The committee closes Its report as follows:
"Your committee now close what to them
has been an lrksome yet an invaluable task,
possession of the committee-of the future
security and eafety Of The State-and of our
own deep sense Of accountability. your COM
mittee unanimously recommend that Harrison
Reed, Governor, be impeached for high
crimes and misdemeaners and lncompetency
in Office"
The reading of this report created the most
Intense excitement on the floor and In the
lobby, and as soon as 1t was concluded and It's
adoption moved, Mr.. Graham, OF Manatee,
took the floor and spoke at some length In
favor OF postponing action on the report.
Scott, of Duval, Wyatt, of Leon, and one or
two others taking the same course. Judge
favor OF immediate action. and was supported
by Duke, of Columbia, Osgood. of Madison,
Boyd, Of Nassau, and Armstrong, of Columbia.
After about an hour spent In debate, the mo-
tion to adopt the report was put to vote and
was carried almost unanimously, only one
vote {Crane, of Monroe,) being recorded In
the negative, and that vote being subsequent
~ changed.
Mr. Cessna. of Alachua, Immediately offered
a resolution of ofimpeachment, and the question
being called for, the previous question was
ordered and every member voted "aye." MIR.
Cessna then moved to reconsider and 10 lay
the motion to reconsider On the table. and this
motion was also carried by unanimous vote.
A committee (Mr. Cessna, chairman,) was
ment and present the same to the Senate, and
the Assembly then adjourned.
While these proceedings, were occupying
the Assembly, The Senate, unconscious OF what
was taking place, adjourned to four O'Clock IN
the afternoon. at tour O'CLOCK the senate mel,
conspicuous on the floor, and as soon as the
roll was called, Mr. Henderson moved to ad-
journ to four o'clock Saturday morning, which
motion was carried by vote of twelve to
seven, Messrs, Billings and Pearce voting with
the Democrats In favor of adjournment.
The cause of this sudden adjournment was
the utter bewilderment OF The Democratic
senators and their inability to understand the
events of the morning. They therefore de-
sired time In order to Investigate the situation
and decide upon their course. There appears
to BIZ no question that the Governors impeach-
menC was not the result Of any political combi-
nations, but was the almost spontaneous action
of the Assembly irrespective of political con-
sideratlons, and forced upon them by what ap-
peared 10 be the overwhelming force of the
report. This is apparent from the fact that
both Democrats and Republicans voted to-
geLher, and from the further fact that The re-
suit was utterly unexpected to the Democratic
leaders outside andin opposition to their polit-
lcal plans.
The excitement is gradually subslding and
matters will now probably take their natural
course. II is reported tonight that Governor
Reed will probably resign, condillonally, but
whether this report Is true or not on Saturday
next L'eutenant-Governor Day will probably