The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-29
TWO GovERN0as, But NO GOVERNMENT.
Reed Appeals to the Supreme
Court.
Day Calls for tho Militia ead Threatens to Hang
His Opponent VIII Not Submit to Any
Order Of Court and viii Hold tho
Executive Power at the Ex-
pense Of His Lifo.
A CIVIL WAR EXPECTED.

For the past three weeks the minds OF the people
Of this state have been under an excitement end
uncertainty as apparent and Intense as that which
followed the passage OF the ordinance OF secession.
This has been owing to the complications which
have arisen out OF the Impeachment OF Governor
Reed at the last session OF the Legislature, and
which threaten TO bring about o revolution similar
20 that which disturbed the state Of Rhode Island
during the Presidency OF Mr.. Tyler. Just at this
moment the air is thick with portentous rumors.
The various factions that have SO long cursed tho
politics Of this State are marshang their retaincrs
for the purpose OF tanning their rights by force
the militia are being drilled, equipped and organ
lzed secret meetings and revolutionary gatherings
are being held daily, and everything points to the
brewing OF storm that may bHrst at any moment
IN desolatiRg fury on the unfortunate people of tia
State In order to comprehend the situation It
win be necessary to review some of the causes
which have brought 1t about.
IMPEACHMENT or REED HIGH CRIMES.
The readers OF the HERALD win recolect that on
the It'll OF February last committee Of the Assem-
bly, Of the State after devotipg three weeks TO what
She public informed was an investigation Of
the state OF the Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile
Railroad, presented to that body report, accom-
panied by a resolution to the effect that Harrison
Reed, Governor, be impeached Of high crimes and
Dlisdamean0rs, malfeasance and misconduct in
oIice. The scheme OF impeachment was begun at
the instance Of T. W. Osborn, United States Senator
Irom this State, between whom and Governor Reed,
II Is rumered, there has been constant strife since
reconstruction took place. Senator osborn's
serm expires In 1873, ana In order to
secure his reelection 1t was necessary that
sertain men should be returned to the
State Legislature this fan. Governor Reeds
appointments to office In the counties which these
men claimed to represent were such as to preclude
she possibility OF their election, and insured Os-
borns defeat. AS q consequence nothing was left
Tor this gentleman and his satellites but the re-
Moval Of Governor Reed and the securing of sue
SCISSOR more In sympathy with their interests The
scheme Of impeachment was accordingly set on
foot and was carried on by the OF every agency
chat enmity could suggest. Before the report Of
Che investigating committee was made two-thirds
Of the representatives were, by the promise of
office, made to take the oath that they would sup
port impeachment, and when the resolution depos-
Ing Reed was offered the necessary vote was OBJ
tanned to secure its adoption There was not the
vindcasion OF one principle OF justice moral
utude at stake in the whole OF the proceedings.
THE INFAMOUS PLoT
had its inception I'm the vicious and nefarious mo-
lions Of the actors, and the only end to be gained
was their tecuniary political ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
Il the design OF the conspirators upon the I'm
parchment OF Reed to usuTp the prominent State
sices, that they might be the more adyantageously
situated to manipulate the returns In the coming
slectlon. The following was their programme as
made out at the Office Of the United States Sur
vcyor General In this city, and which we have vcri-
ned as correct by the testimony Of over dozen Of
the men who took oath to assist in carrying 1t
through
'Wednesday-Reed to be impeached, and Day to
take his office for the time being.
Thursday-Chief Justice Randall and Secretary
Friday and Saturday-Horatio jenkins having
been elected President Of the Senate, Day to resign
for consideration and jenkins to proceed as
Governor W. J. Purman as Secretary Of State, and
\. A. Dockray as Attorney General. Then, jenkins
Railroad constituting Butler meMber OF the House)
President, and L. G. Dennis State Senatorl Super
Pearce and Billings republican senators to DO
un6eated.
THIS REVOLUTIONARY scHEaK
succeeded 30 far as TO effect the impeachment OF
Reed; but at this point 1t mscarried, defeating all
tho other purposes Of the conspirators and bringing
about the present anarchy and confusion in every
department Of the State government. II seems not
have beeu =. a part Of the programlpe OF the in
spectors that Governor ssaeu should DO bf0ugnr ~
trial. They well knew that the charges brought
against him, II not unfOunded would be very dill
cult to prove. Taking therefore, advantage OF the
constitution OF this State, which provides that the
time within one Year il was their Intention pi1s keep
the Governor suspended from the exercise Of his
functions Chief Magistrate until the expiration
OF his term OF oco III January 1913. IN order, how
ever, to put respectable front upon their action
She usunl steps were TAKEN and the Governor
was brought before the bar OF the Senate. lie pre-
Sentcd answers to every charge made by the
managers. and declared himself prepared to pro-
coed. But in accordance with the programme, the
managers pleaded for time, and, upon various
pleas and pretences, delayed the trial until the ex-
piration OF the time liked by both branches Of the
Legislature for adjournment which took place on
M NJ
Legislature the seats OF twelve Senator's became
vacant, their term having expired The dissoiu-
ton OF
THE HIGH COURT or nfpEAcH
necessarily followed and the question then arose
~ acquittal OF the accused. In the opinion Of
some eminent uriss Of this section 1t has acted.
The Court thus dissolved, they say has no power
Of reassembng, and as the rules governing the
oop,mon state courts were adopted for the govern
ment Of the High Court OF impeachment a, its or
Tanization Its adjournment "without day." II is
argued disbanded the Jury, dismissed the case aud
CpSO yncto acquitted the accused.
Acting upon thi. view Of the case Reed NY mo at
clamaticn previously published resuinng the iunc-
lions Of his Office as chief Executive or the state
rotary Of state who il in hearty sympathy with
Reed, AZ are all other members OF the Council with
sne exception OF the State Treasurer its chec' was
70 rally To his support threeourths OF the people or
che State, whose sense OF Justice was outraged by
inc spectacle ola body OF proceeding to blacken
sne Character Of tho Chief Magistrate, and then
have him
SUSPENDED BErwFEa HEAVEN AND EARTH,
nko Mohninmed's colin, an object OF lnfamy, ana
without the most distant hone of ever having an
opportunity to vindcatc himself The acting Gov.
: einor, who Is rcputed to be ambitious for power,
treated this proclamation with contempt, and pro-
ccodcd In many ways to dcmcan biulsnlf In an an.
dlgnifed manner. 1t il alleged that he stamped
ana almost became pr0fane; threatened to try
Reel by drumhead court martial ana hang hun
IN the Capitol yard. He ordered the Adiutanf Gen.
eral TO call out the militia, ana demanded that no
should ut seize the onice OF the Secretary of
State. This funcionary did not see III to obey him.
put MS threats ran throughout the state Ike
tongues OF IRE, irf1aming mems minds and stirring
thcm Mp 10 state Of excitement such az has never
before been known here. No course could have
been more fatal and II o collision and boOdshed