The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-24
SAVED By FOUR VOTES.
A Marrow Escape for Colfa1-H is
Chances Before the Judiciary COM
mfttee.

A Narrow Escape for Colfa1-H 1 .
Chances Before the Judiciary Com
mittee.
WASHINGTON. February 20.
When, five years ago, the House OF Kepre.
az ,inst Andrew Johnson, Dir. Colfax was
sueaker. After the roll had been called
through on that OCCASION, and the House ana
galleries were with breathless anxiety waiting
The announcement OF the vote, Mr. Coiia1,
standing In his place, said 1t was not usual Tor
the speaker 10 vote, except on quesilons
where there was tie, but he vas unwilling
that his constituents should be volceless on on
occasion 30 momentons. He therefore dlrect.
ed the clerk 20 call his name, and he voted
aye. Neither he nor his friends nor nis
enemies then supposed that few years later
resolutions looking 10 hls own impeachment
would be introduced, and that they would
come within three votes OF oelng adoptea.
Mr.. Woods purpose to offer the resolution
was known early this morning. and ne songnt
the earliest opportunity 10 carry out his pur-
pose. The resolution caused much excite
inent, and the Indiana Republicans were oil
ON their feet at once, and attempted first to
overthrow the resolution by points OF order.
The unesllon was then taken, and oy vote
of l06 To l09, they refused 10 consider it.
An examination Of the vote shows the
presence of ninety-seven Democratic mem
bers, all of whom voted afarma,iVely.
The only Republicans voting aglrmslvrly were
Messrs. Beatty and Stevenson, OF Ohio; Boles,
of Arkansas; Butler, of Massachusetts,; Farms
worth. OF Illinois; Goodrich, of New York;
Morphls, OF Mississippl; Porter, OF Virginia,
and Smith, of Vermont. Messrs. Dawes. Car
field, Bingham and Scofeld, who are among
those implicated in the Credit Moblller Drsi-
ness, but who were not convicted oy !ugge
oil od pQnql0priD0
the resolution. and 1t will thus be seen that
these gentlemen actually saved Mr.. Goliax
for the time being. Messre. Ame5, Kelley
and Brooks very properly aostaned from
voting. Tae remarks upon Dawes. Ga'held
Bingham aud Scoield were not at all compil-
mentary. In view OF the facts set forln IN
Jland'. report, 1t was remarked that they
should at least have refrained from voting.
Bingham hesitated at frat, 6nt he concluded
10 follow the example set by Dawes. The Re-
pnblIcans ielt that they had placed them
selves in an awkward position, and 30, afler
Mr.. Woods resolution was voted down, Mr..
Tyner offered one which was practically the
same as that offered by Mr.. Wood, except tnat
Mr.. ColtaX's Dame was omitted. Tnls was
adopted unanimously and Without call OF the
roll. judge Bingham is chairman oil ne judi
ciary commitlee, 10 which The resolution Wa0
rererred, and there Is some curiosity to know
whether be will participate in the delibera-
lions of the committee when they come 10
consider the resolution. The opinion ia
almost universal here that the gentlemen
named 10 Poland's report should abstain from
participation in questions affecting other
members at least until after Tuesday next. and
after the House has disposed OF the report.
WASHINGTON, February 22.
It is asserted that three Democrats and Two
Republicans of the judiciary committee favor
8 report impeachlng ColiaS. This constitutes
O majority OF the committee.