The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-02-25

the offensive record was after
wards expunged from the Journs
OF the House OF Commons Besides th'
several acts for which Wilkes was ex
pelled, were done after the election Il
that same session OF Parliament Tht
case OF o. B Mstteson, Of New York
cited by the Poland Committee in th'
same connection, furnished no prece'
dent whatever, because the resolution
OF expulsion for acts done in the pre-
ceeding Congress has been laid on the
table. The Committee are of tn,
opinion, therefore, that the right o
representation is the right OF the con-
stituent and not Of the representation
and so long as he did not behave dis
orderly or 10 such manner as to render
him unfit to be in the House, .ae
House had no right, nor legal or Consti'
tulional power to expel. The Committee
argues, therefore, that the impesching
power and the power OF expulsion are
remedial and not preventive, and came
10 the conclusion that so Tar as receiv'
ing and holding an interest in Credit
Mohilier stock is concerned, there IL
rothlng in the testimony submitted
which would warrant the Impeachment
OF the Vice President. The Committee
therefore, asks to BE- discharged from
the further consideration OF the sub.
ject.
The report was signed by all the
members o. the committee except Mr..
Potter OF New York. Mr.. Wilson, OF
Indiana, aud Mr.. Goodrich, OF New
York, all OF whom, however, concur
red 10 the recommendation that the
committee be discharged.
After the report of the Judiciary Com
mittee had been read, Mr.. Potter, OF \
Y, postponed his views, Said 1t would
he mauitestly unjust to Impeach any
man ior false statements, in giving
testimony, thus referred TO, without
hearing him IN further investigation,
and at this state OF the session, without
further grace. and the pressing impeach-
ment cgsrs before the Committee, such
is impossible. SO tar,
however, as testimony referred TO the
chsrges Mr.. COlfax with cor.
ruplion. this is otherwise, that bel z
the matter in investigation an
testimony WAS heard before the House
a. to the Impeachment OF Cotsx for
that offence, would be 10 impeach with
out the possibility OF trial within five
days, during which time the Senate will
he engrossed by most press
ing business. Mr.. COltsxs term OF
office will expire and he will thereby
cease to be liable 10 Impeachment and
lemoval from office, nevertheless, while
the punishment would thus be necessa-
rily futile, lie, Mr.. Potter, might be
ilspossed TO insist upon It, but
that in recommending the House TO
impeach, the Committee wonld necessa-
riiv assert the power OF impeachment
oi A civil officer for crimes committed
before he entered upon his office Upon
th,- most grave question there is abso'
lutely no precedent Tor or against the
action.
Mr.. Miles Goodrich, also member
OF the committee, also dissented from
the views of the majority. He
emphalically denies the assertion that
An officer OF the United States or mem
Der Of the House is not liable to I'M
peachment or expulsion for any offence
whatsoever committed prior 10 his term
of office in which the articles OF i'm
reachmeut were presented. Such a
doctrine wOnli protect the officers, but
would afford no protection whatsoever
10 the constituent Offices are not Cre-
a'ed to benefit office holders but to benz
Int the people Mr. Goodrich then in
-tanced case where a man might be
elec ed 10 Congress 10y the aid OF a
great corporation, and for a corrupt
purpose, and upon secret pledge, the
member might then attempt to carry
out the corrupt bargain, and he has no
ioubt that an officer could be expelled
'or that act and poDtiense would afford
a ground OF imp sachment or expulsion
Mr. Cfoudrlch says precedent wa
recently established in Nv York State
in the case OF the Impeachment OF a
Judge OF the Supreme Court, hut wheth
er it was prudent or not, he Tor one was
willing to establish one at this time.
After the report had been read, Mr..
Butler moved TO discharge the commit
tee from the further consideration OF
the subject, but after discussion 1t was
postponed until Wedn-dy.
House then resumed the considers
ton OF the River and Harbor bill.
Mr.. Sawyer, Of Wisconsin, reported
appropristing fifty thous-
and dollars or the improvement OF the
Onichats river in Louisiana. and forty
thousand dollars for the improvement
OF the Wschita river in Kansas, fifteen
thousand dollars Tor removal OF the
aani har a. the entrance Of Salem Hsr
hor. Massachusetts, which were agreed
TO.
Mr Filkelnhurg, OF Missouri, moved
an amendment increasing from one
hundred thousand to two hundred
thousand dollars the amount appropri'
a,ei for the improvement Of the Mlssls-
sippi river from the mouth OF the M,s-
sour to the mouth o the Ohio. Agreed
to, "yes 81, nays II.
Mr. Banks, OF Mass, moved TO sus-
pend the rules and coDrdsr the mes-
sage o',the President, and bill TO car
ry into effect the treaty o. Washington
N relation to fisheries 80 ordered -
Buffinton, OF Mass, offered as an
amendment to the bill providing tha:
the &C. shall not go into effect until
July, 1872 Pending further consi1ers-
lion OF the subject Mr. Garfield, Of Ohio,
moved that the House take a recess
until half past o'clock, which was
agreed 10.
Uron re assembling after recess, Mr..
y II 50