The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-21
A Resolution to Impeach Him Offered in
the House Of Representatives.
YEAS Ios, NAYS 100.
Narrow Escape Of the Smil-
ing Prevaricator.
A SCENE OF EXCITEMENT.
ton-The Judiciary Committee Given
Charge Of the Matter.

WASHINGTON, Feb 20, 1878.
There WAS Q genuine sensation In the House
to-day when Fernando Wood rose and presented
the resolution that the Committee on the Judiciary
be instructed to report articles Of impeachment
against Vice President Colfax. IT, IN its Judgment,
there is evidence warranting his impeachment.
When the Clerk commenced to read the resolution
the busy hum prevailing in the House was nushed
into unison with the grave import OF the subject.
The democrats looked stern, almost threatening,
while the republicans appeared to be IN great
nutter, although 1t was well understood In advance
that the resolution was to be offered. The friends
OF COlfax were evidently In dilemma, from which
escape was almost cut OF Dy the judicial wording
OF Woods resolution. Tyner, member nom Col
fax's own district. objected, and upon motion OF
Randall the yeas and nays were taken on
THE CONSIDERATION OF THE RESOLUTION.
The vote resulted in los in the Affirmative to
100 In the negative. At one time there threatened
to be tie, for the democrats were In full erce and
all marshaled under the leadership Of Fernando
Wood. Seven epublicans-Beatty, Of Ohio; Bowles,
OF Arkansas; Butler, of Massachusetts,; M0rphts,
Of Mississippi; Stevenson, Of Ohio; Porter OF vir-
ginia Smith, OF VermOnt-and two hberals-Farns.
worth, Of Illinois, and Goodrich, Of New York
voted for the resolution. All the rest OF the rcpub-
licans were against 1t. 1t was noticeable that all
the members inculpated in the Credit MObilier
business voted against the resolution, and o demo.
crat remarked that it showed little delicacy ON
their part to vote at all on subject IN which they
were themselves concerned. When the result was
announced sense OF relief seemed to come ever
many republicans as II they had escaped from some
imminent peril.
Before the announcement Of the vote Hawley,
Of Connecticut, was seen in hurried consultation
with Judge Poland; Ellis H. Roberts and others
joined in, and presently the massive head Of
THE ESSEX STATESMAN
was among the group, as though he had scented
mischief from afar and wanted a hand in 1t. Butler.
however, was evidently regarded as an interloper
in the conclave and fought on. He left the group
and Hawley scrawled something on slip of paper,
which afterwards turned out to be substitute for
Woods resolution. He handed the paper to Tyner,
who looked at 1t, turned 1t over and over hest
tatingly, and appeared greatly embarrassed, as
though he had an elephant on his hands. Hawley
gesticuatngly prevailed upon him to present
1t. Immediately after the announcement Of
the result Of the vote on Woods res0lu ton Tyner
enacted the part assigned to him. He offered a
resolution, which took the sting out OF that pre-
sented by Wood, by emitting the name Of Colfax
and extending the instructions to the Committee
Of the judiciary to 'any officer OF the government"
implicated in the Credit Mobilier business. 1t 10
evident that
NOTHING CAN CONE OF THE RESOLUTIONS
for even If that committee drew up articles OF I'M
parchment against Colfax there would be no time
left for the House to act upon the matter. Con.
sidering the fact. however, that Bingham, one Of
the implicated members, is chairman OF the Com
mittee on the Judiciary there is probability OF
Colfax being impeached. Viewed In the light OF
matter Of record, Fernando Woods resolution
has, however, accomplished the object for which ;t
was moved.