The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-06-23
s. G.
Tuesday Morning. Jaa4 sss 1874.
Proposed Impe.chmsne Of Durell.


Committee. reported a resolution, last
Wednesday, that Judge Durell. of
Louisiana, ought to be impeaohed for
high crimes and misdemeanors. The
specific charges the manner in
which matters. in bankruptcy were
disposed OF by Judge Durell and the
midnight order 'whfoh" placed Kellogg
and party In possession Of the State
House. The one charge is OF corrup-
tion, together with Assignee Norton,
with whom he was intimate, in making
extortionate and oatrsgeously exorbi-
tant charges against bankrupts; the
other is OF fragrant and corrupt abuse
Of his judicial funotions. The charges
of drunkenness and fraudulent transao-
tions do not enter into the case. In
reference to the midnight order, the
committee say they have fully gone
ovor the testimony, and denounoe it as
an act unparalleled in the history OF
the Judiciary ol The soounsry and merit
ing impeachment There are two re-
ports, the majority presented by
Messrs. Butler. Wilson, White, Jew EFT,
Eldridge and Potter. the minority
signed by -four members. including
Mt rfbnsine. recommending that all
proceedings be discontinued. Mr..
Poland. d Vermont. submitted his in.
dividosl opinion that. while Dorell
hsd no proper legal jurisdiction to
make sas 81 a9't|desf;As hld hgs'aotsa cor
ruptlyybpt sanlX Xsyeakly, and wi.hout
iudioiaia a6taimus5s and ciojrreetiai ess !.
And jig. regard to the undoubtedly cor
Eupt practices OF officers Of his court,
he thinks he did not share in the pro-
oeeds. But he sustained the impeaeh-
ment; nevertheless l'i s5''
It is noticeable thss the name of MIR.
Tremainie appears in the lead Of those
Of the committee opposed to this pro.
ceeding. He is the same man who
made the majority report against the
South Carolina tax payers memoriai--
one Of the poorest. lesblest and most
contemplate papers ever presented to
Congress; q. mere .eha.h, With added
venom and shameful perversion of
truth, OF the counter-memorial taken
on by the Whittemore committee. He
wants to cover up the record OF iniqui.
ties perpetrated In the Sonth. and to
let off the criminals who have betrayed
their trusts and inflicted untold inju-
ries and wrongs upon Southern COM
manities, Isthe snsme. aud willis bear
ing the commission OF the Gen eral
Government. III equally significant
that Mr.. Eldridge, who presented the
able minority report on the memorial
referred to. and showed a just concep.
ton OF the intolerable wrongs perpe.
trated here In the abused name of Re.
publicanism. and purpose TO insti-
tute such proceedings as would in
their offsot effaoe the stsio, takes side
with those who recommend Durell's
impeachment. Efforts will, of course,
be made to prevent any Objectionable
action on the resolution. Kellogg ia
already on the scene. using every pos.
sible art and management to defeat it.
for if Durell falls, be will not be able
to stand.
It is amazing. when We consider the
power of corruption, tho facility in
doing wrong, and compare it with the
difficulty Of holding men to the pathe
OF rectitnde, OF correcting injury and
retrieving error Through one dark
midnight deed OF wretched tool of q
batch OF conspirators, easily oonsum.
mated. New Orleans and Louisiana
have had food of corruption lei
loose. and reign OF Vulgar tyranny
and despotism fastened upon them TO,
years, which have brought them to the
verge of revolution, and aroused the
interest and excited the fears of the
whole country. And yet the Govern.
ment haggles about the matter, and
committee men pretend they canno.
see, and partisans are perfectly willing
to protract this agony and disgrace in.
hicted upon noble and helplesa neo