The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-03-25
Tl,e ImDeachmcnt Farce.

publican or UclnOcfatlc party; ana
for this reason We deny that the ac-
ton of the Legislative committee il
,!s:sas ed a1on correct principles. The
resolution ordering an Investigation
of the affairs of the Auditor and
Treasurer was offered on the 18th of
January, BY that blushing blossom
of Ohio Radicalism, Mr.. Campbell, of
Hancock county. 1t was as follows:
Resotecd, That a committee of five
be appointed to examine into the
condition of the State finances, in
GLIDING the State funds and State
school funds, and ascertain in what
banks deposited since the 1st of Jan
uarv, 1871, how much has been de-
posted in each bank, what rate or
rates of interest, direct or indirect,
have been paid by the bank dcposi-
tories for said funds, since the time
aforesaid, to the present time; and
the said committee shall have power
tosend for persons and papers, and
compel the attendance of witnesses.
Mr.. Blakcmore moved to amend to
the resolution, by striking out the
words and figures, "1st of January.
1871" and insert in lieu thereof,
"20th of June. 1867 which amend
mcnt was accepted, sorcly against
his will, by Mr.. Campbell.
Instead of commencing at the be-
ginning, as was contemplated and
ordered by the resolution rs amend
cd, the Committee Gas if actuatcd by
a desire to work into the hands Of
the Republicans omitted to examine
the accounts of the Republican State
officers, but went to work on MesSrs.
Burdett and Bennett with an appar-
ent eagcrness to convict them. 1t
seemed to make no difference that
proof was offered of Radical defllca-
tons to the amount nearly $4,000
it was the sc;ilps of the Democrats
they were after-fratricidc, of the
most approved order, seemed to be
the sole object ofthc committee. Day
after day they continued their invcs-
legations, day after day they allowed
Radical attorneys to appear before
them and urge them to adopt the
course which was finally reported to
the House; and at last, after about
one months time spent in this way,
the committee made their report, re-
commencing impeachment, but con-
fesscd that they had not sufficient
evidence before them to sustain the
charges made, but hoped to procure
it before the trial of the case.
That this action of the committee
was premature and unfair the reader
will readily perceive; for, unless they
had ample erilcnec, they had no justi,
fication for solemnly charging two
distinguished citizens of this State
with ''high crimes and misdemean-
ors." And certainly the end of this
mattcr-resulting, as it must, in the
honorable acqutial of MesSrS. Burdctt
and Bennett, will be anything but
crcditablc to the committee.
If, as contemplated by the very
terms of the resolution ordering the
investigation, the committee had in
vcstigatcd the subject referred to
them from the Goth of June, 1863, up
to the present time, and reported to
the House all dGdultcs, no objection
could have been made; but that they
should pass without criticism the dc.
faulterS of former years, when the
money drawn from the taxpayers
was squandercd for base political pur.
poses, in sustaining the registration
guillotinc, and other kindred villain,
les; and to pronounce sentence before
conviction upon two gentlemen OF
our own household-mcn who have
twice been endorsed by the people,
and whose efficicncyin Office has been
a theme of general congratulation,
cannot fail to excite inquiryas to the
motiircs which actuated the committee.
in their rash. hastv and inconSideratc
action. Ifthe public good alone
was what actuated the committee,
they took a singular course to illus,
trate their zeal in that behalf; for,
having confessed that they recon.
mend impeachment without having
the evidence to make 4 case, they
thereby confess that without due con,
sidcration they have recommended j
measure which not only entails great
expense upon the State; but for the
time, at least, casts odium upon two
of our State officers; and, in fact, the
party itself.
Looking at the matter in this light
we regret the action of the committee;
but not otherwise, for as sure as the
sun rises and sets, Auditor Bennett
and Treasurer Burdett will be fully
and amply vindicatcd upon \ trial Of
the alleged ''high crimes and misde'
mcanors" with which they are charg'
ed.-JJcstoa Democrat.
Senate Committee.