The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-03-11
The State Treasurer's Arraignment

The most exciting theme under discussion
during the past week has been the arralgnment
of State Treasurer Cardozo by the General
Assembly for alleged Irregularities in the dis
charge of his duties and fraudulent diversion
of the interest fund.- The Treasurer defended
himself against the charges made in the report
of the investigating committee, and replied at
great length in communication which Is sum-
married. elsewhere in our columns to-day. 10
this answer of Mr. Cardozo, the joint commit
tee put in a rejonder, fatty denying the state
ments therein contained as the ground OF his
defense, and making up plain and decided
issue as to the facts involved.
Thereupon g concurrent resolution was IN
troduced by Mr.. Barker, of Edgeheld, provld-
ing for the appointment of another joint COM
mittee to prepare an address to the Governor,
asking the removal of F. L. Cardozo from the
Office of State Treasurer. This method of Sc
curing the removal of an official was adopted
by the General Assembly, because the charges
are not sufficiently grave to warrant impeach-
ment proceedings. The authority for this &C.
ton is contained in the second section Of the
seventh article of the Constitution, which
reads as follows:
'For any wilful neglect of duty, or any other
reasonable cause, which shall not be sufficient
ground of impeachment, the Governor shall
remove any executive or judicial officer on the
address of two-thirds of each House of the
General Assembly: Provided, That the cause
or causes for which such removal may be re-
quired, shall be stated at length in such ad-
dress, and entered on the journals of each House
And provided further, That the officer intended
to be removed shall be notified of such cause
causes, and shall be admitted to hearing in
his own defence, before any vote for such ad-
dress; and in all cases the vote shall be taken
by yeas and nays, and be entered on the jour
mails of each House, respectively"
The proposition Of Mr.. Barker was debated
on Thursday and Friday in the House of Rep
resentatives by number of members, includ-
ing able and earnest speeches in opposition to
the State Treasurer by Hon. George A. Tren-
holm, of Charleston, and Maj. Henry A.
Meetze, of Lexington. The vote was reached
on Friday afternoon, and resulted in the adop-
ton of the concurrent resolution by 90 yeas to
20 nays The Conservative members voted
unanimously in favor of the resolution.
The Senate took action upon the matter on
Saturday morning, without debate, adopting
the resolution by vote of 10 yeas to nays
the Conservative Senators voting solidly in the
affirmative
Another concurrent resolution was adopted
by both Houses on Monday last directing and
requiring the Attorney General to give his aid
and advice in the preparation of the address.
It is understood that Messrs. @. D. Melton and
W. D. Porter have been employed as counsel
for the State Treasurer, aud will appear in his
behalf before the General Assembly when the
address is submitted for final action.
The joint committee to prepare the address
consists of Messrs. Duncan, Swails and Max
we'll, on the part of the Senate, and Messrs.
Baker, johnson, Davis, Trenholm and Robert
son, on the part Of the House of Representa-
tives.
Our readers will perceive that two-thirds OF
the General Assembly must concur in the ad-
dress before the Governor is required to remove
the Treasurer, and although the requisite num-
Der was easily obtained to secure the prepara-
ton of the necessary document, it is by no
means certain that the final vote will be equal
" unfayorabe. In truth, the hint is already
given that the members are changing front,
and liberal arrangement may yet be effected
| with such as are open to conviction by the
usual methods known to the lobby, in order to
save the State Treasurer from disgraceful re-
| moval. We have no idea that an unpurchased
verdict will relieve Cardozo unless the Con-
| servative Senators and Representatives, acting
without prejudice and in spirit of exact JUS
tice, should conclude upon the final vote that
the charges are not sustained. The wisdom,
prudence and sagacity of these gentlemen will
be called into requisition, as they hold the
balance of power just now, and we have every
confidence that their decision will be just and
true. It is the first time since reconstruction,
| in so grave and important matter, that the
representatives of the tax-paying and property
holding element have occupied such respon-
| sible and delicate position, directly influencing
the financial welfare of the State, and upon
their deliberate and impartial judgment much
depends. The people whose interests they are
zealously guarding willingly confde the result
to their hands.
ITEMs-EDTIoR1AL AND oTHERWIsE.
1t is stated that over five million of adults