The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-12-08

slip the opportunity which the misdeeds
of its enemies have placed in their reach,
to secure the Executive as well as the Ju-
dicial Department of the State govern
ment so that there will be no obstacle to
the accomplishment of the reforms to
which it is pledged.
Having replied to the main points pre-
sented by the able editor of the South,
we will reproduce his article in order
that he may speak for himself:
The South
The views of THE CLARION ION the sub
ject of impeachmenD we have given. but,
as at present advised, we are not prepared
to endorse them.
Wehave strongly cOndem ned the course of
Gov. Ames. and now we believe that 1t has
been throughout dictated by a selfish ambI-
ton TO have himsel II returned to the United
States Senate, rather than by a proper re
gard for the welfare of the State. It may
be, indeed, that he has given just cause for
his successful impeachment; but that this
is the case has not as yet been made so clear
to US that We can advocate so grave step.
| II he has been guilty of''treason, bribery,
or any high crime or misdemeanor, aid
| satisfactory proof ofthe fact can be adduced,
he should be impeached; but unless case
can be made out which would subject him
| to a criminal prosecution and TO conviction
| in the courts of the State, no articles OF I'M
| parchment should be preferred against him.
| impeachment cannot be carried as party
| measure, or from any party necessity, or
otherwise, than as a criminal prosecution
| involving a charge of treason, bribery, or
some high crime or misdemeanor," which is
proved beyond all reasonable doubt. An
Unsuccessful impeachment of Ames would
give color to the charge of malicious perse-
cution of Northern man, Republican and
| an ex-Federal soldier, and might produce
such a reaction at the North, as in the
| present critical condition of parties, would
defeat the Democratic candidate in the COM
| ing Presidential election. When the Re
| publican party inn peached President john
son, his course had been as obnoxious to
| them as that of Ames has been to
| us, and it was far more important to them
| to remove him than it is to us to remove
Ames. Moreover, the Republicans then had
| a larger majority in the u. 3 Senate than
| we have now in our State Senate. Never
| theless, when it came to the test, enough
! Republicans voted with the Democrats to
defeat the impeachment. were AmeS 10 De
| impea:hed, everything that money and
ability can command would be brought to
bear in his defense; the trial would De a
protracted one, aud whilst it was pending
| all legislation would be suSI ended, since
| the Senate could not attend TO two things
at once even the lower House would be too
much ABSORBED IN the InpedcAhchI " NC
able to give thought to other matters.
| Thus the session would, necessarily, be a
very long one, or much needful legislation
| would be neglected. Considerations such
as these should not be allowed to prevent
an impeachment if plain and proper case
is presented, but certainly they should cause
the Lower House of the Legislature to
make haste" slowly in concluding the
| impeachment of Gov. Ames to be public
duty.
1 I. - Rh0
great victory we have achieved. by legisla-
| ton reducing expenses and taxation, re-
pealing bad laws and enacting good ones,
| and this we are strong enough to accom-
| plish even in the event that Gov. Ames
should be so infatuated as to make Opposi-
ton, The case OF Lt.-GOv. Davis, elsewhere
| noticed, is very different from that of Coy.
| Ames, inasmuch as it is based on definite
criminal charge (bribery1 and can be es-
| established or refuted by the examination OF
| a al witnesses