The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1876-03-09

der of Ann Thomas in the county of Lowndes
In sala state, on the 23th<day of August A. d.
1914, and that the said Lieutena MT Governor
Alexander K. Davis, acting Governor. as afore-
SAID did, In consideration of the said sum of
SIX hundret dollars, so corruptly and feton-
1ously accepted and received by him, grant to
the said thomas ID. Barrentine, full pard on for
his sald onense, as aforefaid; and that the said
Alexander h. Davis, Lieutenant-Governor.
acting Goyernor, aforesaid did thereby cor
ruptly and feloniously violate and prostitute
ana betray, for the bribe and pecuniary re-
ward, aforesaid the duties of his Office and
the trust and confidence in HIM therein and
thereby reposed, TO the great scandal dishonor
and prostitution of the public Justice of said
State; whereby the said Alexander K Davis,
Lieutenant Governor acting Governor as
aforesaid did then and there commit. and was
guilty OF high crime in Office.
ARTICLE v.
That the said Alexander K Davis, Lieuten-
ant-Governor Of the State of Mississipp;. ACTING
Governor OF said State, while Adelbert Ames
the Governor thereof was absent from the
State, unmindful of the high duties of his
ONCE ana OF his oath of Office, and of the re-
qulrements of the Constitution of said State
that it shall be his duty, while so acting as
Governor, to see that the laws are faithfully
executed, did, in the county of Lowndes in
said State, on the 18th day of June A. d. 1875
coffupuy grant pardon to one Thomas III
Barrentlne, charged with the murder of Ann
Thomas, OF the county of Lowndes in said
State, on the 18th day of August, A d. 1874
he, the said Alexander K Davis, Lieutenant
Governor, acting Governor, as aforesaid being
corruptly Influenced and induced to grant said
pardon, in consideration that one Henry Bar
rentlne should then and there pay as a re-
ward, to one A. G. Packer the sum of six
hundred dollars; and tn 1T the s. id Alexander
X. Davis did, thereby unlaw fully and corrupt-
ly prostitute, violate and betray, in eonsidera-
tlon of the reward so paid the said A. G. Pack
er, Tor said pardon, as aforesaid, the duties of
his othce, and the trust and confidence in him |
therein and thereby reposed to the great scan
dal, d1shonor, and prostitution of the public |
justice of said State whereby the said Alex |
ander Il. Davis, Lieutenant Governor acting |
Governor, as aforesaid did then and there COM
NIT, and was guilty of high misdemea nor in |
otlce. Whereby said Alexander K Davis |
Lieutenant-Governor of said State, acting
GOvernor as aforesaid, did commit and was |
guilty OF the high crimes and misdemeanors |
hereinbefore charged; and the House of Re- |
resentatlyes, by protestation, saving to them
selves the liberty of exhibition, at any time |
hereafter, any further articles of their accusa-
ton or impeachment against the said Alexan-
der K. Davis Lieutenant Governor of said |
state, acnng Governor, as aforesaid, and also |
of replying to his answers, " hich will make /
up the articles herein preferred against him
and of Offering proof to the same and every |
part thereof, aud to all and every other article
accusation or Impeachment which shall be |
exhi bted by them, as the case shall REQUIRE
lE
Governor, may be put to answer |
the high crimes and misdemeanors in office
herein charged against him, and that said pro-
ceedings, examinations. trials, and judgments /
may be thereupon had and given as may be
agreeable TO law and justice.
The.Report was received and agreed to by |
the House of Representatives and the Articles
of Impeachment adopted
In the matter of the impeachment of Alex
ander X. Davis, ,Meutenant-Gov vernon of the
State of Mississippi, by the House Of Rep
resentatives, in the Senate of said State sit
ting as High Court of impeachment.
lst. Thi3 respondent, in his own proper per-
son, comes into the said Court, on this, the 25th
day of February, A. ID. 1876, and for answer
and plea to said articles of impeachment, pre-
ferred against him by said House Of Repre-
sentatives, and to all and singular the several
allegations therein contained, that is to say,
in answer to the articles of impeachment
numbered, respectively, numbers one, two,
three four and five. says and protests that he
is not guilty of the said several high crimes,
mi sdemeanors and offenses in said articles
laid to his charge, nor of any or either of
them, or any part thereof, and of this he prays
a fair inquiry and trial. under the Constitu-
tion and laws of the State of Mississippi
I'd. For a further answer and plea in this
behalf said respondent, admitting that, as
Governor, of said State, he did, on the said
l4th day of June, A. d. 1875, grant to one
Thomas H. Barrentine, citizen of Lowndes
county, in said State, executive pardon
for the alleged crime of murder, as mentioned
in said several articles of impeachment, he
AYERS that he did SO in the exercise of his best
discretion, under the powers and prerOgatiyes
conferred upon him by the Constitution of said
State but he protests that it is wholly and
absolutely false, that he, the said respondent,
or any other person for him, or in his behalf,
ever at any time, directly or indirectly, ac-
cepted received, agreed or expected
to accept or receive, or asked, demanded, |
or desired any bribe fee, reward or COM
pensatiOn, or any promise thereof, or obli-
CATION therefor, in money, or any other thing |
whatever, and of this he praYs fair inquiry |
and trial, under the Constitution and laws of
said State.
Sd And for a further answer and plea In
this behalf, the said respondent says and pro-
tests that the executive pardon in said articles /
of impeachment mentioned, was not IN any /
manuer procured. induced, Influenced or pro-
noted by any money, or other thing what
ever paid or delivered, or to be paid or deliv- |
cred. to this respondent or TO any other person,
but on the contrary thereof he says and pro- |
tests, was granted and issued by this respond !
ent, in the lawful, honest and indeI endent |
exercise of the power and discretion conferred |
upon him as the acting Governor of the State
of Mississippi, by the Constitution of said |
State; and of this he prays fair inquiry and
trial, under the Constitution and laws of said
Stale.
4th And for a further answer and plea in
this behalf respondent says and protests that
the said House of Representatives ought not
further to prosecute said articles of impeach
mept against him, because, he says, that at
the October term, A. ID. 1875, of The Circuit |
Court of the county of Lowndes, in said State.
that being the county in which the said sew
eral crimes and misdemeanors in said articles
of impeachment mentioned, are therein alleged
to have been committed, the Grand Jury of
the State of Mississippi taken from the body
of the good and lawful men of said county, and
duly elected, impanneled sworn, and charged
to inquire in and for the body of said county,
made and prosecuted thorough investigation
and scrdtiny of all the matters contained Ia
said articles of impeachment; and thereupon
said Grand Jury returned into said Circuit
Court that there was no such evidence against
this rel pondent as would Justify an accusation