The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-01
I'M PEACHMEN
Synopsis of the Speech Of Manager
Good, before the Court of I'm
parchment in the Case Of
John S. Burdett.

n.
certainly is subject of congratulation
not only to myself but to my associate
managers, and to the gentlemen who rep
resent the interest OF the respondent, that
we have receiyed that grave, quiet and
favorable consideration, which up to this
time has been given to the examination
OF this case by every individual member
of this court. This courtesy having been
extended to those gentlemen who have
preceded me, know that the same kind
indulgence will be extended to me while
| present my views in advocacy OF the
claims of the people of this State.
| desire to say here IN response to the
honorable counsel who has just closed,
that | do not desire to make any pathet-
ic appeal, though l might refer to the
cry of the desolate that comes from ten
thousand desolate homes where the poor
mana ppeals to the Sheriff of his county for
ieniencv. and against disarmament Tor
taxes. They are hard to pay, and being
So hard, is it not equally hard that after
their mites and pennies have been paid
into the treasury tor the use Of the State
whose duty it is to manipulate or man
age it for the welfare of the State,
but who makes false appropriation OF
it, not devoting it to the Legitimate pur-
poses for which it was intended, but APP
propriatiug some of it to his own indl-
vidual purposes. / know that in that
event your judgment would be guilty,
and even upon one article John S. Bur-
dett would be removed from the office
that he now holds.
In this case, whatever might be my
personal feelings towards the respondent,
/ would say for him as l would say for
any other man charged with criminal
act, that if he be not guilty, far be 1t from
me that /, representing the people, BY
the House of Delegates in this case,
should ask for conviction OF any man
who is not proven under the law and the
testimony guilty of the offences preferred
against him in the articles of impeach-
ment.
Thorc Is another observation that has
occurred TO me since the case has been
commenced. l had supposed that man
occupying the position of the respondent
prominent and responsible, and a pos
ition of character and standing-that
John S. Burdett who has been repre-
scented by his respective counsel, when a
charge of this character, affecting his
moral standing and the honesty OF the
respondent was made, would, beng so
free from any blame and so innocent,
appeal before this court, and for a
most thorough and scrutinizing inves-
tiration into his official character. do
| address u Senator to-day, gentlemen,
whom respect, all of you, who, If such
a charge was made against your moral
character, your standing and position in
society, would not say TO those making
the charge: "Here l am; investigate
nv cause and investigate my character,
and if there be that blemish, let me suffer
the penalty of the law and the judgment
of the people" Need remind the Senate
that such Is not the case of the rcspon
dent. Every technicality, every little
advantage that could be suggested by
learned and astute counsel has been sug-
ccstcd in his behalf. First, TO the Jurls-
dic,ion of the court, of which l shall
speak hereafter. Why speak of jurlsdlc-
ton? This Senate OF the State: the
evidence can be heard and the law can
be determined, and you, If no; guilty, can
get ouittance and discharge yourself OF
the odium that has been cast upon you oy
the charges made against you. do they
object to the jurisdiction of the court
More than that, never before in my
expcrience have l known an oo-
lection to be made against an Honorable
Senator: man whose character and rep
u,a,ion stands beyond reproach. There
WAS an application made for his expul'
sion without charge, because 1t was ex,
ne,.ted that being man of character, did
he remain a member of the body before
whom this trial was to be had, that be
would decide according to the facts eiic'
tied and regardless of consequences.
There have been too many things out
side of the articles that have been re-
ferred to by the counsel repre- enting the
RESPONDENT; matters to which / Woule
NOT have referred, and am 10th here t
refer to them, and would not but tina
they have been called up by the respond
ent's counsel and it is my duty TO reie
10 them. We are told in regard to tn,
character of Mr.. John 5. Burdett.
know it Is not matter of lntereS
| to this Senate as To VIVA
his character may be, whether 1t wa
good formerly or whether it was bad, on
the question is, is he guilty now oil Tn
charges against him2 He may have pos
sesseI a character irreproachable tw'
wears ago, and yet possessing that charae
ter. if the evidence be true that We nav
brought forward, I ask you to determin
the amount o. character that he has no"
We are also told that the remark wa
made that he was the author OF certal
letter at the time that he was q candidat
for Congress during the war; that n
wrote letter in which the eHpressio
was used "rebels have no rights Toys
man is to respect, except the right
dsncle at the end of rope" why sue
oast Il here in this case2 1t was wh