The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-31

Soon after assembling on Saturday
morning, the Senate closed the doors
and spent the forenoon in secret ,ession
1t was known that vote would be taken
some time during the day on the articles
of Impeachment preferred against the
State Treasurer, and consequently good
deal of anxiety was manifested to know
the result, but the public had to wait un-
til the afternoon session, when the Senate
met with open doors.
At 2:30 o'clock the President of the
Court (Judge HAYMoND) announced
that the hour which had been fixed BY
the Senate for taking vote had arrived
and that the Senate sitting as court OF
impeachment, would row proceed to vote
upon the articles; and that according to q
further arrangement, the vote would be
first taken on Article s, and that then
the vote would be taken on the other arti
Giles in their regular order The vote was
taken in profound silence, while Sem
ators and spectators were busy with tally
sheets making count of the vote asiit
WAS cast. Each Senator when his name
called, arose from his seat, and the Presi-
dent propounding the question, allow
say you, Mr.. Senator, is JOHN S. BUR-
DETT, Treasurer OF the State of West
Virginia, guilty or not guilty of the
charges preferred against HIM in article
=" would respond Guilty" or "Not
Guilty" according to the view the Sena-
tor took of it. 1t was solemn proceed
ing, and the Senators evidently felt the
weight of the responsibility resting upon
them.
The vote on Article Sstood as follows:
GUILTY-Messrs. Bennett, Berkshire,
Bishop, Caldwell, Capden, Clayton, Gun
ninghanl, Dennis, Dickinson, Eastman,
Ferret, Grantham, Golf, johnson, Loom
Is, Mcdonald, McGinIis, Scott, Shelton
and Sherrard-20
Nor GUILTY-Messrs. Arnett, Custom
and Price-3.
The President announced that two
thirds of the members elected to the
Senate having voted guilty" the respon-
dent stood convicted of the charges as
contained in Article s. 1t will be re-
membered that this article charged that
the Treasurer had made corrupt pro-
position to the First National Bank at
Parkersburg but which the bank declin-
ed to accept.
1t is proper in this connection to say
that the testimony of Mr.. JOHNSON n.
CAMDEN in relation to the charges in this
article was not before the House of Del
gates when this matter was discussed in
in that body, that gentlemen being sick
at that time and unable to attend the
meeting of the House Committee.
The vote was then taken on article l,
in the same manner and resulted MS
follows:
GuILTY-BeDnett, Berkshire, Bishop,
Camden, Clayton, Dennis, Dickinson,
Terrell, Grantham, Gof, johnson, Loo
mis-, Mcdonald, Scott, Sherrard-l5.
Nor GUILTY-Arnett, Caldwell. Gun
ningham, Eastman, Custom, McGinnis,
Price, Shelton-S.
The President announced that less
than two-thirds having voted equity"
the respondent stood acquitted of the
charges as contained in this article. This
article accused the Treasurer of cor.
ruptly Bargaining with the Merchants
Bank at Charleston for - bonus for de-
posting State funds.
The vote was then taken on article .
with the following result.
Bennett, Berkshire, Bishop,
Camden, CLAYTON, Dennis, Dickinson,
Eastman. Ferrel, Gran,ham, Gof, John
son, LOOMS, Mcdonald, Scott, Shelton
and Sherrard-l7.
Nor GuILTY-Arrnett, Caldwell, Gun
ningham, Custom, McGinnis and Price
%
The President announced that two
thirds having voted "guilty" the respon-
dent stood convicted of the charge AS
contained in the second article. This
article charges conspiracy with WM.
T. BuRDETT to keep $4,000 Of State
funds on deposit in the
Merchants Bank at Charleston
The Senate then, at the motion of Sena-
tor LOOMS, declined to entertain further
the remaining articles, leaving the re-
spondent virtually acquitted Of them.
Senator McGiNNIs offered resolution
that whereas the Treasurer had been;
convicted of misdemeanors, that he be>
censured by the Senate but not removed
from Office. This proposition was voted
down. The President then announced
that in passing Judgment the Senate had
the power to remove the respondent
from Office and disqualify him from hold
ing Office hereafter, or they could remove
him without the disqualification, and if
there was no objection on the par, of the
Senate he would submit the two pro-
positions separately. There being no
objection twas done accordingly.
The-vote for removal stood 10 to 4.
The second proposition asto whether Mr..
3URDETT should be disqualified from