The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-03-29
CIR u 8 Ii / G..

At the time of the intellectual tilt
between Lamar, of Mississippi, and
Blaine, of Maine, we only received a
meagre outline Of the words then spo-
ken in debate, and since then many OF
our policy ones, who are always ready
to throw cold water on all Democrat
ic efforts in favor of the right, and
equally hasty in palliating the falsi,
ties of Radicalism, have been incred
ulous in regard to this crushing OF
Blaine. These meandering and poll
cy strokes, which invariably slide in
to the pitfalls Of the enemy and are
side wipe at friends. should at last be
silenced and their authors made tc
know, that patience with them is neal
being exhausted and that our Demo
cratic friends and supporters in Con.
gress are on the right path, mean
right and are going tn put that right
into practical execution. For theil
special benefit and information We
here publish the following verbatim
passage of arms in the battle, which
too plainly show the fatal thrusts the
unfortunate and President-sick ex
Speaker received. They are official
ly from the Congressional Record
Now, another point. William W.
Belknap is in the custody of, this
House, sir. He is undergoing trial
Mr.. Blaine-I hope the gentle
man
Mr.. Lamar Wait until I gel
through my sentence.
The Speaker pro temporc = The
gentleman from Mississippi declines
to be interrupted, and the gentleman
from Maine will observe that fact
Mr.. LII repeat, sir, he is in the
legal custody of this House; under
it's constitutional control. II the
gentleman from Maine means to say
we have not the bodily possession q
him by arrest, so it be; but we have
got control of him.
Mr.. B.-We never intended to ar
rest him.
Mr.. LIVE may arrest him, and
will do it if it is necessary, and car
do it. Do you deny u competene y
Mr.. B.-Undoubtedly in an i'm
parchment; I deny it, and say it i:
perfectly absurd.
Mr.. L.-You also said it was alb
surd to say there was anything pun
ishable in an impeachment; and wher
my friend from Tennessee, (Mr
Bright, the distinguished gentleman
from that State, spoke of two concur
ring Jurisdictions, one having already
acquired it by initiating the proceed
ing it could not be oustcd, the gen
tleman inflicted upon him the most
terrible of all punishments, the for
fixture of his respect for him as a!
attorney. / trust the gentleman vii
survive, and, in full view Of that pen
atty myself, I assert, sir, it is true
and that an impeachment is a penal
trial ) that there is judgment, convic
ton, and, in the very words which
the gentleman used, punitive pun
ishment."
Mr.. B.-Then the gentleman takes
the ground that the man could be
twice punished for the same offence:
I say hatimpeachment is protective
and that the criminal jurisdiction is
punitive. This is what I say, and
go on to say further that there never
has been an impeachment in the Uni
ted States in which there was any
attempt to possess the body because
Of the impeachment. Tie posses
sion of the body is Of no account in
impeachment. The judgment which
deprives the man of the right to hold
office is just as effective if the man
were absent as in the case of his be.
ing present; and there never was an
arrest of a man for impeachment in
this country.
Mr.. L.-Are you sure Of that2
Mr.-Yes, sir.
Mr.. L.-Then let us form this is.
sue, plain and complete. The gen
tlemen says there cannot be two pun.
ishments inflicted on an individual
for the same ofIense. The same Of
tense. Here is the Constitution
which says that the officer shall not
only be removed from Office on i'm.
parchment and disqualified to hold
office thereafter, but that he shall be
subject to indictment, conviction ani
punishment by jury besides.
Now, sir, there is the Constitution
That answers the question of til,