The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1876-02-27
REPORT
An,es' Investigating COnhatsee
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI,
February 22d, 1859

y
February 22d, 1867
Mr.. SPEAKER: - The undersigned,
special Committee appointed u,uef
tha 9Th day of January last, to investigate
Tho official conduct of his EXcellency, Acel-
bort Ames. Governor of the State OF MIS-
sissinni. and to report the result OF such IN
yestiGation back 10 this House, beg leave TO
submit the following report:
haan efficiently and industriously engaged
in the discharge of the duties devolved upon
II nv the abortion of the resolution alofe-
said. 1t has sat from three TO hVe hours eV
ery dav. and has examined htty-hVe VII
nnsses: thirty-siX of whom are clasSlh-
"a % Pannblicans. and nineteen as Demo-
Gratis. At the beginning OF the lnVestiga-
flor. vour Committee directed the Republl-
can member thereof TO inform MS ENceilen-
CIV. Governor AmeS, of the points on when
witnesses were being examined. from Gay
to dav. touching his official conduct, ana TO
roonest him TO send in to the Committee the
names of such witnesses as ne might
desire TO have summoned and examined III
virdication of his official acts. our Com
mittee states, with pleasure that TINS re-
ouest has been complied with, and quite
number of witnesses has been summoned
and examired at the instance of his Excel
lencv. the Governor, and in fact. all whose
nresence before, and examination by your
Committee was requested Dy nlil' nave
been summoned and examined fully, with
the exception of one whose illness after he
was summoned, prevented his attendance
The testimony taken has not been eT pdrte
and with a view of developing but one side
of the case but your Committee has. In
fairness and Justice, endeavored to reach
conclusion fully justihed by the proofs on
both sides, and impartial as between the
neople of the State and his EXcellency the
y Committee
il a question of too much Importance to adj
mit of A hasty or superficial examination.
And in pursuing this inquiry, its members
have endeavoreu to divest themselves OF all
partisan feeling and political and personal
prejudice, and to keep steadily in view the
one great object to be attained by this in
vestigatIOn, that is, TO ascertain whether the
official conduct of Governor Ames has fur
nished the people of the State with grounds
which would justify and demand his inn
parchment. How far your Committee has
succeeded in excluding from their delibera-
tions all improper influences, and in basing
their report upon the impregnable founda-
ton OF truth, as furnished by the testimony.
they submit to the Judgment of this House
and to the arbitrament OF an impartial pub
lie. The conclusion reached by your
Committee has not been sought, or de-
sired, but has been forced on them by
convictions Of duty, and gladly would they
have arrived at a different conclusion, for
the honor of the State and its chief eXecu-
tive officer, if the testimony in the case had
justified them in doing so.
Your Committee, therefore, submit that
Adelbert Ames. Governor of the State of
Mississippi, should be impeached and re-
moved from office for his official miscon-
Duet in the following instances;
|. In refusing To execute the laws by fail
ing to remove w. NJ. Conner, Sheriff of
Nnxubee county, from office in Angus,
w he i'm
as ii detauter, holding twenty two thousand
dollars 1922 ,000) of public money, and re-
tnsng to pay over the same to the comfy OF
NOXuDte.
2 In refusing to execute the laws in the
case of NJ. l.. Holland, state Treasurer. who
was reported to him by the Attorney Gem
eral OF the State i'll the summer OF 1874 to
be in office and in charge OF the State Treas
ury without having given bond and secu-
rity, as the law requires.
3. In calling for United States troops in
January, 1875, and causing a. j. Flanagan,
Sheriff of Warren county, to be elected from
his office by SAID troops, and another man
installed in his stead, in violation of the
Constitution and laws of the State.
4. In permitting II. Cassidy, Jr., Chan
cellOr of the - District, and j. B. Deason.
District" Attorney OF the - District, to
exchange offices, in violation of the Con-
stitutiOn and laws of the State.
D. In permitting the cOnvicts in the
penitentiary. by contracts approved by
him, to be leased out to his partisan friends
Messrs. French q Jobes, in 1875, without
pay or compensation, when the same con-
victs were leased to other parties within a
very short time, by French d Jobes, for a
large sum of money.
6. In the removal of w. b. Peyton.
Chancellor of the 10th District.
z. In the. removal of w. A. brennan,
Chancellor of the 18th District
8. In the removal of Thomas Chris.
tian, Chancellor OF the 4th District
9. In the appointment of G. Cullens, l..
c. Abbott, j. D. Barton and VIM. Brock.
Chancellors of their respective Districts
10. In his abuse Of power and violation
of law in directing Peter Crosby's return to
Nlcksburg in December, 1874, and in sus-
tanning said Crosby in his efforts to take
possession OF the office of Sheriff of Warren
county by force OF arms, whereby conflict
between the races was brought on, and
much blood was shed and many lives were
lost.
IL. For his official acts in arming the
u OF Kinds county in September and
October, 1875, in time of peace, and especi-
ally for detailing Charles Caldwells com
pany composed of colored men, to escort
arms to Edwards Depot, said company be-
ing officered in part by, and the rank and
HE composed OF, colored men known to have
+ In the Clinton riot, and causing
them. armed and defiant, to parade the
streets OF Clinton, going to and return
ing from Edwards Depot, with the deliber-
ate intent to create a disturbance and
plunge the country in war of races with
all It's attendant horrors.
In support of the foregoing specifications.
YOU Committee is of the opinion that the
proof Will show that the judicial Depart-
ment OF the State Government has not only
Deen tempered with by his Excellency, but
lnaC ne mas sought to paralyze, to dwarf, to
and to render it entirely suh-
servient to his will.
That his ExceIlency has failed and
refused to execute the laws by non
action In some instances, and by the
REMOVAL OF officers in others, whenever