The Morning herald., 1876-03-08
WILMINGTON, MARCH s, 1876.
IMPEACHM HMENT.

urably, according to their feelings, and
their method of construing the CdnstItu-
tion. There seems to be an exceedingly
inexact knowledge of the precedents,
which must help to construe the Constltu-
ton, so much so, that we hear the case OF
Lord Bacon, quoted in support OF the
power of Congress to impeach an officer
after resignation. This shows Il woetul
want of study on part Of cur Legislators
To put the case of Bacon out Of the dis
cussion, we quote from volume ,, Statt
Trials, page 100.
The humble Confession and Submission
ofMe, the Lord Chancellor
Upon advised consideration of the charge,
descending into my own conscience, ana
calling my memory to account so far as
am able, do plainly and ingeniously con-
fess, that am guilty of corruption, and d"
renounce all defence, and put myself upon
the grace and mercy of your lordships.'
This is conclusive that he was Yet Char
cellor,o had been at the time o. lmreach-
ment. If further proot was wanted, 1t Il
to be found in the Judgment Of the Peers,
at page TIA, same volume.
THAT the Lord Vscount St. Albans,
Lord Chancellor ol England, shall undergo,
fine and ransom of t4o,OO That he
shall be imprisoned in the Tower during the
kings pleasure That he shall ever be un-
capable of any office, place, or employment
in the state or commonwealth. That he
shall not sit in Parliament nor come within
the verge of the Court This is the Judg-
ment and Resolution of this High Court. "
The fine of e40,O00 was pardoned b.,
the King, which at the time gave great
offence The power to remit any part OF
sentence upon impeachment, or the whole
off is one of the inhibitions upen the
pardoning power of the Presiden; of the
United States.
There are to be founl IN the Legal His
tory of England, many precedents for
Impeachment after deposition, or resig-
nation of office. The earliest case report
ed is that of Michael de la Pole, Lord
High Chancellor Of England, the Arch
bishop of York, Justice Tresillian, and
others in the reign of Richard Ii, \. d.
1888. This case settles the common law
precedent, which has been followed t"l
centuries in England, that the Parliament
of England, may impeach after Il civil Of
ficer has been ousted, or has resigced
We find in Vol. |, state trials, page 9(
that
A Parliament was shortly after held, Oc
tober 5, 1886. in which. among many Othe
Acts, John Fortham bishop of Durhar
was discharged of his office OF Treasurer
and John Gilbert bishop of Hereford az
pointed in his place:and Michael de la POLE
earl of Suffolk and Chancellor Of Englan
was dismissed from his chancellorship, an
Immediately after was impeached of hlg
Crimes and Misdemeanors by the Common
as follows:
I. "That the said earl being Chanccllo
and sworn to act for the just profit of II
king, hath purchased Of our lord the kin
lands, tenements and rents, to great va
ue, as appears by the Record in the Rolls
Chancery: and that against his Oath, n
regarding the great necessity of the kir
and realm. being Chancellor at the time
such purcI ase made, did cause the sa
smaller value than really they were wor
by the year, in deceit of the king
As an evidence of how little the wor
has changed in morals, the 9Th artic
charges crimes, exactly analogous to tho
now besmirching the lmperial,tc Jun
at Washington:-taking into con iderati
the altered condition Of things
"That they gave divers lands, mauo
tenements rents, offices and bailWicks
people Of their kindred and other persons
whom they received great bribes: and al
to make them of their party in the case
Sir Robert Mansel, clerk, John Blal
Thomas SIX, and others, to the destructi
of the king and kingdom.
In the same reign, A. D. 1897, the Arc
bishop of Canterbury was impeached.
''For that he being the chief officer of t
king. his chancellor when he was bishop
Ely, was traitorously aiding, procuring a
advising in making commission, direct
10 lnOmaS duke OF uloucesIer, hlcnt
earl of Arundel, and others, in the 10th
his majesty's reign
1t thus appears that the Archbishop v
impeached for matters he was chargea
with while Bishop Of Ely.
By keeping these precedents in vie
one may come to fair and safe conc
sion. The Constitution of the Uni
States, Art. l., Sec. Ill.,, provides that
"Judgment in cases of impeachm
shall not extend further than to reno
from office, and disqualification to hold
enjoy any office of honor, trust or pre-
under the United States !: but the pa
convicted shall nevertheless he liable
subject to indictment, trial, Judgment
nunishment acnnrdinr 10 law y