Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1876-03-03


to take such order in premises as they
deem appropriate.
MIR. Clymcr then read the testimo
ny Of Caleb Marsh, taken yesterday
before the committee showing he had
paid secretary Belknap about $4,000
i'll consideration Of his appointment
as pos, trader at Fit. Sill Indian terri
tory. 1t was listened to with interest
MIR. Clymer was much affected by the
latter portions of it. AT the close
jClymer said with great emotion:
"Mr. speaker: ] would not if | coulc
inemy present condition add anything
to the facts just reported.
Another occasion may be offered
me 10 do so.-Thcy are SO plain that
everyone throughout this broad laud
and throughout christendon, wherev-
er the English language is spoken or
read they will for long years cons.i-
tude record of official corruption and
crimes such as there is no parallel
for in our own history or in that of
any other country.
Mr.. Kasson appealed to Clymcr to
give an opportunity for some sugges.
tions to he made before asking the
previous question on a matter of SO
grave importance.
MIR. Clymer, however, refused, and
demanded the previous question.
Mr.. Kasson-"Does the gentlemen
expect the house tonight, after FIVE
O'Clock, and without this report being
printed, to vote on these resolutions
when even the Impeachment of the
officer at present is point to be con-
sldered by the house,
Mr.. Clymer:-"After the previous
question has been ordered will yield
half the hour to members of the com.
=nlittcc.who are on the side.-
After some further discussion, the
previous question was seconded, and
Clymer yielded the floor TO his COL
league on the committce, Mr.. Robbins
who pleaded his mental aud physical
exhaustion from his continuous service
ON the committee as reason why he
should not address the house at any
length. He spoke Of the report as
presenting case Of great shame and
disgrace to all American citizens. AS
TO the question ofimpeachabili'y of
Tic Officer who had resigned, thr- was
not prepared to.spcak. Mould they
expect that AN officer who Mad been
found guilty of criminal conduct could
flee from justice. He.alluded toSwhat
lie called the unsee,nly- conduct of
secretary Belknap's resignation, and
referred TO the English cases OF War.
ren Hastings and Lord Francis Bacon,
but of whom had been impeacbed
after they ceased 10 hold the officers in
which they committed the crimes and
misdemeanor.
Mr.. Barr, of n. Y, said Mr.. .Clymer
would find this case that had many
parallels. He would not have TO
leave his. nxn-bordcrs to find
a case, compared with which this
was white as driven snow.
None but civil officer could besim
peached, and when he ceased to be a
civil officer he ceased to be within
the literal jurisdiction of the consti,u-
ton. ln this country the only judg-
ment that could be rendered in an
Impeachment case was removal from
Office and future disqualification from
holding office, but by the statutes, a
person guilty Of such otfenses could
be indicted, tried and sentenced by a
criminal court He protested against
any hot haste in this matter without
having the testimony heard. He ad.
mi,ted that every item of this case as
presented by the testimony was suffi.
cient to justify every member to vote
for the resolutions presented.
Mr.. Lamar inquired from Mr.. Bass
his opinion as to the impeachment OF
resigned officer.
Mr.. Bass replied that the English
authorities seemed to maintain juris-
diction Of impeachment in such cases,
but that in this country it was an un-
adjudicated question, and one tina,
was not free from doubt.
His own best judgment was il
favor Of the right to impeach, and te
let the question be adjudicated by the
senate
Mr.. Hoar, in answer to a casual
remark, repudiated the ides
of this being q politica
question. He cited the case Of Whit
more, OF South Carolina, in which III.
house had determined that tn.
formal actual resignation Of a,
officer terminated the office and tina
any American citizen could lay
down an office held by him with.
out any acceptance Of his resignation
Judge Story had laid down the doc
trine that it could not be done in Eng
land, but these army citizens could b
impcachcd, and therefore the Erglis
cases of Warren Hestings aud lor1 Ba