New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-02
Hgr prpercnT1oN OF THE GOVERNOR.

The House of Representatives returned
to the charge upon the Governor yester-
dav with renewed activity Some fifteen
articles have been prepared against him,
which. it is probable, committee will
attempt to exhibit in the Senate to-day.
We soy attempt, since, from the tone OF
the address signed by twenty-one Sena-
tors, and published in another column, 1t
is not by any means certain that the Sen
ate will not adjourn sine die early to-day.
We deem it of no consequence to enter
into detailed repetition Of the various
strategic movements made by the House
and its putative managers in the conduct
of the Impeachment proceedings on Mon
day. BY neglecting to elect managers,
and then adjourning before the pleasure
of the Senate was known, the House put
itself in position to be surprised, and it
was accordingly very much surprised by
the prompt action of the Court OF I'M
parchment. The Speaker endeavored
to cover the retreat by decided
stretch of parliamentary authority in
appointing, after adjournment, .
board of managers, or at least
clothing the committee which had been
sent to the Senate merely to notify that
body that the House had passed resolu-
ton of impeachment, with authority to
manage tie prosecution. BY all the
precedents, the Speaker is incompetent
to appoint managers at all. They are
elected by the House by ballot, though
perhaps resolution, specially empower
ing the Speaker to appoint, would be
sufficient authority for him to act.
The contest between the two houses is
on the point of suspending the Governor
from Office. The House can not hope
for conviction. There is no case against
the Governor, and the only ground the
Democrats have to stand upon is the
constitutional power of the House to
arbitrarily accuse, and the hope that they
can effect impeachment and suspension
from Office as resulting consequence.
The case once fairly before the Senate, they
know that vote of acquittal would be
work of no more than five minutes
How to produce the suspension and then
retire from the contest in such q way that
the Senate can not act, is the problem
which has vexed the Democratic caucus
all through the session. How to check
this plain intent of the enemy is now the
chief solicitude Of the Republicans. The
Senate does not wish to adjourn before
the case is definitely disposed of, and the
House is using every device to protract
the proceedings beyond the session.
If the reindictment which was found
yesterday be valid, of which the Senate is
the sole judge, it mustbe presented to the
Court of Impeachment to-day to receive
any force or effect. In case it be received
by the Senate, it will, no doubt, be tried
in as summary manner as twas found.
If not presented, it only remains as an
accusation, to be presented at some future
time, when the Senate is ready to receive
it. When received and entertained by the
Court Of Impeachment it becomes i'm
parchment and suspension from office,
and not before.
The Democratic managers Of this perse-
cution may as well make up their minds
first as last that neither the Governor nor
any other officer Of the State can be legally
suspended without a vote Of the Senate.
No executive power whatever is given to
the House in impeachment or any other
matter No judgment can be rendered.
It can only accuse and furnish evidence
The Senate may even dismiss proceedings
in their initiatory state for any reason sat-
isfactory to itself.
If the Democrats in the House are
merely anxious to make up record to go
to the country, they have already sue
ceeded in showing they have done their
best to save the army Of ofice-seekers that
urges them on. They have subordinated
the interests of the State to the ambition
of party, and FILTERED away the whole
session without having passed an act that
is worth the paper it is written on, if
we except the bill to pay their
own mileage and per diem. The last
days have been clouded and be-
logged by this wretched, angry, uniigni-
fed wrangle for supremacy the un-
attempt to dominate over
body and GUST the Governor
from his Office for no better reason than
that it is wanted in the interests of their
own party. Having made their record,
they are likely to adjourn to-day in some
confusion, and perhaps leave things SO
tangled and complicated that it will re-
quire martial law to straighten them out.
Any attempt at legislation under the
will, Of course, prove futile.
We doubt whether even the general appro-
priation bill will pass, unless impeach-
ment be abandoned or summarily and
finally disposed Of before the evening ses-
sion Of the Senate to-day. All other un-
finished business will fall, of course and
the volume of laws Chiefly charters of
companies and societies) for
the session will be about the size of
child's primer.