The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-04-18
Important Trial.

AS the Senate of France | as determined
to place Gen. Boulanger on tiial charged
with conspiracy TO overthrow the Repub-
lie, it will be interesting to learn the law
and the provisions i'm the important case.
The New York IT.. bune, of the It'll fur
nishes the following interesting facts re-
latIng to what promiseo to be most mem
Orable trial of the century:
The trial of General Boulanger before
the Senate will be the first impeachment
proceedings instituted under the Consti'
tuition of 1875. Article XII provides that
the President of the Republic. a Ministt I
or any person accused of plotting AGAINST
the State shall be tried before the Senate.
The President can be impeachcd for high
treason. A Minister can be accused iy
the Chamber of Deputies of crimes COM
mitted in the exercise of his public func-
tions, and then he can be Judged by the
Senators. Moreover. by decree OF the
President rendered in Council OF Min
listers, the Senate can be constituted a
court of impeachment to pronounce judg-
ment on any person arraigned for crimes
committed against the security of the
State. There are warrants in the Ere nch
Constitution, from which we have been
textuaily quoting, for the proceedings in
stitnttd against General Boulanger and
authorized by the Chamber of Deputies.
Precedents for such All impeachment trial
are lacking but with the lucdity charac-
teristic of the French mind tho Govern
ment prosecutor, the Deputies and the
Senators will undoubtedly fix upon a
method of procedure that will be war
ranted by the usage of their law.
Asa Deputy General BOulanger enjoys
entire immunity from prosecution for
opinions expressed or votes given i'll the
exercise of his functions as duly elected
representative of the French people. Ar
tic!a XIII of the Constitution protects
every Senator and Deputy to that extent
and Article XIV declares that no member
of either Chamber during the term of leg
islatiye session shall be prosecuted or ar
rested sin criminal or correctional matter
except with the authority of the Chamber
of which he is member, or in case OF
fragrant crime" The Chamber of Depu-
ties has, authorized by vote of 355 to 2Of
the prosecution of General Boulanger, Sc
that;the restl lotions imposed by these
articles no longer protect him. He can
not be held responsible for any utterTanct
or vote in his capacity as legislator, bul
he can be tried on the general charge Of
conspiring with leaders of the PATROL
League against the existing Government
The Senate being 10 sympathy with tn,
Ministry of the day, he has anticipated al
unfaYorable verdict in his case and ha
found an asylum in Belgium. where hi
will be free-to issue his manfestoes ant
conduct bis political movement.
hecircumstances of this i'm peachn {
tri8f will render it most impressive
event fraught with momentOns conse
quences. The action of the Ministry ant
Chambers. as Wa have shown without
reference TO its political txpediency o
wisdom. Is grounded upon direct warrants
of the Constitution. General Boulanger
forahis part. has prudentIy withdrawn from
Paris while the case is proceeding. ant
announced that he will remain in exil
until the autumn elections. lie leave
the Ministers free to secure his conviction
by the Senate. if they can do so. and T..
serves for himself liberty of action during
the approaching political canvass.