The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-11

Two Resolutions for Impeachment
Introduced, One By Mr.. Mccall, OF
Massachusetts, aud One by Ills
Colleague, Mr. Barre;t-- HcCaIi's
Ruled Dat of Order but Barrett's
Was Sustained and thrown Like
Bomb into the Arena OF Debate.
WASHINGTON, Dec. TO- -Represen-
tative William L. Barrett, Of Massa-
ehusests, enjoys the distinction of be-
ing the author of the first thrilling in
cident in the present House of Repre-
sentatives.
He threw bombshell into that body
soon after it convened by offering u
resolution impeaching Thomas f. Bay
ard, ex-Secretary of State, and now
United States Ambassador to the Court
of ct. James, for high crimes and mis-
sfensaIors. The grounds advanced iii
the resolution were the utterances of
Mr.. Bayard delivered before the Edin-
burgk, Scotland, Philosophical Insti-
tute, November 4 In this speech Mr..
Bayasd spoke of Protection" as a
forn Of State socialism," and said it
had done more to foster class legisla-
tioD, ,breed inequality, corrupt pub
lie life" lower the tone of national re-
presen \ ation.' ''blind the public CON
science create false standards, ''di-
vorss ethics from politics. than any
other single cause. Such reflections
on the government by United States
Ambassador before foreign audience,
the resolution recited, were in serious
disregard OF his proprieties and obli-
cations and calculated to injure our
national reputation. 1t concluded by
iDstrseting the foreign affairs com
mittee, which was empowered to send
for persons and papers, to investigate
and report by impeachment or other
wise"
Mr.. H2FFett's resolution had been
prees1sd by one of his colleagues Mr..
Mccall fMassachnsetss) in a milder
tone.
Mr.. kaCall's resolution went down
before aD objection and then it was
that Ne Barrett sprang his impeach
ment resolution as constituting ques-
ton 81 privilege.
Mr.. Crisp. the leader of the minority,
matls n snavaiIing attempt to contest
the pEivilexed nature of the resolution
Speaker Reed overruled his point of or
der and the resolution was thrown in
TO the arena of debate, where it re-
mainea for three hours. The Republi-
cans teok the position that Mr.. Bay
ards speech constituted an offense
against the country that called for a
stern Bebuke. if not his recall. The
Democrats took the position that Mr..
Bay2r6s utterances did not by any
streteb of the imagination constitute
grounas for impeachment. Mr.. Turner
fGeorgia) zpplauded them and assert
ed thst they were not even a breach of
propristy. lie took the position that
the resolution was largely "buncombe'
TO give the Republicans an opportunity
to ain their protection views Those
who took part in the debate were
Messrs. Barrett Massachusetts,; Ding
ley, Maine; Grow, Pennsylvania: Hit,
Illinois; Cannon, Illinois (Repubii-
eans); and Nessrs. Crisp, Georgia: Nc
Creary, Kentucky; Money, Mississippi;
and Turner, Georgia (Democrats).
Mr.. Hit, who will be chairman of the
foreian affairs committee. advised Mr..
Barren 10 amend the resolution SO ar
to strike out the words instructing the
comnittee to report by impeachment
or otherwise" and this was finally
done. Mr.. Crisp moved to refer the
RESOLUTION to the judiciary committee,
which being defeated by strict party
vote, - 10 BOT, the Democrats content
ed themselves with simply voting viva
vocc against the resolution, which was
adopted without division.
The resolution is as follows:
Il DO impeach Thomas j.. Bayafd,
United States Ambassador to Great
Britain. of high crimes and misde-
neanors on the following grounds;
Whereas, The following report of a
speech delivered before the Edinburgh
Philosophical Institution by Hon.
Thomas u. Bayard, ambassador of the
United States of America at the court
of Great Britain, is published in the
London News under date Of November
., 1852
He then quoted the Associated Press
dispatch containing the report OF the
speech and the comment and closes as
follows:
"And whereas, such reflections on
the government policy and people OF
the United States by an Ambassador
of the United States, in Il foreign coun-
try and before foreign audience, is
manifestly in serious disregard of the
proprieties and obligations which
should be observed by an official rep
resentative of the United States
abroad and calculated to injurc our
national reputation. Therefore, be il
Resolved, BY the House OF Repre-
sentatiyes, that the committee ON For
eign Affairs he directed to ascertain
whether such statements have been
publicly made and if so To repOrt 10