The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-02-19

III llDOdOLll11O"
It is an inquest of office. There IS
nrnishment. I hear people say IL
&c q no7itical trial. So it is. But IL
is not a partisan political matter. 1t
is an inquiry into their political duty
as officers of the great State OF North
Carolina. When we know OF facts
and know the law, we cannot escape
the conclusion that our oath requires
of us. Knowing the facts IN this
case we cannot escape the duty OF
impeaching these judges of high
crimes and misdemeanOrs."
Mr.. stubbs, of Martin, made an
and able plea against m
neachment. "The only difference be-
tween what the Legislatures OF 1898
and 1892 did and the action of the
LEGISLATURE of 1899 was that the
Fusionists we're bolder. They openly
ATTEMPTED to take the offices held by
Wood and other Democrats. we
we're more astute. We clothed the
purpose of the act of 1899 with differ
ent verbiage and legal phraseOlOgy.
were trying to take from a man
his office and rights, which had been
given him fOrfOur years. It is unlaw-
full to take a mans office from him !;
it is unlawful to starve him out OF
office. We have then the spec
tacle of a gentleman holding an office
under the highest legislative and
judicial authority and the LegiSla-
ture saying he shall have no pay for
it. The mandamus simply gave a
remedy to a citizen and officer of the
State, who otherwise was remedy
Judge Graham, Of Granville, and
Mr.. SeawelI, of Moore, followed,
arguing for impeachment.
Mr.. Common then made an eloquent
argument for his resolution.
"The action of President Jackson
in removing the deposits was more
serious than that charged here, and
the Senate of the United States did
not impeach him. All that body did
was to disapprove of his action by
resolution"
Mr.. Craig-"Was not that resOlu-
ton later expunged from the record
like yours when it came before the
committee?"
Mr.. COnnOr-"I am afraid the time
will come if this Legislature doesn't
act wisely and considerably, that
some things we do here will be ex-
plunged from the record.
Mr.. Craig-"Didn't Judge Fur
ches in the Jordan decision say that
be would not pay any attention to
by the Legislature?"
Mr.. COnnOr-"You refer to the de-
oision in which he said the fear of
would not deter him
his duty?"
Mr.. Craig-"Yes."
Mr.. COnnOr-'I respect Judge
Furches for that ~utterance. He de-
serves credit for making that state
If he had said otherwise [
have been in favor of going to
the court DON and driving him from
the bench as a coward"
Mr.. ConnOr thought the judges
mad acted illegally but did not favor
impeachment.
On Friday Mr.. ROuntree opened
5he debate with a long speech in
of impeachment. He did not
think it necessary to prove corrup-
ion to find cause for this action.
f partisan bias caused them to err,
hey nevertheless deserved impeach-
nent." They could have rendered
these decisions relating to offices as
Ong as they pleased, but when they
their hands into the public
treasury they violated the Constitu-
ion. We are not impeaching for
partisan decisions of the court,
put for d flat violation of the COnsti-
ution. And I want to say here that
he opinions of the court We're most
lippant."
Mr.. Simms of Wake said: 81 know
hat If 1881 in the State treasury is
to the mandamus of these
nen they may lay their unhal
owed hands upon every cent
he Golfers hold I cannot vote
or impeachment in the first
olace, because 1 do not believe
hat it is the wlsest thing to do, but
t you vote down this milder meas
LIZ nnl En-no 49, L. lAA:l- --l1-