The news & observer., 1901-02-24
CRAIG's GREAT SPEECH
The Most Stirring Argument Of This
Memorable Debate.
AREWEw OF THE POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Mr.. Craig Traces lie Work Of The Supreme
Court in Its Usurpaton Of The Power
Of The Legislative Branch Of
The Government.
The Government,

Uc dOVcIEiilCHt'
The lghtnings of a great excitement
on last Monday shot athwart the sky of
The North Carolina General Assembly and
the thunder thereof shook the very dome
OF the capitol
1t was the fourth and last day of the
debate in the House on the resolution for
impeachment of two of the Supreme court
Judges. 1t ended-as all had seen for
days it must end-in adoption Of the res
olution.
The vote was 50 to 33, and its announce
mcnt was greeted with roar Of ap-
plause.. The hands on the clock pointed
to 2:15.
II was a history making day, the like
Of which it is to be hoped North Caro-
lima viii not see again Realizing that
20 witness such an event was the OPP
portunity of life time, people had gone
10 tho House early. Women folk crowd
cd the galleries. their gay dresses maxi
ilg great splashes of color against the
white walls and pillars. In the lobbies
men elhowed each other and every avail
able seat on the floor of the House was
called into use.
Argument on the resolution began at
10 and the vote was to be taken at
O'Clock. OF this time, the first two and
q half hours were allotted to the Repub-
lcans. They spoke generally from manu-
uscript or notes, and were plainly very
guarded in their utterances. Mr.. Ebhs
made the principal argument; he was
followed by MeSsrs. Owen, Mcintosh, Pc
tree. and Blythe.
This exhausted their TWO and half
hours.
The first Speaker on the Democratic
side were Messrs. Alexander. White, of
Halifax and Morphew. who consumed five
minutes each Then Mr.. Craig, intro
duccr of the resolution in the House, was
recognized to make the concluding argu-
ment.
When he arose the hall was packed al
most to suffocation, but the stiffness of
death peryaded it. and every eye was
turucd toward the speaker.
He began slowly deliberately, telling
ot the gravity Of the question presented
10 the House and the awe with which he
approached it. Then he referred to the
solemnjty OF an impeachment proceeding,
declared it the keystone Of the constitu-
tiOu. not put there as a scarecrow but as
Il shield of the law. Already the voice
OF tho speaker had risen till he could
he heard in the farthest recesses of the
ball. his eyes began 10 gleam with the
fire Ci enthusiasm and roar of applause
SWEPT over his audience when he de-
clared that today the majesty of the
people. exercised under forms handed
down from the fathers. speaking through
their representatives will remind the
highest judges in this land that they too
are amcnable to law and must answer
for it's violation at the bar of the High
Court of Impeachment
Nov the speakers utterances became
more rapid, and consciousness had
passed away. he had forgotten himself
in his subject. His words of denuncia-
tion went Kissing across the hall like
hailstoncs in storm: "And. gentlemen.
| say if there ever was time when the
extraordinary power of impeachment
ought to be invoked ii is now Go search
the record of all judges from the time
Of jeffrics down 10 the present and you'll
find no example in which judges usurped
50 much power as these"
People in the obbies crowded closer
and closer TO he speaker, but the still
ness was unbrokeu and the speakers
words rang out more clear and more
scathing as he proceeded. Old men who
had gone through the terrors of war wept
as he told how men had sacrificed life
aud home ard all for a constitutional
principle. and finally, as he pointd 10 the
picture OF Vance and appealed to those
dumb lips TO speak and guide Alright the
people that had SO loved to honor him..
perfect whirlwind of applause swept
over the floor and gallery. lasting so
loEg that Mr.. Craig had to pause until
be could be heard.
y was great speech. greatest of this
memorable debate. High in thought,
broad IN conception, convincing in argu-
nleut and terrible in denunciation. but
above all eloquent Men were thrilled
and swayed by it as only the true orator
ana the thinker can thrill and sway them.
Mr. Craig spoke for an hour and five
minutes and when he ceased there was
Wild scene Of applause lasting many
seconds. Members rushed forward 10
congratulate him on his superb effort.
As the vote was about to be taken MIR
Blythe sent forward written protest
but II was immediately referred 10 the
committee on rules without being read.
Judge AlieD then announced that un
der al agreement The substitute Of Mr..
Whitaker. Of Guilford and his (AIIens \,