The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-24
THE NORTH CAROLINA IMPEACH-
ATENT.


It is difficult to escape the conviction
that the impeachment trial Of justices
Douglas and Furches OF the North Tar
DINA Supreme Court is purely political
in its nature. The facts. shorn Of al
technicalities and verbiage. seem TO be as
follows: In 1897 the fusionists-that IS.
the Republicans and Populists-were in
control Of the Legislature. In that year
they passed a law creating the Office OF
oyster inspector. fixing the term at four
years and the salary at SO per month A
man OF the name Of Theodore White was
elected by the Legislature 20 be oyster
inspector. and he entered upon the dis.
charge of the duties CT the Office. Two
years later. or in 1899. the control Of he
Legislature had reverted to the Demo
cratic party. One OF the early acts OF
the Legislature OF 1893 was 10 pass a
bill repeating the act Of 1897 creating the
Office of oyster inspector. and substitute
ing a board OF oyster inspectors consist
ing of seven persons at a salary of S400
per year each. George II. Hill was ap-
pointed chairman OF this new board of
oyster inspectors. When Hill made de-
mand upon White for the turning over OF
the Office and its papers to him. White
refused He claimed that he was elected
by the Legislature for a term Of four
years, Of which term two years remained
to be served. The matter was taken into
court, and upon appeal was carried be-
fore the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court at that time was
composed Of Chief Justice Faircloth and
cans. and Justices Clark and Montgom-
cry, Democrats When the case came be-
fore them the Republican members Of the
court, the majority. decided that White
was entitled to keep his Office for the
full term of four years; and the decree of
the court directed the state treasurer to
continue to pay White his salary under
The Democratic judges. Clark and Mont
gomery. dissented from this opinion
The present Legislature of North Caro-
lima is also Democratic. Some weeks ago
the House of Representatives voted to
institute impeachment proceedings against
the Supreme Court judges who had af-
frmed Whites contention with respect
to the oyster inspectorship. Meanwhile
however, Chief Justice Faircloth had
died, so that proceedings were brought
only against Justices Douglas and Fur
ches, the surviving Republican members
of the court. The charges against them
are, substantially, that they exceeded
their power in deciding as they did in the
White case, and that their decision was
for political purposes. White. the oyster
inspector, is a Republican, and the JUS
tees are Republicans, and the allegation
in the matter of the decision.
on this partisan political line the trial
has proceeded. Behind the trial there
are, of course, political influences and
purposes, which will come into view later.
Justice Douglas is son of Senator Ste
phen A. Douglas, whose campaign with
Lincoln in 1858 made him famous. At
one time Justice Douglas was private sec
rotary to President Grant. Afterward he
was appointed to position in the reve-
him to take an active part in Republican
politics He was a member of the Ma
tionaI Convention in 1872 that nominated
Grant for a second term. He engaged in
the practice of law in North Carolina,
and was appointed to a circuit judgeship
Serving acceptably, he was promoted by
election to the Supreme Court bench.