The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-03-07
TINE CASE AGAINST THE JUDGES.

"Thi. IL q Good Means to Get Them Out
the way" May be an InhsBce In Favor
OF Impeachment A Dangerous situa-
ton.
To the Editor Of The Charlotte OBJ
server:
Ifany official Of this State COM
mits any act that Is just cause Tor
impeachment IT IL the duty of the
Legislature to exercise the power
invested In II by the people and TO i
impeach such a one, but If the Leg
Islature brings an act Of impeach-
ment against an official without
lust cause and for party motives II
does not represent the Will OF the
people, II Is not acting on right and
lust principles, ii is throwing aside
all acts Of decency and Is doing that
which IA detrimental not only to the
party in power, but to the best In
terest Of the State
There are many and just causes
which if committed would render
one open 10 impeachment such as
immoral conduct, bribery, total I'M
fitness TO perform the duties Of the
Office, etc.
AsI have looked into the case at
issue from the point Of view Of q
citizen of the State II seems that
the State entered into contract
with White for term Of years In
which said White was to serve the
State "A shell fish commissioner at
given sum per year as compensa-
ton. Such contract entered into
by the State, whether by direct vote
of the people or by an official duly
elected by the people and given the
necessary power to make such a con
tract, cannot be broken by any act
of the Legislature unless the Office
is abolished by act Of the Legislature
i'm which case the holder of said of
flee Is entitled to his pay up to thu
time the said act abolishing the of
flee goes into effect, if before the ex
piratiOn of the term OF office. L
the Office Is not abolished no act o
the Legislature can break contrac
as was made between the State ant
White and he cannot be turned on
of Office except in case where h
should have committed some ac
that would make him liable to i'm
parchment. The $500 paid to hin
was money justly due him as bacl
salary. An act of the Legislator
prohibited the State Treasurer fror
paying White; but the Suprem
Court of the State, which is tn
body to decide whether an act {
the Legislature is constitutional {
unconstitutional, in issuing the
mandamus to the Treasurer Orde
ing him to pay the money to Whit
decided that that act of the Legisl'
ture was unconstitutional. If til
judges of the Supreme Court wei
influenced in his decision by bril-
cry, spite or wilful desire to al
their party they have given jul
cause for impeachment, but if II,
thus influenced no cause for impeacl
ment can justly be brought again
them. / do not believe that eth
Judge Furches or Judge Douglas a.
men who would be influenced
this way but they rendered VIII
they considered just and right d
cision.
If the members of the Supren
Court can be impeached for rende
ing decision thai an act Of the lie
islature is unconstitutional the po'
or Is taken away from Them of e
ecuting the duties to which tn,
were appointed, namely, the int
probation of cur cons tuition al
laws, and we would have an endie
chain of acts by the Legislature, d
cisions of the Supreme Court, al
impeachments by the Legislator
l am afraid that the expressi,
"this is good means to get the
out of the way" has influenced
good many who favor impeachmer
The question and the right thil
to do for every man in the Stat
whether Democrat or Republican,
to decide whether or not he believ
that Judge Furches and Jud
Douglas are guilty of any charge f
which they should be impeache
The people as whole may not
able to decide whether some smt
legal point has been misinterprete
but they do know whether they /
lieves these judges should be il
peached. Let the members of t
Legislature from your county kno
what you think regarding their 9
ton. Do not be Influenced
thought of party advancement
that these gentlemen are of the p,
ty out of power, but think as
dividual men and as men; be Just
your decision. Let public Opini
express itself. Do not give conse
to an act of infamy by your silen'
speak and save the State from col
uniting an act for which she W
ever be sorry and for which her ci
zens will blush with shame.
JOSEPH HYDE PRATT.
Chapel Hill, N. c., Feb. IS, 19C