Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-28
IMPEACHMENT TRIALS IN Y. 8.
Two Have Resulted in Convictions
Conaressmen Exempt.

Nine men have faced impeachment
since the establishment of the United
States government. Only three have
been convicted. Six of these cases af-
fected the judiciary, two the executive
branch Of the government and one the
national legislature. In this last case
| the precedent was established that a
senator or representative cannot be
impeached. g .ga. ar
The first man to face impeachment
| was William Blount a senator from
Tennessee. The house Of representa-
tives passed the impeachment charges
against him when the country was
nine years old. The accusation was
that he had conspired to organize
within the United States an expedition
to conquer Spanish territory for Great
Britain, and had planned to foment
trouble among the Indians. The addi-
tional charge was made that he had
attempted to corrupt an official inter-
prefer among the Indians. ..... ..-
After the house had impeached
Blount and while an effort was being
made to get the case before the senate
the latter body made an investigation
Of Blounts conduct and expelled him.
The senate then took up the impeach-
ment charge and acquitted Blount on
the ground that a senator or represen-
| tative is not an officer Of the govern
ment under the Constitution.
John Pickering, Judge OF the United
| States district court for the district OF
New Hampshire, was the defendant In
the second impeachment trial and the
| first man to be convicted. At this
trial. in 1903, Pickering was charged
with a breach of the law in proceed
ings to condemn a ship for violations
Il 49, L. lA1NN 10
ship to claimants without bond, de-
spite the fact that it had been attach
ed by a United States marshal. He
was further charged with being drunk
while on the bench. He practically
confessed, refusing to appear before
the bar of the senate. The evidence
was heard and he was removed from
office.
The third Impeachment trial was
that of Samuel Chase, an associate
justice Of the supreme court of the
United States. He was charged with
prejudicing the cases Of John Fries, on
trial for treason, and Thomas Callen-
der, charged with sedition. He also
was accused of an attempt to invade
the precincts Of Delaware Federal
grand jury room in an effort to bring
about the indictment Of newspaper
editor for violation Of the sedition laws
and of making an intemperate and In
fiammatory and seditious harangue
from the bench. BY strict party vote
he was acquitted at his trial In 1904,
| James Peck, whose trial occurred In
1890, was acquitted. He was district
Judge and was charged with abusing
the judicial power.
| In 1860 West H. Humphries, q dis
trict Judge, was impeached for deser-
/ ton of the Federal bench to take d
place on the Confederate bench.
Sixth man to face impeachment was
President Andrew Johnson. His trial
was the result Of bitter political con-
test in which the tenure Of office act
was passed over his veto. He was
charged with violation Of this act and
with attempting to induce general
officer of the army to disobey the law.
He was acquitted in 1858.
| William w. Belknap, secretary OF
war under Grant, was impeached on
the charge that he had accepted
money from a post trader whom ne
had appointed. The house voted to i'm :.
peach him a few hours after he had
resigned. The proceedings were con-
tinued in the senate and he was ac-
quilted.
| Judge Charles Swayne was I'm.
peached on twelve counts growing out
Of alleged padding Of expense accounts
and railway deals. He was acquitted
! on every count.