The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-14
SEVEN GOVERNORS
HAVE BEEN IMPEACHFD
Of That Number Only Two Have Been Convicted
Other Cases Charges Are Dropped, withdrawn
or Terms of Office Expire

with II. and the Governor was appcaIcd
to. Governor Holden Immediately pro-
claimed the two counties in n state of
instruction. and Sent troops into tho
district
Colonel George Kirk. In charge Of
the soldiers. made many arrests
Writs OF habeas corpus were served
upon him. but he maintained that the
writ OF habeas corpus had been sus-
pended, and declined TO recognize them
In this attitude Governor Holden sup
ported him. Even the chief Justice Of
, the Supreme Court of North Carolina
was defied. Finally the adhcrcuts Of
the ku NluX Khan and opponents Of
the Governor obtained an injunction
restraining the State Treasurer and the
State Paymaster from paying out
moneys for the expenses OF the troops
Governor Holden got around this. TO
his own satisfaction at least bv dis
missing tho paymaster. upon whom, the
Injunction had been served, appointing
another and having tho new paymas-
ter pay the soldiers
"IkInn" Very Powerful.
The ku klux Khan was cxtrerelv.
powerful particularly in North Caro-
lima, during the days OF reconstruct
ton. North Carolina was probably the
fountain head Of the dread x X X
The secret organization was in power
In that II controlled the members Of
the State Legislature. Many Of the
State Senators and Assemblymen were
members OF the society, and others
dared not defy IL. knowing only too
we'll that msfly Of their constituents
were members Of II. Consequently
Governor Holden was impeachcd ana
tried, He was acquitted of the charge
OF illegally declaring the counties in
a state of Instruction, but was con
victed Of making unlawful arrests and
Of bringing in troops from another
state and OF violating the wr; Of
hebcas corpus He was removed from
office and disqualified from again hold
ing office in North Carolina
Powell Clayton was Governor of Ar
kansas in 1871 He was impeached by
the Legislature, charged with having
among other things. conspired 10 de-
prive the Lieutenant-Govcrnor Of his
Office, illegally removed judges from Of
flee and Illegally filled their places,
taken part in election frauds and with
having unlawjully issued State bonds
for the benefit OF certain railroads. In
order that the Governor might not get
away. he Was locked in the executive
chamber and the door nailed.
lie escaped. however, and campaigned
so effectively for himself that by the
time the charges reached the Senate q
committee OF that body recommended
their dismissal, which the Assem- bly,
finally consented to do.
The Impeachment OF Governor David
Butler, OF Nebraska, in the same year
with having converted $4,000 OF State
funds TO his own uses. with accepting
brihcs, giving state lands TO railroads
in defiance Of the Law, and with selling
state lands and retaining the proceeds.
Butler was acquitted OF all of the
charges with the exception OF that
OF misrepresentation the $1,000. He
was removed from Office.
Henry G. Warmoth Governor of
Louisiana. was mpcached in 1872.
charged with having offered $4,000
hribe 10 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS L. B. :.
rinchback. ana with having forcibly
elected the Secretary OF state from
Office. Governor Warmoths term OF
office came 20 an end. however. before
his trial was brought about and the
Matter was dropped.
In 1876 Governor Albert Amcs, OF
Mississippi. was tried by the Senate as
the result of an Assembly Impeachment
charging him With having dcfrauded
the State of S33,5Jo. with having given
prison labor contracts 10 personal
friends. conspiracy to SANDER po-
itical opponent, unlawful removal of
various State officers. melting race
riots with innammatory speeches. and
with granting pardon 10 a convict
on the payment of $4,000 to a third
party. Governor Ames offered to re-
sign. His resignation was accepted
and the charges dropped.
Lieutenant Governor Alexander K
Davis was impeached soon after Gov
ernor Amcs. charged with having sold
n pardon to Il murderer while the Gov
crnor was absent from the State He
tried 10 follow the example OF Amcs
and resign, but the Legislature did not
allow him TO escape. He was tried.
convicted. removed from Office. ard dis
qualined from again holding office in
that State.