The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-11
Great Trials of History.
IMPEACHMENT OF WV. p.oUSr.

Tho nrst trial and Impeachment In
tho United states after the formation
pi our government was that OF VIII
liam Biount, during the presidency OF
John ADAMS. on July 3, 1897, Preai-
dent Adams sent to Congress num-
Dor or papers on tho relations Of tho
United states and spnin. Among them
VAS letter from United States Scnn-
tor i!ount, OF tennessee. to an Indian
agent among tho Chcrokrcs. from
which II appeared that Blount was en-
gagged in conspiracy 10 transfer New
Orleans ana the ncighhoriue TERRITORY
from spain to Great Britain, by means
or British ncct and n land force TO
b" furnished hy i}lount
On receipt OF this information tho
House gave Rlouut notice OF It's intcn-
ZION to Impcnch him. 'rhc Senate a,
appear FOR trial. but afterwards OK
rclled lim on July o. Ills suretlcs
then surrendered tho Senator to tho
Scnnt" but he was again released ON
docrcased bail The whole Of the next
session from November 10, 1891 to
July if, l79S, hardly sufcod Tor tho
preparation Of tho I'VE articles OF I'm
rcechmcnt which were prepared 10
bring him TO trial on December -,
I79S
Mount. who had In the meantime
been elected to tho senate OF hia
state, did not appear. but his counsel
pleaded. nrst thnt as Senator nc wan
not civD officer liable to irr,Dcach-
mcnt; and, second that since his eX-
puls!on he was no longer u Senator
Tho senate sustained the nrst plea
and Blouut was acquitted for want of
jurisdiction.
III" ground tor tho Impeachment
or Senator Blount was based on thn
following clnuses from the Consti.
tuition: '"rhc President Vice Presi.
dent aud all civil officers OF the United
states shall hc removed from of'ico on
Impeachment fot and conviction OF
treason, bribery or other high crimes
aud misdemcauors.
Judgment in cascs OF Irnpeacn-
mcnt shall not extend further than to
4 removal from office and disqualif1ca-
ton to hold and enjoy my Office OF
honor. trust or profit under the United
states But the party convicted shall.
nevertheless. bc liablo and subject to
indictment. trial. Judgment and pun
lsl'nent according to law"
Cpcn this Constitution clause II wan
'icciued to consider tho case OF Blount,
hut az IL was midsummer. tho SEES
sions OF the first session OF the nth
Congress adjourned Oh July 10. but tho
committee ;hat had been appointed to
prepare and rcror; the case for trial
! galnst the Senator wcra authorized
to sit during the recess or Congress-
! The second session OF the ffth
/
phia. which was the capital at tho
/ time on November 10. ard among tha
| iirst things that was done was 10 take
/ up the question OF the Blount impeach-
/ irent The House considered the ques-
! ton until thc following February z.
when the findings were carried to tho
senate by Representatives SitRreaves
I l3ayard, Harper. Gordon, Pinckney,
/ Sewall. Iiosmcr. Dennis, Evans and
! Imley. who were appointed to conduct
the said impeachment.
The purport OF the five articles wua
as follows First. That Senator
Hlount had contrivod to set on foot
Il military hostile expedition In tho
! Floridas and Louisiana against Spain
! In order To wrcst this land from that
country. Second. That lie. In disre-
! gard Of the treaty between this coun-
/ try and Spain. consprcd TO excite tho
/ Creek and Cherokee indiana living
within the territory 10 commence hos.
Titles against Spain. Third. That
Blount had tried to ALLEVIATE these
| tribes OF Indians from their friend
! 'incSs to benjamin Hawkins. who had
been appointed by the President az
/ temporary agent. Fourth. That no
! had contriVed TO scduce James Carey
! the governments Indian Interpreter IN
! Tennessee. to assist In the promotion
ana execution Of his criminal conspi-
| racics. Fifth That he impaired the
/ influence of the United States by eX-
citing the Indians against the govern
! mcnts representatives who had been
! sent to mark the boundary lines be-
! tween the United States and tho
Cherokee nation.
When Blount WAS expelled from tho
/ United states Senate the vote stood
30 to |. Tascwcll. OF Virginia, voting
! no" ON January IA, 1899. tho court
| then in session In Philadelphia decided
! By vote or Ii to II, that he was no
! longer Senator, they had no jurisdic-
, ton He was never spoken OF us n
traitor by the people of Tennessee.
and was held In high honor to tho end
OF his days