Year: 1872

The Final Debate in the House on the


Impeachment Question.


,rNEMo," the Intelligent correspondent Of


the Charleston Courier, thus speaks of the


closing debate on the Scott Parker inpeach.
nent:


Tim Hurley stated that what he intended
to say would not occupy much time, for he


believed that the time for talk had gone. 1t
Was now time for the people to act for them
selves. When Sffe Governor Of the State,
under tho charge of high crimes in Office,
could come into the Legislature and buy
enough votes to get himself off, it was time
to act. The minority of the House had been
gagged, and were perfectly aware that the
votes amounted to nothing.


Bowen next arose and said he availed
Eiunself of the opportunity to say a few
words on the subject, because he supposed
that Il would be the last that ever would
present itself. He protested against the ac-
ton of the House in the name of the people
of the whole State. The man charged with
having stolen s6,OOO,OOO from the people
has taken the means not to come up to the
issue, but to dodge it, md although he
might say that the LegislaSFe had exculpa-
ted him, yet so far as the action Of the House
is concerned he will have failed to satisfy any
one thathe is guiltless of the charge. He
appealed to the whole people of the State
against this monstrous outrage that had been
perpetrated They were ground down to
the dust by taxation to allow these men to
roll around in luxury, and when resolution
was introduced calling the thieves to account,
they boldly proclaim on the street that
small portion of the ill-gotten gains can de-
feat such measures. He was going from
this House to appeal to the people of the
State to rise up and put down such outragcs.
The orator from Union, Mobley, here arose,
and wanted to know in what way did no
mean that they were to be put down; by
insurrection or Ku Klux?


Bowen-I'll tell the gentleman. The peo-
pie have brought the case before the Legis-
atnse, and have, moreover, convicted them
Ga their own figures; and here would re-
mark, that not a single statement has been
centroverted, not one figure of the charges
made and proved, that does not remain un-
contradicted When this House has failed
to do its duty, the people have right to go
into the courts of justice and demand JUS
tioe there; and should that fail, then there
will, perhaps, one day, be an election, and
they will have an opportunity to remedy
those evils. I shall appeal to the people
against the tyranny and oppression that has
been heapcd upon them. The Governor,
up to Che time that he was impeached, was
sssssasss aossssi ohs ID .sne House want
ed to charge the Acknowledgement with
these naisdeeds, why didn't they do so!
know that when the Governor was in New
York, he ran away for fear Of being arrested.
He left, however, paper in the possession
of certain person, by which he tried to
mako away with the sterling bonds.


Here the speaker was interrupted by
Jones, who read a telegram, said to have
been sent by Gov. Scott to ex-Judse Barrett
ON the 18th of November, in which Judge
Barrett is instructed, that unless kimpton
resigned and settled as agreed before, he
(Scott) left New York, to take legal steps
against him. This Bowen contended, was
Hrittsn. at the desk of the member who pro-
duced it. He then went on with his speech.
Abiding to the action of Byas, who had
signed the committee report advising I'M
peachment, and subsequently working against
the resolution, he said the member from Or
angeburg would come into this House and
look at the Speaker stand, and the next mo-
naent would, for consideration, swear that
it was not there. This brought Byas to his
feet on privilege question, and sharp cross
6rng was kept up for sometime.


Whipper next obtained the floor, and made
his final speech on the subject. He said he
knew it was useless to attempt to fight the
robbers, who used their ill.gotten gains to
buy the votes Of the House; but he thanked
God that this was not the last resort.


There was scarcely a man in the House,
except those whose political relations placed
them above the reach of the Shiny minions
of the ring, who had not been approached
DOUGHTY Talleyrand said every man had
his price, and that man (pointing to Byas)
had proven by his somersault, that he had
his price. In reply to threat by Byas to
hold him responsible in a court of justice for
his words, he replied: Justice! Great God, if
justice were meted out, that man (Byas)
would live in place where the light of the
stars never penetrated. lie then went on
Although, he said, crushed by votes pur-
chased with lucre stolen from the Treasury,
be had not yielded. The load of this inta-
NOUS transaction had been saddled upon the
Republican party, but he would not lend it


his support.
Hurley next obtained the foors and made


the first serious speech I have ever heard


from his lips. That "infnite jest" which ii


80 characteristic of the man, was for once


put entirely aside, and he grew eloquent a


he went on to say, that if there was any ac


of his life Of which he was was proud, it wa


the fact that he had voted as he did to-da,


on'this question. He would say to thos


members who had sold out for less thai


thirty pieces of silver, that he had in NJ


pocket a letter from one of the thieves.
which he (Hurley( was urged tGyote aga'ni n