Point of order on impeachment - a Thompson and Mason connection

Question

For your reading pleasure and any corrections on the profiles or placement.

For the purposes of history. . .

George Mason (1725-1792) on how to impeach:

“No point is of more importance than that of the right of impeachment. Shall any man be above Justice…who can commit the most extensive injustice?”

“Why is the [impeachment] provision restrained to treason and bribery?” Receiving no satisfactory answer, Mason answered his own question by moving to “extend the power of impeachments…to add maladministration.”

Coincidentally, George's grand uncle, Sir William Thompson Esquire (1676-1739), twice took impeachment actions as MP, Ipswich.

These details among others can be reviewed (and updated, where lacking) on ancestors who may be yours, or in this case, cousins of mine on WikiTree (though our common ancestor, Thomas Mason (abt. 1602 - 1655), needs some work and probably others in the line, too.

Comments

Mason, one of three Constitutional Convention delegates who did not sign the Declaration of Independence. His 'maladministration' concept dealt with rather severely by his colleagues who soundly rejected it.

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'In other words, Madison feared the Senate would use the word “maladministration” as an excuse to remove the president whenever it wanted.

'So Mason offered a substitute: “other high crimes and misdemeanors against the State.” The English Parliament had included a similarly worded phrase in its articles of impeachment since 1450. This compromise satisfied Madison and most of the other Convention delegates. They approved Mason’s amendment without further debate, 8 states to 3, but added “against the United States,” to avoid ambiguity.' 

Trickey, Erick. Inside the Founding Fathers’ Debate Over What Constituted an Impeachable Offense: If not for three sparring Virginia delegates, Congress’s power to remove a president would be even more limited than it already is. SMITHSONIANMAG.COM 2 Oct 2017.