Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-27
country, and ambitious Of himself becoming
tie North American Angel Gabriel.

tie North American anger daoriei.
Delegates to the Cincinnati Convention
continue to crowd in upon us by each sue
ceeding railroad and steamboat arrival. The
leading public houses of Washington ar,
crowded with them Judging from what w
hear among them, President Pierce has fail
prospect for his denomination. 1t is now
comprehended by all of them that the ap
preaching contest is to be fought fairly and
squarely upon the principles and measures Of
his administration, one and all. Here and
there, We find ono or two who would nominate
to shirk the issue and, of course, such gen.
tiemen are opposed to his re-nominatiop.
Those who condemn the Nebraska bill, are
advocates of Mr.. Buchanan's nomination,
upon the ground that he will receive large
portion Of the anti-Nebraska vote Of the
North Their efforts in his behalf, on such
grounds, only weaken his prospects; serving
to close up the ranks Of the friends of tho Ne
braska bill in favor Of the denomination of
the present incumbent. 1t gives US great joy
to find such unanimity in favor of securing to
the future of the country the legitimate fruits
of the bold and unfnching Democratic policy
of the present Administration as We discover
amepg the delegates now here.
High-h anded Proceedings 1T will be rec
objected that Mr.. f. Jefferson, a member of
the Council Board of this city from the Second
Ward, some time since caused the publication
Of his minority report from the special COM
mittee to inquire into the alleged violation of
the law involved in the fact that Mr. Il. E.
Lloyd holds the Office Of clerk to the Commits
sioners of the Asylum while serving as Coun
Gilman from the Seventh Ward-the report of
the majority of the said special committee,
ju.tifying Mr.. L. in holding the olcrkship,
having previously been published.
Last night the Know Nothing majority of
the Council Board passed vote Of censure on
Mr.. Jefferson for spreading his minority re-
port, above referred to, before the public of
Washington. We need hardly say that this
unauthorized and foolish vote of oensure Is
equivalent to declaration on the part of those
voting for it that their purpose is, as far as
possible, to manage our corporation affairs
hereafter as though the Washington Councils
are mere Know Nothing lodges, with all the
members thereof sworn, under pains and PEN
alties, to adopt the ritual of the order for
their guidance as public functionaries, rather
than the Corporation charter and the laws Of
the land.
The minority (anti-KnOw Nothings) of the
Board, upon the adoption Of the vote of CEN
sure, promptly asked leave to place on record
the protest that will be found below; which
privilege was refused. 1t ia as follows:
PRoTBsT.-Forasmucha as the papers in re
gard to member Of this Board holding the
Secretaryship of the Washington Asylum were
reported To the Board and were a part of its
public records when published as they were
each and all official papers, written by officers
OF this Corporation, on a subject of public
concern, in obedience to the mandate of the
Board as they were no longer in possession
OF the Committee, but pant Of them had been
read In public meeting and the contents of
the whole of them publicly stated as no in .
junction Of secresy had been placed upon
them, and no prohibition of their publication
made; as their publication was useful to the
public and hurtIul to no one who had right on
|
and therefore the publication was not one.
sided as the Charter declares of the two
Boards that "their deliberations shall be pub
lilo )" as the two cases cited as presidents are
not parallel to this, because the report ad-
duced in ono case was published before the
Committee had reported, and that in the other
after the Board had refused by direct vote to
consent to its publication; as no sufficient par.
Elementary rule has beon presented to show
that any wrong has been done ; as there is no
restriction to the publication of such papers,
under the circumstances of the present case,
recognized by any legislative body under any
free government; and as the Withholding
the right to publish them is an attack on
the liberty Of the press and would lead to the
general concealment of fragrant violations of
law. Therefore the undersigned solemnly
protest against the resolution passed, RS unjust
and unprecedented, and as an inv aston Of their
rights es members Of this Board.
FEBD JEFFERSON,
WILLIAM ORME.
THoS. j. FISHER,
EDw. Ii. FULLER,
CHARLES ALBERT,
May 26, 1856 JOHN B. TURroN.
The Harda "A pampblat A.