The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-02-11
"a the Democracy Of Hamilton
County.

Inc Undersigned, OemOcratlc mem
oers of the General Assembly from
Hamilton County, in view of the re-
cent action of the House Of Representa-
ives in the expulsion of their colleague,
John p. Slough, Esq, deem it due to
him, themselves and their constituents,
to make a statement in reference to it.
They regard the course adopted by
the House as unjust and unjustiiable,
calculated to inAics a deep and lasting
uponthe reputation of Mr.. Slough,
out of all reasonable proportion to the
alleged o%ffense, and designed to disgrace
our common constituency.
The facts of the case lie in a small
compass. Mr. Slough introduced a res
olutlon, institutiDg an inquiry as to
whether the Republican party, by ad-
journing the General Assembly from
last winter, had not subjected the State
to the expense of paying the per daen' OF
the members for the intermediate time.
While the vote was being taken, Mr..
Caldwell, irritated, doubtless, at the pos
sibility of his party being placed in an
unpleasant attitude, with refer renee to
the expenses Of the State in q private
conversation, casually commenced and
carried on between them, at their desks,
toward Mr.. Slough used very offensive
and insulting expressions. Mr.. Slough
resented the insult by a remonstrauce
and o show os anger. Mr.. Caldwell,
thus evidently aware of the %offense CIV
en-, instead of disclaiming any intention
to insult, repeated the Insult in a differ
ent form with a look and manner of de-
fance, and a direct invitation to a breach
of the peace. A slight blow, that SEEM
ed to give no pain, left no mark, pro-
duced no confusion, and caused no in
terruption to the business of the House,
was Immediately given. Mr.. Cadwell's
complaint to the House was the first no.
tice that a large majority of those pres
ent had of the collision. A committee
of investigation was appointed, who re-
ported the testimony aud the facts, with
out recommending the adop ion of any
particular course. Mr.. Slough, before
the report was made, recorded upon the
journal of the House an apology, ex.
pressing his regret at the violation OF
the rules of order and propriety, oil
which he admitted his guilt, which was
followed, after same days delay. and de-
liberation on tle part of the majority,
by his expulsion.
These are the facts, as we understand
them. We readily admit the offense Of
Mr.. Slough against the rules and digni'
ty of the House. We make no excuse
oil apology for any display of violence
in the halls of legislation. We think
he erred also in not making an immedi'
ate and unconditional acknowledgment
of the wrong he had done to the House
AN error, however, sin our judgment
attributable to thosghtlessness and wan
of self possession; ard corrected. as fal
as he was able, by his subsequent a
pology.
Against the unjust action of thu
House upon these facts, resulting in tn,
ignoninious expulsion of Mr.. Slough
the undersigned feel bound to ente
their public protest, and take an ap
peal to that tribunal which alone is CON
petent to reverse it-tne people of Ham
iltou county, whose rights AMI interest
have been assailed n the person of on
of their Representatives.
We base this protest and appeal up
on the following grounds:
/. The sentence of expulsion, for 81
trivial and insignificant a cause, is un
precedented. The annals of parliament
airy history in this country furnish nj
other instance. Expulsion is the ex
treme constitutional penalty which thu
House is competent to iufics. If til,
assault had been for words spoken in de
bate; if it had been severe and danger
Gus to life or limb; if it had been un
provoked ; if it had been committed will
GOODNESS and deliberation no greater
punishment could have been inflicted
Even corruption in Office. the receipt o
brides, or any conduct of the like scan
dalous nature, could not be viseted witt
more severity. The infiction of TIN
extreme penalty upon him, then, neccs
sarily associates Mr.. Slough, in til,
minds of the pubic, not cognizant o
the true nature of the case, with thos
guilty of the commission of the mos
scandalous and disgraceful crimes. l
g tends, and was SO designed, to fix tn
stigma of permanent degradation upoI
him, for a venal ~offense; for if the blow
which he gave, had been struck else
where, no one would doubt that it was
proper answer to an impertinent insult
The sentence of expulsion is out of al
proportion to the gravity of the offense
and tends most uujustly to degrade an,
!, destroy him while it obliterates all dis
. tinctions between o~ffeDses against a leg
i%slative body, no matter what their dit
: ference In character, or the differen
:, circumstances of a~ggravation or mitiga
ton which surround them. The pres
ent instance is, then. not only withou
! precedent but establishes a preceden'
: unjust in itself, and evil in its const
queDces.
: 2. But if the display of slight vic
lence in presence of a legislative bod.
in actual session, is deserving of the eI
: IRENE penalty of expulsion, what sha
be said of the man, who, by insultiu
7 and offensive language, which no gentle
man ought to permit himself to use, /
haunting and defying tones. looks, ge
ture and manner. is the direct and in
mediate cause of it? He is certainly
the greater fault. Words, it is tru
furnish no legal justification to a blow
but the case. now tried, is before the tt
;" bunnl of public opinion, where no tee
n~icality can intervene to defeat the ma
ural sentiments of Justice. Every mi
knows and feels that, in many cases, j
f. suits arc more injurious than the me