The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-03-09
RADICAL OPPRESSION.
Free Speech Denied in the Halls
Of Congress.
ALARMING ABUSE OF POWER.
THE FRIENDS OF The C0NSTITU-
TON REFUSED A HEARING.
A Solemn Protest,


day attempted to place upon record their
solemn protest against the arbitrary and I'M
warranted action of the Radical majority in
proceeding with the subject of impeachment.
The Radical majority of the House refused
to receive this document and thus another
is added to the long catalogue of its crimes
against Justice and humanity. Not satisfied
with sitting all debate upon their browning
act Of despotism, they deny the admission Of
even written protest against such action,
and forbid its presentation to the people.
Mr. ELDRIDGE rose and said am instruct
ed by forty five members of the House of Repre-
sentatives to present a communication from them
to the House, and to ask that it be read. 1t is
respectful in terms, and is, in my opinion, pryi-
legged.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman may consider
that protest is privileged, bat the Digest shows
that it is not so considered in parliamentary
law. - III ..s
Mr.. ELDRIDGE. Then ask unanimous
consent to present this communication from forty
| FIVE members of the House; and on that pro-
pose 20 submit motion.
| Numerous objections were made on the Repub
| lican side of the House.
| Mr.. ELDR1DGE. Then I ask consent to have
| the communication printed in the Globe.
| Numerous objections were made.
| Mr.. FARNSWORTH made the point of order,
| that under the order of the House no proposition
| should be entertained, but that the House should
proceed to vote on the articles of impeachment.
| The SPEAKER sustained the point of order
| The following is copy of the protest
sought to be presented ass
Protest Of the Democratic Members.
The undersigned members of the Fortieth
Congress of the United States, representing
directly or in principle more than one-half
of the whole people Of the United States, do
hereby, in the name of law and Justice, and
in behalf of those they represent, most sol
EMMY protest aginst the tyranny and injustice
practiced by the majority of the House in
violating the sacred rights of free debate
and unconstrained deliberation upon the
greatest questions ever brought before an
American Congress.
4 The rules of the House made for the pro-
lection of minorities, and "by strict adher-
ence to which the weaker party can only be
/ protected from those irregularities and abus-
es which the wantonness of power is but too
often apt to suggest TO large and successful
majorities," have been during this entire
Congress, in violation of their true spirit and
intent, wantonly and unprecedentedly sus-
pended and set aside, not upon particular
and pressing matter, but upon all pending
subjects of legislation; so that by this reck-
less and arbitrary suspension of the rules,
! and the wanton abuse of the previous
/ question, the rights of the minority have
been utterly disregarded, the House of Rep
| resentatives has ceased 10 be delberative
body, and the minority have been compelled
to vote upon the most important questions
without any proper reasonable time for
| debate or consideration. To such an extent
has this dangerous and oppressive practice
obtained, that measures affecting vitality the
whole country, and the dearest interests of
our constituents, tending as we believe, to
| the subversion of our republican form of
government, in their very nature demanding
of the peoples representatives the most care
ful examination and scrutiny, have been hur-
RED through the forms of Legislation without
being printed, without one word of debate,
or one moments consideration, without, in
8 aeed, the opportunity of the undersigned to
q protest, except in violation of the then
operating order, enforced by the majority as
the order of the House"
q iheSe alarming abuses of power might
k | not seem 10 demand this formal protest. II
! we Were not forced to the belief that de.
: termInation exists with the majority to reyo.
. innonlze TINS government by destroying the
4 other coordinate branches, and vestne ali the
7 powers of government in Congress. In tbe
steps taken to depose the President of tbe
United States we are admonished that there
3 is no end TO the oppressive measures to Grip
y pie the power and silence the vote of the
. minority.
: The resolution was rushed through tn.
: House under the operation of the previou.
Q question, referring the matter to the Com
}, lmittee on reconstruction the committee, il
4 hot haste, sitting when the house was il
session, IN violation of one of its express
rules, considered, and, by strict party vote
:. adopted and presented it again TO the Hous
b for its action. And then was exhibited on
). of the most extraordinary spectaeles eve
. witnessed in deliberative parliamentar,
= body. Members were allowed some thirt
'e minutes, some twenty, some ten, some five
Z. and some one minute onls, to discuss tn
a. most momentous questions ever presente,
. to Congress. Many could not even get on,
minute under the arbitrary rule of the major
D. ity; and more than half of those even Of th
l party voting to enforce the previous question
n who desired to be heard, were permitted on
II ly to print speeches in the Globe, after tn.
question upon the resolution was decided
q and which were never delivered in th
" House, No comment can demonstrat
20 more completely than the facts themselve
\. the viciousness and illegality of such pre-
ceedings. But this wanton and excessiv
- ra oft ho raoror nf he 80