The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-03-03
THE PRoTEsr OF THE DEMoCRArIc

THE PROTEsT OF THE DEMoCRArIC
n MEMBERs. 20
r The protest OF the Democratic members OF
Congress, which Mr.. Eldridge desirsd to intro
ducs In the House yesterday, but which the ma.
jority refused 10 entertain, 10 Is follows;
n. a %ss s. Of y: TGs., n
people q the Usilsd stssss, 90 hereby, "a IKE
they represent, I'll most solsmniy protsst against
ity OF the House in violating the saorcd right Of
the greatest questions ever brought before an
American Congress, -
The rules Of the House made for the profession
Of mSjorities, and "by q strict adherence to
which the weaker party can only be protected
from Irregularities and abuses which the wan.
large q soS % oS % sses
during this entire Congress- In violation Of their
tons, .Pirit and intent wsntonly and unpreee.
pending subjects OF iesi,isiion, so that By this
and the wsntoa abuse Of Tie previous question,
sss e r. Ai Haa.s 9sys sssa sss S
have been eompeiied 70 vote upon he most i'm.
poItsnt questions without any proper or reason.
easen. n.s tSs snS sSs
the whole country and the dearest Interests OF
subyersion ofour republics form Of government,
In their ye,y nature dem.ndins q the peoples
forms Of issisistion without being printed, with.
out one word Of debate or one moments consid.
the q ne
then operating order, enforced by the majority as
the order OF the House. These alarming abuses
Of power might not seem 10 demand this formal
protest II we were not forced to the belief that
determination exists with the majority to rcyo-
Usss al. Ss ssSg he
| powers OF Government in Congress.
In the steps taken to dcpose the President OF
is no end to these Oppressive measures to cripple
the power and silence the voice OF the minority.
under the operation Of the previous question
referring the matter to the Committee on Recon.
struction; the committee, in hot haste, sitting
Of It's express rules, eonsidered and Sy = strics
party vote adopted and presented again to
the House for Its action. And then was
tseles ever witnessed In a deliberative,' paflia-
mentsry body, Members were allowed, some
thirty minutes, some twenty, some ten, some
most momentous questions ever presented In
Congress. Many could not even get one minute
more than half o. hose even PARTY VOTING
be heard were permitted only to print speeches In
was decided, and which were never delivered In
| the House. No comment can demonstrate more
completely than the facts themselves the vicious.
ness and illeyslity of such proceedings. But
jority does not stop here. while the committee
e ss the snd IT
| action under the operation OF the previous
question. without debate, in violation Of an ex.
fules for the conduct Of this proceeding, chang.
Ing, without previous notice, standing rules Of
the House, were adopted to further limit debate,
| and rOmpletelV DlAca thu m In
the power and at the mercy Of the majority.
Thus, while the majority Of Congress is warning
Executive and the Judicial, endesvoring to sub.
ljugate or bring them both under the will and con.
troll OF Congress, the minority Of the House Of
stripped Of all power, and their constituents de.
p,lyed q all representative voice in the counsel.
We do, therefore, most solemnly protest against
the undecorous and undignided haste with
which the majority Of this House inauxursted,
otc psn and pspass vo.oa of o Rs y
the .tandins tnlsc o. the Hogss resolution de-
o se e af 81 ne Mas
misdemeanors in once, when the gravity Of the
charge, the character Of the high once against
seen and tremendous consequences which might
the people, called for the exercise Of the caInesi
and wisest judgments the most unprej udi ed. and
impartial elaboration on the part Of those who
had the proceeding in charge.
we 10 ALSO most tOlemnly prOteht against thit
thrice-repeated attempt to degrade and break
down one OF the great coordinate branches Of
.ed through 5Ge % OF party
by the Constitution, is In the rightful and con.
scientious discharge Of its functions, thus con.
faithfully devoted to an earnest effort TO relieve
the pressing wants OF the people, a restoration
of torn and distracted country to union and good
Stion Which, Is prss.ias aSSn ali liz enersis:
Of trade and commerce to the point of universal
We DO again most solemniy protest agains,
and profoundly deprecate and deplore any ant
!, all attempts to array in hostile sntagonism tt
, eminent upon the mere question Of the constitu
tionality or construction Of a law Of Congress
the proper jurisdiction and final adjudication o
mails; and we hereby warn the people Of tn,
United States that the public liberty and the cx
istence Of free institutions are involved, ant
that they are in eminent peril OF utter overt brow
in this suicidal struggle.
We do further soiemnly protest against tina
wild and radical spirit OF innovation upon tn
early and well-settled practice OF the Govern
ment, a practice established by the men VIII,
Chief Magistrate Of the republic, the represen
+ tative Of the dignity and power Of the people, a
to be Secretary OF War, In violation Of his ow
pronounced convictions of the law; who has tn
anbushing eirrontery 70 place himself in II
with Congress in utter contempt Of the authorit
of his superior, and with the deliberate purpos
of resisting his authority.
The undersigned, therefore, In their charaete
. of Representatives of the people, being deprive
by the despotic power of an memorable majorit
OF the high privilege of debate, that great In
strument In the discovery Of truth and the mos
E cherished heritage Of free people, do hereb
, solemnly and earnestly protest against these II
fractions Of the rights OF the people, and n
specifically ask that this, their protest, may b
spread upon the Journal Of tho House.
signed By Chas. A. Eldridge, p. Van TrunfI
, Geo. W. Woodward, w. Munger, VIM. 4. Nil
: lack, stephen Taber, VIM. s. Holman, Geo.
: Adams, Demas Barnes, George W. Morgan, A. !
ilossbrenner, 5. s. Marshall, J. Lawrence let
ID. NJ. Van Auken, b. NJ. Boyer, Thomas La,
rcns Jones, Stevenson Archer, W, H. Baruun
4 Albert q, Burr, Jno. A. Nicholson, lanes /
D Johnson, L. d. Holbrook, Jas. b. Beck, i. Sion
5 Asa 7. Grover, Chas. p. Rhelps, James NJ. Hun
phrey, James NJ. Cavanaugh, John Fox, Cha
Halght, John v. l.. Pruyn, Lewis W, Ros
Samuel J. Randall, l.. s. Tfimble, James Brook
: X. D.. Hubbard, II. Mccullough, ]. S. Gallada
J. 7. Knott, Jno. W. Chanler, Chas SitgTeAye
Julius Hotchkiss, NJ. U. Kerr, Samuel h. Axte
; and James X. Mccormick.
1t HAS RggS STATED that Mr.. Stanton Ind su
! pended the order of General Grant, which w,
7 by him while Secretary Of War ad inierel
: in relation to the Freedmen's Bureau, which mr.