Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-03-03

lation Of their true spirit and intent, wantonly
and unprecedentedly suspended and set aside,
not upon particular and pressing matter, but
upon all pending subjects of legislation SO
that by this reckless and arbitrary suspension
of the rules, and the wanton abuse OF the pre-
yious question the rights of the minority have
been utterly disregarded, the House of Repre-
sentatiyes has ceased to be deliberatlve body,
and the minority have been compelled to vote
upon the most i'm portant questions without any
proper or reasonable time for debate or consld
GRAFTON. 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 de-
handing of the peoples representatives the
most careful examination and scrutiny, have
been hurried through the forms Of legislation
without being printed, without one word of de-
bate, or one moments consideration, without,
indeed, the opportunity of the undersigned to
protest, except in violation Of the then opcrat-
Ing order, enforced by the majority as the
"Order of the House.
These alarming abuses of power might not
seem to demand this formal protest, if we were
not forced to the belief that determination
exists with the majority to revolutionlze this
Government by destroying the other coordinate
branches, and vesting all the powers OF govern
ment in Congress- In the steps taken to de-
pose the President of the United States We are
admonished that there is no end to the oppres-
sive measures to cripple the power and silence
the voice of the minority.
The resolution was rushed through the
House under the operation of the previous
question. referring the matter to the Commit
tee on Reconstruction the committee, 10 hot
haste, sitting when the House was in session,
in violation of one of its express rules, consld-
cred, and by strict party vote, adopted and
presented it again to the House for It's action.
And then was exhibited one OF the most ex-
traordiuary spectacles ever witnessed III dellb-
erative parliamentary body. Members were
allowed some thirty minutes, some twenty,
some ten, some five, and some one minute only,
to discuss the most mOmentouS questions ever
presented to Congress. Many could not even
get one minute under the arbitrary rule of the
majority and moro than half of those even of
the party voting to enforce the previous ques-
ton, who desired to be heard, were permitted
only to print speeches in the Globe, after the
question upon the resolution was decided and
which were never delivered in the House. No
comment can demonstrate moro completely
than the facts themselves the vlclousness and
illegaity of such proceedings But this wanton
and excessive use of the power Of the ma jority
Goes not stop here While the committee
were in session upon the further proceedings
to remove the President, and in anticipation OF
its action, under the operation OF the previous
question, without debate, in violation OF an eX-
press rule, new, special, and most extraordln-
airy rules for the conduct of this proceeding,
changing without previous motion the standing
rules Of the House, were adopted to further
limit debate, and more completely to place the
minority in the power and at the mercy of the
majority. .... ...
Thus whilst the majority of Congress is var
ring upon the other coordinate departments,
the executive and the judicial, endeavoring to
subjugate and bring them both under the will
and control OF Congress, the minority of the
House of Representatives are steadily and
surely being stripped of all power, and their
constituents deprived of all proper re presenta-
tive voice in the Councils Of the Republic.
We do therefore solemnly protest against the
indecorous and undignifed haste with which
the majority Of the House inaugurated, pre-
sented, and rushed through by strict party
vote, in plain and palpahle violation Of one of
the standing rules Of the House, resolution de-
manding the impeachment of the Chief Magis-
trate of the people, tor alleged high crimes and
misdemeanors in Office, when the gravity CT the
charge, character of the high Office against
which the attack was directed, and the unfore-
seen and tremendous consequences which might
result therefrom to the peace and prosperity of
the people, called for the exercise Of the calmest
and wisest judgment, the most unprecedented
and impartial deliberation on the part of those
who mad such proceedings in CHARGE ..
We do also most solemnly protest against
this thrice repeated attempt to degrade and
break down one of the great coordinate branch
of the Government, through the spirit Of par
ty hatred and vengeance against the person
who, by the Constitution, is in the rightful
and conscientious discharge of its functions;
thus consuming the precious time which ought
to be faithfully devoted to an earnest effort to
relieve the pressing wants OF the people, a
restoration of 4 torn and distracted country to
Union and good order, and to tightening the
burden of a taxation which is pressing down
point OF universal bankruptcy and ruin
We do again most solemnly protest against
and profoundly deprecate and deplore any and
all attempts to array in hostile antagonism to
each other any of the departments ofthe Gov
eminent upon the mere question ofthe coDsti-
tutionaity or construction of law of Con.
gress, the proper Jurisdiction and final adjudi-
cation of which belong exclusively to the judi
cial tribunals; and we hereby warn the people
of the United States that the public liberty
and the existence Of free institutions are in.
volved, and that they are in imminent peril of
utter overthrow in this suicidalstruggle.
We do further most solemnly protest against
that wild and radical spirit of innovation
upon the early and we'll settled practices Of the
| Government, practice established by the men
who framed the Constitution, and who best
understood its spirit and meaning, which put
the Chief Magistrate Of the Republic, the re-
preventative Of the dignity and power of the
people, at the mercy Of one Of his subordinates,
assuming to be Secretary Of War in violation
of his own pronounced conviction of the law,
| who.has the unblushiug efrontreyto place him
self in the unwarrantable position of commu
nicating directly with Congress in utter con-