Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-03-12

power, and their constituents deprived Of all prop
er representative voice in the councils OF the re-
public.
We do, therefore, most solennly protest agains
the indecorous and undigni6ed haste with which
the majority of the House inaugurated, presented
and rushed through by strict party vote, in plair
and papabe violation Of one OF the standing rules
of the House, resolution demanding the impeach
ment of the Chief Magistrate of the people for al
legged high crimes and misdemeanors in office
when the gravity of the charge and the character
Of the high officer against which the attack wa
directed, and the unforeseen and tremendous con
sequences which might result therefrom to the
peace and prosperity of the people called tor the
calmest and wisest Judgment, the most unpreJu
diced and impartial deberaton on the part OF those
who had the proceedings in charge.
We do also most solemnly protest against this
thrice repeated attempt to degrade and break doWr
one of the great coordinate branches of the gov
ernment, through the spirit Of party hatred ano
vengeance against the person who, by the. consti
tution is in the rghtfu and conscientious discharge
of its function thus consuming the precious time
which ought to be faithfully devoted to earnest et
forts to relieve the pressing wants OF the people,
restoration of torn and devastated country tt
union and good order, and to tightening the bur
den of taxation which is pressing down the ener
gies of trade and commerce to the point Of unver
sal bankruptcy and ruin.
We do again most solemnly protest against, and
profoundly deprecate and deplore, any and all at
tempts to array in hostile antagonsm to each Other
any of the departments of the government upon
the mere question of the constitutionality or con
struction Of law of Congress- the proper jursdlc'
ton and final adjudication Of which belongs exclu.
sively to the judicial tribunals; and we: hereby
warn the people of the United States that the pub
lie liberty and the existence of free institutions are
involved and that they are in imminent danger o1
utter overthrow in this suicidal struggle.
We do further most solemnly protest against that
wild and radical spirit of innovation upon the early
and well settled practice of the government
practice established by the men who framed the
constitutions and who best understood its spirit and
meaning-which puts the Chief Magistrate of the
Republic, the representative of the dignity and
power of the people, at the mercy Of one of his
own subordinates, assuming to be Secretary of Wal
in violation of his own pronounced conviction o1
the law who has the unbushing effrontery to place
himself in the unwarrantable position of communi
eating directly with Congress, in utter contempt o1
the authority of his superior, and with the delibe
rate purpose of resisting his authority. &C., -~
The undersigned, therefore, in their character oi
representatives of the people, being deprived, by
the despotic power of an inexorable majority, o1
the high privilege of debate, that great instrument
in the discovery of truth, and the most cherished
heritage Of free people, do hereby, solemnly ano
earnestly protest against these infractons Of the
rights of the people, and respectfully ask that this
their protest, may be spread upon the journal o.