The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-07

In the House on the I'd, Mr.. Eldridge rose aud
aid; :" am instructed by forty-fve members Of
nunicston from them to the House. II is re-
'pectful in terms and is. in my opinion, priv
|eged."
The speaker-The gentleman may consider that
b protest is privileged, but digest should and is
lot 30 considered in parliamentary law.
Mr.. Eldridge-I ask consent to present this
Communication from forty-fve members of the
House, and on that propose 10 submit motion.
Numerous objections were made on the repub.
Yican side.
Mr.. Eldridge-Then ask consent to have the
Communication printed In the Globe.
Numerous objections were made.
Mr.. Fsrnsworth made the point Of order that
binder the order Of the House no proposition can
Be entertained, but that the House should pro.
reed TO vote on the articles of impeachment.
The speaker sustained the point.
THE PROTEST.
The following Is a copy Of the protest sought to
be presented The undersigned, members Of the
Forteth Congress Of the United States, represent
ing directly, or in principle, more than one-half
pf the whole people Of the United States, do
hereby in the name Of law and justice, and in be-
balf Of those they represent, solemnly protest
against the tyranny and injustice practced by the
majority Of the House, IN violating the sacred
rights Of free debate and unrestrained delibera.
Zion upon the greatest question ever brought be-
fore the American Congress. The rules of the
House, made for the protection Of the minority,
Bnd by a strict adherence to which the weaker
party can only be protected from the iTrega-
Iarites and abuses which wantonness Of power
Dc but too often apt 10 suggest TO large and sue
cessful majorities, have been, during this entire
Congress in violation OF their true spirit aud in
Gent, wantonly and unprecedentedly suspended,
bnd set aside, not upon particular and pressing
MATTERS, but upon all pending subjects OF legis-
Baton, SO that, by this reckless and arbitrary sus
pension Of rules and the wanton abuse OF the pre-
Sious question, the rights Of the minority have
been utterly disregarded The House OF Repre-
&entatiyes has ceased TO be deliberative body,
land the minority have been compelled to vote up
pn the most important questions without any
/proper or reasonable time for debate or consider
/ation. To such an extent has this dangerous and
Oppressive practice obtained that measures
<affecting vitality the whole country, and the dear
Vest interests of our constituencies, tending,
believe TO the snbversion OF our republican form
of government in their very nature demanding Of
the people and representatives the most careful
Examination and scrutiny, have been hurried
through forms oflegislation without being printed,
without one word of debate or one moments con
federation, without the opportunity OF the uader-
/signed 10 protest except In violation OF the then
+ operating order enforced by the majority as the
<order of the House. These alarming abuses Of
: power might not seem to demand this formal pro-
test If We not forced to believe that deter
mined intention exists with majority to revou-
tionize the government, by destroying the other
coordinate branches, and vesting ell the powers
of government in Congress. In the steps taken TO
depose the president Of the United States, we
are astonshed there is no end TO the oppres-
sive measure TO cripple the power and silence
\ the voice of the minority. The resolutionywas
rushed through the House under the Operations Of
the previous question: referring the matter TO the
. committee on reconstruction. The committee, in
. hot haste, sitting when the House was in session,
in violation Of one OF its express rules, con
sidered, and by a strict party vote adopted and
4 presented TO the House for its action; and then
was exhibited one of the most extraordinary
epectaclesever witnessed in deiiberative parlia-
mentaTy body. Members were allowed, some
thirty minutes, some twenty, some ten, and some
4 one minute only, to discuss the most momentous
question ever presented. Many could not even
get one minute under the arbitrary rule OF the
4 majority; and more than half of those even OF
the party voting to enforce the previous question
. who desired to be heard, were permitted only to
print speeches IN the Globe after the question
upon the resolution was decided, and which are
4 never delivered in the House. No comment can
demonstrate, more completely than the facts
themselves, the vicousness and ilegality OF such
proceedngs but this wanton and excessive use
4 OF the power of the majority does not stop here.
While the committee were in session upon further
proceedings 10 remove the president, and in ac-
ceptance Of its action under the operation OF the
previous question, without debate, In violation OF
express rule, new, special, and most extraordi-
nary rules for the conduct of this proceeding,
changing without previous notice the rules OF the
House, we're adopted TO further limit debate, and
completely place the minority In the power and
at tie mercy of the majority. Thus, while the
majority of Congress are warning upon the other
coordinate departments-the executive and ID
dicial-endeavorin 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 representa-
tive voice in the counsels Of the republic
We do therefore most solemnly protest against
lie indecorous and undigniied haste with which
tie majority Of the Hoase inauguraied, presented
4 and rushed through, by strict party vote, u
i plain and palpable violation Of one OF the stand
ipg rules Of the House. the resolution demanding
4 the impeachment OF the chief magistrate OF thu
people for alleged high crimes and misdemeanor
In office, when the gravity OF the charge, the
4 character Of the high Office against which this a.
tack was directed and the Unforeseen and tremen
i dous consequence which might result therefron
i to the peace and prosperity OF the people
called for the exercise OF the Gaines
and wisest judgment, the most unparalleled ant
i impartial deliberation on the part Of those wit
had such proceedings in charge. We do mos
eolemnlv protest against this thrice repeated a.
tempt 10 degrade and break down one CT th
great coordinate branches Of the governp1ea
through the spirit of party hatred and vengeance
against person who. by the Constitution, Is i
riehtful and conscientious discharge OF its fuoc
tons, thus consuming the precious time whlc
ought TO be faithfully devoted to an earnest efor
TO relieve the pressing wants OF the people, The
restoration of this distracted country TO uni0
and good order. and to tightening the burden 0
taxation which IL pressing down all the energie
OF trade and commerce to point Of universe
bankruptcy and ruin.
We do again most solemnly protest against. an
profoundly deprecate aud deplore any and all at
tempts to array in hostile antag01ism to eac
other, of the departments of the governmsn
upon mere question Of c0nsututi0nality or con
siruction of law o: Congress, the proper juris
.diction and final adjudication OF which belong ex
clusiyely to the Judicial tribunals; aud we hereb
warn the people of the United States that Ia
public liberty and the xstence Of free ms tuition
are involved in this suicidal struggle, and tina
they are in imminent peril Of utter overthrow.
We do further most solemnly protest agains
that Wild aud radical spirit Of innovation uqor
the early and welsettled practice Of the govern
ment-a practice established by the men VIII
framed the Constitution, and who best undel
stood its spirit and meaning, which puts the chic
magistrate Of the republic, the representative (
the dignity and power OF the people, at u
mercy Of one OF his sabordinates, assuming
be secretary of war, in violation Of his own pre-
nounced conviction Of law-wh0 has the unblust
ing efironteTy 10 place himself in the unga
tainted position of communicating directly Wit
Congress, in utter contempt Of thesauthority
his superior, and With the deliberate purpose
resisting his authority.
The undersigned, therefore, in the character
REPRESENTATIVES of the people, being deprived b
A. 1o.,of;c novraru 81 an inc x0r hla maturity