Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-03-26
NEW SERIES--V0L. s, NO. 35

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Members were allowed, some thirty
minutes, some twenty, some ten
some five, some one minute TO discuss
the most momentous questions ever
presented in Congress Many could
not even get one minute under the
arbitrary rule of the majority and
more than half of these, even, of the
parts 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
were mover delivered in the House.
No comment can demonstrate more
completely than the facts themselves
the viciousness and iIegality of such
proceedings. But this wanton and
excessive use of the power Of the ma
Jority does not stop here. While the
Committee were in session upon the
further proceedings 20 remove the
President, and in anticipation Of its
action under the operation of the ''pre.
vious question" without debate, in vi
olation Of an express rule, now, special
and most extraordinary rules for the
conduct of this proceeding, changing
without previous notice the standing
rules OF the House, were adopted to
further limit debate, and more COM
pletely to place the minority in the
power and at the mercy of the major
ity. Thus while the majority of Con-
gress are warning upon the other CO.
ordinate departments, the executive
and the judicial, endeavoring to 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 rep.
resentative voice in the councils of
the republic.
We do, therefore, most solemnly
protest against the indecorous and un
dignified haste with which the major
ity of this House inaugurated, presen-
ted and rushed through, by a strict
party vote, in plain and palpable vic.
lation Of one of the standing rules OF
the House, a resolution demanding
the impeachment Of the Chief Magis-
trate of the people, for alleged high
crimes and misdemeanors in office,
when the gravity of the charge, the
character of the high office against
which this attack was directed. and
the unforeseen and tremendous conse-
quences which might result therefrom
to the peace and prosperity of the peo-
pie, called for the exercise of the calm
est and wisest judgment, the most un-
prejndicial and impartial deliberation
on the part of those who had such
proceedings in charge.
We do most solemnly protest against
this thrice repeated attempt TO de-
grade and break down one ofthe great
coordinate branches of the govern
ment, through the spirit OF party ha-
tired and vengeance against the per-
son who by the Constitution is in the
rightful and conscientious discharge
Of its functions, thus consuming the
precious time which ought to be faith
fully devoted TO an earnest effort TO
relieve the pressing wants of the peo-
pie, a restoration of a torn and dis
tracted country to union and good or
der, and to tightening the burden Of
a taxation which is pressing down all
the energies Of trade and commerce
TO the point of universal bankruptcy
and ruin. We do again most solemn
ly protest against and profoundly dep
recate and deplore any and all at
tempts TO array in hostile antagonism
TO each other any Of the departments
Of the Government upon the mere
question of the constitutionaiity or con-
struction of a law OF Congress, the
proper jurisdiction and final adiudica-
tion of which belongs exclusively TO
The judicial tribunals and we here
by yarn the people of the United
States that the public liberty and the
existence of free institutions are in
volved in this suicidal struggle, and
that they are in imminent peril of ut.
ter overthrow.
We do further most solemnly pro
Test against the wild and radical spir-
i Of innovation upon the early and
well-settled practice of the govern.
nent--a practice established by the
men who framed the Constitution, and
who best understood its spirit and
neaning-which puts the Chief Ma
yistrate Of the Republic, the represen-
iative of the dignity and power of the
people, at the mercy of one of his sub
,rdinates assuming TO be the Secreta.
" OF War in violation Of his own pro-
1ounced convictions Of the law who
has the unblushing effrontery to place
himself in the unwarrantod position
If communicating directly with Con-
yrcss in utter contempt OF the author.
ty of his superior and with the delib-
,rste purpose ofresisting his authority.
The undersigned, therefore, in char
lcter of Representatives of the people,
being deprived by the despotic power
If an irrevooable majority, OF the high
of debate, that great instru.
nent In the discovery of truth and
he most cherished heritage ola free
people, do hereby solemnly and earn.
,stly protest against these infractions
If the rights OF the people, and respect
nlly ask that this, their protest, may
De spread upon hejournal ofthe House
Charles A. Eldridgc, w.R. Niblack,
7. Van Trump, W. :. Holman,
Geo. W. Woodward, Demas Rarncs,
W. Mungen, A. ]. Glossbrcnner,
stephen Taher. Lawrence Getl,
Geo. NJ Adams, h. NJ Bower,
Geo. W. Morgan, Stephenson Archer,
Samuel II. Axiell, Julius llotchkiss,
;. ;. Marshall Albert q. Barr,