The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-03-12

being thus excluded from being offered,
Mr.. Eldridge rose and said: 81 am in
structed by forty-fve members of the house
of representatives to presents communica-
ton from them to the house. 1t is re-
spectful in terms, and is, in my opinion,
privileged"
The Speaker-The gentleman may con-
slider that protest is privileged, but d.
gest should and is not SO considered in
parliamentary law.
Mr.. Eldridge-I ask consent to present
this communication from As members of
the house, and on that propose to submit a
motion.
Numerous objections were made on the
republican side.
Mr. Edridge-Then l ask consent to
have the communication printed in the
Globe.
Numerous objections were made.
Mr.. Farnsworth made the point of order
that under the order Of the house no prop
os:tion can be entertained, but that the
house should proceed to vote on the arti-
cles of impeachment.
The speaker sustained the point.
THE PROTEST.
The following is copy of the protest
sought to be presented:
The undersi gned, members of the 40th
congress of the United States, representing
directly, or in principle, more than one
half of the whole people of the United
States, do hereby, in the name Of law and
Justice, aud 10 behalf of those they repre-
sent, solemnly protest against the tyranny
aud injustice practiced by the majority of
the house, in violating the sacred rights of
free debate and uurestrained deliberation
upon the greatest question ever brought
before an American congress. The rules
of the house made for the protection Of
the minority, aud By strict adherence to
which the weaker party can only be pro-
tected from the irregularities aud abuses
which wantonness Of power is but too oft
en- apt to suggest to large and successful
majorities, have been, during the entire
congress, in violation of their true spirit
and intent, wantoply aud nprecedentedly
suspended aud set aside, not upon particu-
lar and pressing matters. but upon all pend
ing subjects Of legislation, so that, by this
reckless and arbitrary suspension of rules,
and the wanton abuse of the previous
question, the rights of the minority have
been utterly disregarded. The house Of
representatives has ceased to be deliber-
ative body, aud the minority have been
compelled to vote upon the most important
questions without any proper or reasonable
time for debate or consideration. TO such
i've practice obtained, that measures affect
ing vitaly the whole country, and the
dearest interests Of our constituencies, tend
ing, as we believe, to the subversion of our
republican form of government, in their
very nature demanding Of the people and
representatives the most careful examina-
ton aud scrutiny, have been hurried
through forms of legislation without being
printed, without one word Of debate or
one moments consideration, without tie
opportunity of he undersigned to protest,
except in violation Of the then operating
order enforced by the majority IS the or
der of the house These alarming abuses
K
formal protest, if we were not forced to be-
lieve that determined intention exists
with majority to rev0lutlonize the gov
ernment, by destroying the other co-ordi-
nate branches, and vesting all the powers
Of government IL congress. ln the steps
taken to depose the president Of the United
States, we are admonished that there is
no end to this oppressive measure to Grip
rle the power and silence the voice Of the
minority. The resolution was rushed
throug gh the house under the operation Of
the previous question, referring the mntter
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, considered, aud by a
strict party vote adopted and presented to
the house for its action and then was ex-
hibited one of the most extraordinary spec
tacles ever witnessed in deliberative par
liamentary body. Members were allowed,
some 80 minutes, some 20, some 10, and
some l minute only. to discuss the most
momentous question ever presented.
Many could not get even one minute unGer
the arbitrary rule of the 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 their speeches in the Globe
after the question upon the resolution was
decided, and which were never delivered
in the house. No comment can demon
strate more clearly than the facts them
selves, the viciousness and illegality of
such proceedings; but this wanton and ez-
cessive use of the power of the majority
does not stop here. While the committee
were in session upon further proceedings
to remove the president, and in acceptance
of its action under the operation of the pre-
vous question, without debate, in viola
ton of express rule, new, special, and most
extraordinary rules for the conduct ofthis
proceeding, changing without any particu-
lar notice the rules of the house, were
adopted, to further limit debate, aud CON-
pletely place tho minority in the power
and at the mercy of the majority. Thus,
while the majority of congress are warning
upon the coordinate departmen;s-the
executive and cndeavorug to
o,l h.,,.x tbo,, bo,l al -