Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-03-06
The Debate in the Senate.

The Debate in the Senate.
The Washington correspondent Of the Bos-
ton Adre'tiser gives the following summary
! of the debate in the Executive Session Of the
Senate, February 81. The statements in
respect to Mr.. Stanton's intention of resign
ing, till prevented by the Presidents arbitra-
ry course, will be noted as of special inter
est:
The act of the Executive met with strong
condemnation from every republican Senator
who SPOKE, and | believe that nearly every
man of them had something to say Mr.
Doolittle and one or two others of the con-
seryatiyes attempted to apologize for it by
saying that johnson meant nothing but good
for the country, by putting things into such
shap1nthat the conslitutiouaity Of the tenure
of Office act could be tested before the courts.
This chaff caught nobody, and Mr.. Doolittle
was answered that the President had no right
to make such case. = Anarchy will come
again" said Mr. Trumbull. . if laws made
in proper manner are to be treated as un-
constitutional until the Supreme Court de
cides otherwise if the President violates
the law he must be held responsible, as any
other man is and he cannot plead good in I
tent any more than thief or murderer"
Something was said about Mr. Stantou's OBJ /
stinacy in trying % stick to the war office /
after he had been reinetatcd, though the .
President would not allow him to enter the .
White House and would hold no interview /
with him To this il was answered bv au-
thority that at first he had no idea Of remain
Ing in the department except until his sue
cessor could be agreed upon by the President
and the Senate that he prepared a letter Of
resignation and would have forwarded it to
the President on the third or fourth dav af-
ter resuming his duties, if the action Of the
Senate had been respected by Mr.. johnson
that the President authorized the ano~urc-
ment that Mr. Stanton would not he rrcpg-
nized as Secretary of War by the admini.rra-
ton. either directly or indirectly that this
was not only fragrant contempt of the Sen
ate, which has equal power under Che Con
stitution with the President in the makingof
cabinet ministers, but gross insult % Mr.
Stanton, and Of such a character that mo man
with decent ,eli-reeVect would theu have
rendered his resignation, and that, therefore,
the President has only himself rn blame t,r.
Mr. StantJn's continuance IN Office.
twas held by all republican senator, from
The beginning IF the debate. balirye.that the
President had 10 right o. arpliuJa Secretary
IF War al fHt'rm during the session If the
senate, bat several senators. iucladiu- such
awyers as Messrs Irumbali, Fe--eui-n, D
Drake and Ehnuuds were mot wholly clear .
N the point ol his right {, remove. they
iii not take ground in favor of this right by q
my mean, but as Mr. Fr>seudcn said th.re ,
re several laws bearing on the subject and 3
{ was not wise 10 assert off hand am opinion q
IN such AN important legal question. Nc-,r- J
sumner, Chandler Pomeroy, Wilson, Harlan. }
onklng. and indeed many Others We're cu-
irclv positive that the President had ul right
make removal 1t was suggested hy two
II three persons that the executive c5mmuu-
cation be- referred to the Judiciary c1mmittce
or an examination oi the law. bat tins found
ittle favor. MIR. Wilson arguing warmly that
he cm rs-ury demanded Immediate action
This view finally prevailed, and Mr.. Wilson,
es,lution. considerably toned down from it-
Tigiua form was adopted It viii Doe seen
hat this does not. in direct terms, deny the
light to remove. but passes upon both the
residents act- at once, and denies the right {
o remove ami appoint li iHf.r1ui.