New-York tribune., 1878-03-02
A PRESIDENT WITHOUT FRIENDS.
AT LEAST IN CONGREss-NOT A MAN WHO WOULD
EVEN DO HIM THE HONOR OF FIGHTING 10
SECURE RESPECTFUL TREATMENT.

AT LEAST IN CONGRESS-NOr A MAN WHO WOULD
EVEN DO HIM THE HONOR OF FIGHTING 10
SECURE RESPECTFUL TREATMENT.
ICY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, March 1.-The one feature of the
proceedings IN Congress yesterday which has ex-
cited more comment than any other to-day rs people
here look back upon the matter, is the indecent
haste with which both Houses proceeded to vote on
the passage Of the Silver Bill without one word of
consideration or single suggestion that an i'm
pOrtant communication from the President of the
United States like the veto message worthy of
being treated al least with respect.
As soon as the message was read in the House the
Republicans as well the Democrats. the opponents
of the bill as well those who favored it. and the
friends of the President OK he has anyl well
those who dstrust him, equally anxious to pass
the bill at once and have done with it.
There has probably been similar exhibition of
the lack of cordial relations between the Executive
and Congress. General Grant never was assaied in
either House during the eight years of his admins
tratlon without having scores of his friends come
instantly to his defence; and they never allowed
any of his communications to be treated with dis
respect. The custom of Congress is strikngly
shown by the proceedings of the Senate in A pril,
1874, when President Grant vetoed the Initiation
Bill. When the message was laid before that body,
and had been read, Mr.. Conkiing said:
Mr.. President, the Constitution and the usages Of the
Senate together point out HE appropriate proceeding 10
be taken The Constitution provides that, Z" II he
hC PresidcuO approve he shall sign Uhc bid; but If
not he shall return with his objections 10 inst House
IN when 1t shall have originated; who shall enter the
objections at large tuClr journal and proceed
TO reconsider IT," IT might he supposed that the
language Ot tie Constitution coUtcmpItcd necessarily
immediate rrcOnsiGcIatiOn Tine uf the senate
Likely consume further time. which we think
would he convenient to GSpO~" OF. The message OF
course. want to Ir!ni and rave opportunity
10 examine ana unless We So on -ai urdJH We shall not
be At tc make much progress THIS week Monday, a7
alTrdT know, is to bc devoted 10 Ohsery. On
which we cannot we'll euc"uJCI tthc %, therefore,
t;at il viii The pl,asU, the Sruac To- take mp the
week I'm that move tnat the message Dc priutei
ana ne on tht table with the oil.
This motion was arIecd to without n dissenting
voice. But there 80 Republican who was ready
10 move to lay President Hayes's message on the
table in order that il might be printed and when
Democrat j5ir Nnytci did s. Inc motion was de-
fc2tcd by an Ovcrv dciWWg ~ jprity, and Tie yeas
ANA nays were not even called Fey. ii thc President
has auy friends IN CONGRESS thcr. never was bette.
time for ,Ac'l 70 SHOW themselves lh1u Yo-tcr-
day. The question az Issue W., uot polIt-
zeal ore. i'm the sense that ms treat cut
ot the South and of the qgr't.nn ot civil
Service reform are political. Eyuylni must have
admitted that such a message H. be sent 10 Con-
Clc,s was at least deserving ui Is much cou>dcra-
ton and deiIbcratlOu dS ne gave 10 tins hliI, aud
yet no one raised his voice III favor OF respectful
treatment Of the Presidents communication.