Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-27
pailp Aennebtt Journal.
Augusta, Thursday AOrn'g, Mar. T, 1879.
The Senate Removals.

The removal of officers of the Senate by
the new democratic majority in that body
surpasses in partisanship anything ever
before known in the history of Congress
While in minority democrats exceed all
other parties in denouncing partisanshir
in the filling of Offices and the bestowal o.
official patronage but when they get the
power into their own hands they excel all
others in the partisan use they make of it
Their professions and practice are directly
opposed each to the other. Out of power
they bewail and denounce filling Offices
with partisans; in power they have no re-
gard to capacity, propriety or decency in
making changes at the call of their party.
1t might be presumed that in the Senate of
the United States. that most dignified and
conservative branch of the national Con-
gress, some regard would be paid to the
fitness and capacity of the officers of that
body, when so much is depending upon
those qualifications. and where mere parti-
sanship never yet controlled but the facts
are entirely the other way Men who have
served there under all kinds of administra-
tons. democratic, wing and republican,
without being disturbed-who were there
when Hamlin and Anthony first entered
the Senate-have been ordered to pack up
and leave to give place to hungry ex-Con-
federates who come up from the South in
swarms. OF the one hundred and twenty
officers in the Senate since 1861. thirty are
found to be democrats. In the debate in
relation to the proposed removals Senators
Anthony and Hamlin are reported as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Anthony (rep. r. l., said that nothing
he could do would prevent the foregone con-
clusion Of the majority to make a sweeping
change of officers, not because it was de-
manded by duty, but because partizanship de-
manded it. As one who held in respect, il
not in reverence, the precedents and usages
of the Senate, he desired to enter his protest,
though unavailingly, against the present in
convenience to which they would all be sub
jected, and the disturbance of the order OF
the business of the Senate which would occur
by the abrupt change Of officers. The Sen
ate, apart from the judiciary, was the most
conservative part Of the government, and I'M
like the House which continues only two
years--the Senate never dies. Since 1889
there had been only six Secretaries Of the
Senate. A republican Senate had heretofore
retained William Hickey, its chief clerk, and
he had continued in that Office until 1866
when he died The present Secretary of the
Senate Mr.. Gorham) succeeded Col. Forney
in 1868, and notwithstanding his ability, per
sonal character and accomplishments, he was
10 be removed without any complaint against
him or defect on his part When, twenty
years ago, Mr.. Anthony came here Senator,
the door was opened by the venerable man
who then had been in the service as many
years as Mr.. Anthony had been since.
There sat William J. Mcdonald, who twenty
three years before was appointed clerk on
the resignation of his father after service of
twenty-seven years. He remained in Office
nineteen years, and died as Chief Clerk OF the
Senate. The Senate attended his funeral
and Senators were pmong the pall-bearers.
When Mr.. Anthony came here he found Mr.
Titcomb in the document Room = man who
WAS esteemed by such men as Clay, Calhoun
and Benton, AS an accomplished gentleman,
and who had knowledge of all the documents
printed from the beginning of the Govern
ment. He remained in Office till he died, and
Via ,uoeeeoe' W een ,u . a under
left (Mr. Basset) entered the senate Sfty
years ago as page, and had for years served
a. as .ne doolkeep c VI the iZo officers OF the
democrats. He regretted the new densrture
but it was imposed by party behests.
mr.. hamiin rep: Me said that Mr..
three distinct parties. namely. tho dewo om
nn'neu ho' seeking 10 disturb NM Mr..
three distinct parties; and Mr.. Mcdonald.
another democrat died in Office a. the SEN