Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-03
A FIGHT ON GEN. LAWT0N
HIS NOMINATION TEMPORARILY
WITHDRAWN.

.Tne action the Result of Republican
Allegations That the Generals POliti-
cal Disabilities Have Not Been Re
mOved-COI. Clifford Anderson Being
Pressed for a Consulate.
WASHINGTON. April 2.-The nomfna-
tion of Gen. A. r. Lawton, of Georgia, to
be Minister to Russia was withdrawn by
the President this afternoon. This is
really in Gen, Lawton' interest. Senator
Edmunds objected in tue executive ses-
sion to his confirmation, on the ground
that his political disabilities had never
been removed. To this the Georgia Sena-
tors responded that he had received a full
pardon from President johnson in 1867.
Mr.. Edmunds insisted that this did not
remove his political disabilities. He
quoted section 3 Of the fourteenth amend
ment The portions which he held to ap-
"No person shall hold any ofiee un-
der the United States who, hav-
Ting previously taken an oath as an
officer of the United States to support the
constitution Of the United States, shall
have engaged in insurrection or rebellion
against the same or given aid and COM
fort to the enemies thereof, but Congress
NAV, by a vote Of twO-tbirds Of each
! House. remove such disability" Then
| the Georgia Senators cOntendCd that Gen.
LawtOn had never taken an Oath TO sup
port the constitution of thAUnited States,
and that the oath he took was a mere
| oath of allegiance, but the Republicans
seemed determined to defeat the coniir-
nation, so the nomination was with
drawn.
BAYARD's VIEWS.
The President and Secretary Of State
will examine the question of law care
fully before acting further in the matter.
The Secretary Of State is understood to
hold that the pardon granted by Presi-
dent Johnson removes the disability in
CURED by Gen. Lawton. If the President
comes to agree with him Gen. LawtOn
will be appointed Minister to Russia.
/ This now seems probable.
/ Senator'S ColQuitt and Brown will see
/ the President tomorrow in Gen. Lawt0n's
interest. Senator Colqujtt will probably
60 home tomorrow night, and Senator
/ Brown on Saturday morning.
Previous to the discussion in the Sem
ate the Committee on Foreign Relations
/ had renOrted the nomination adversely,
the majority being of the opinion that
| although Gen. LawtOn had received full
/ pardon and amnesty from President john
I son in February. 1867, vet by the four
teenth amendment to the constitution he
was Ineligible because his political dis
abilities had not been removed by Con-
gress. The committee reported this as
/ the only objection to the confirmation of
Gen. LawtOn. q
During the discussion q message was
received from President Cleveland, ask
ing that action be suspended, and, later,
Il 4 ]. -
action was taken on account of the COM
mittee's adverse report, the administra-
tiOn being of the opinion that President
! JOhnsOn's pardon rendered Gen. LawtOn
eligible. 1t was the last message receiv-
ed by the Senate from the President, and
was as follows:
80 the Senate Of the United States.
i hereby withdraw the nomination
which was delivered to the Senate on
March 30. 1888, Of Alexander r. LawtOu
to be Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
| PlenipOtentiary Of the United States to
Russia. GROVER CLEVELAND"
A CONSULATE FOR COL. ANDERSON.
Senators Colquitt and Brown to-day adj
dressed a letter to the President and the
Secretary Of State recommending the ap-
pOintment of Col. Clifford w. Anderson,
of Savannah. to a hrst-clas CsOnsulate.
Representative-elect Norwood will in
dOrse this recommendation. There is
excellent authority for the statement that
if Georgia had not already received three
important appointments in the diplO-
matte service, including two missions,
Col. Anderson would be appointed at least
a Minister Resident. But as Georgia has
I been so highly favored, his friends are dis.
posed to make but a modest request for
him His appOintmeuttO good Consulate
I is extremely probable. His endorsements
are numerous and tlattering. Among them
are letters from President OF Smith, Col
Anderson's alma mater at Lexington,
! Wa. and from President G. w, 4. Lee, OF
Washington and Lee University. The in
huences behind Col. Anderson are not
only political but social. His
family connections North and South
are very influential. One Of
his most ardent supporters is Gov. Nc
Lane, the newly appointed Minister TO
France. If Minister McLane can ar
range It Col. Anderson viii be given
Consulate in France. Bordeaux, Hayre,
Lyons and Marseilles are all good places.
WHY THE NOMINATIONS WENT OVER.
The nominations which went over to-
day because Of the sine die adjournment
of the Senate Will all be converted into
appointments, where. as is the fact in
most cases, vacancies exist. Most Of
them went over simply because they
were not reached This is particularly
true Of the cOnsulatcs. The Senate
Republicans determined 20 reject an
nominations made to I'M vacancies caus-
ed by removals except whore good cause
was shown for the removal. Under this
rule the Senate viii probably refuse 20
confirm next winter some appointments
which the President viii make during the
recess.
PEARsON's CONFIRMATION.
Postmaster poarson's nomination went
! through the Senate very easily. After All,
Mr.. Beck roared against its confirmation
/ very gently, and there Was practically no
other opposition. The majority OF the
/ Democrats did not vote at all
ON the case. An the Republi.
/ cans voted for his confirmation.
/ The Democrats are settling down
| TO the conviction that Mr. PearsOn's re-
/ aupointment was a disagreoable neces-
/ shy. They say that il Mr.. Cleveland does
moi regard 10 as a precedent, they cer-
/ tainly need not, and so 10 will stand by
/ itself The President, 10 is understood,
| has not bad time yet 20 consider the New
/ York C0llectorsnip question. There DE-,
/ however, excellent reason for stating that
mo- professional politician Will De ap-
pointed 10 thIs place.
THE OFFICE SEEKING THE MAN.
! The Secretary Of State has been trying
/ 10 reach samuel Wilson, "a distinguished
Democratic lawyCrof san Francisco, for
gpyoral DAYS With "a view Of Offering him
/ T.. f....t,.t,. -eftnuoarI tO Hn.flut go