The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-03-30
Senator Kenna,s speech.

FiluaV, Ma.cn IL. 81 major hENNA. O.
West Virginia, though the Youngest
OF the U S. Senate. won the
reputation OF being one OF the ables
membsrs, by his great speech champion
ing the cause Of President CLtvELAND
His speech should be read by everybody
It so completely exhausts the question
as to the right Of the Senate ~ compel
the President to exhibit his reasons and
cause for suspending officials that no
fair. minded man can read it and not
know that President CLEVELAND is right.
The inconsistencies OF EDNUSDs, SHER
MAN and LOGAN were g. shown up tha,
hey squirmed under the lew and prece-
dents presented in his speech.
WASHINGTON of ~hom be said, il any
man ever was devoid OF partisan pref.
dice he was, is cited as refusing to re-
ppond to resolution OF the Hou,e re-
qulripg reasons for his executive actions.
Jackson and TYLER were both referred
to as refusing to submit papers to the
Senate in accordance with resolution
adopted by that body.
The great DANIEL WEBsrER was cited
as q witness. While he was Secretary
of State he refused to submit communi- :
cations in regard to officials, but ans swer-
ing the Senate as follows: Letters re
commencing individuals to Office are not
as offisiai COMMUNICATIONS
anv more than verbal recommendations
GRANT on being inquired OF By the
House as to the manner in which he eX
ercised his executive functions refused.
John SHERMAN Is witness against
himself and EDMUNDs. While he was
Secretary of the Treasury he reused to
give the reasons for the removal o.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR as C,llector OF Nav
York in the folio wing:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Nov l7,1S77.
SIR: Your letter dated the l5Ih instsn,
was received only this morning, and !
take the earliest moment to reply to it.
To answer in an official nav the ora
lions put to me, would not only compel
me to viola.e that trnst and confilrnce
feposed in me by the President, necessa
~ Tor the transaction Of business OF this
hut to disclose papers OF q
character fled in the Depart
ment and require me to enter into th~
discussion OF questions totally inmate
rial 10 the nominations submitted to the
Senate. do not think 1t within the just
limits of the intercourse Of the Senate
with the executive officers 10 answer In
writing. or even verbally, all the q ie--
lions submitted by you, nor have ever
known snch an instance.
The President has the power TO nomi.
nate to the Senate a proper persnn for
collector OF the port OF New YDik,
whether that office he already vacant or
not, aud 1t Is within the power OF The
Senate to either confirm or rel Ct.
These are Independent, powers N,law
-equires the President TO give the rea.
IONS for bic nominations, and 1t does
not appear that in this case the Senate
,ven has directed The irq TRY. The ten
act required of the President
he reasons OF suspension made during
! recess of the Senate, but this provision,
sfter very brief period, was repealed
10 answer your questions would compel
ne 10 state to committee OF the Senate
be reasons Of an appoiu By the
President, to disclose confidential c.m
between the President and
he Secretary and to enter into an ar
alignment and accusation of the otficers
In the free exercise Of ln-
dependent powers it is the common prac.
ice, as We both know, for the members
II the Senate to have fall conference
With the heads of Executive Departments
IN all matters in which the concnrren
lction of the President and Senate is re-
Ilired, and therefore it will give me
,leasnre to confer with The committee or
my member of It, on the subject OF the
i'ness OF the appoin ment Of Mr.. R rose.
7el' to the flee of collector OF the port
,f New York.
1t will also give me pleasure TO furnish
10 you, or to the Committee on Com.
nerce, or to any member OF the commit
Zee, in the usual way, the several reports
of the commission OF the New York GUS
tom house, upon which mainly the action
of the President was taken. As the in
progressed thess reports
made 1t of the highest pubic Importance
hat change should be made in the Lad
ng officers OF that service. 1t was be.
cause abuses were thus developed tha,
he President vas convinced that it was
with the public service to
retain in their present positions the col.
ec,or and naval officer.
The other cases mentioned by you un,
Ter the same envelope will he governed
by what is there stated, and with these
limits ! viii be happy to confer with you
Or the committee at your convenience.
Very respectfully,
john SHERMAN, Secretary.
Hon RoscoE CoKKLIvG
Chairman Com mittee on Commerce.
United States Senate
KENNA continued as follows:
verv respectfully submit throw that the
Senator from O.,io Mr. Sherman will
ind on ref c,ion that "this emergency"
9 not The 6rst time when he has heard OF
he distinction being made in the papers
n the Departments OF this Government
,s between private and public paper.
propose now TO state what helieve
% he the simple trnth, and to state II
,andidly, snd state it deliberately, that,
ooking at the history. OF this c,nirover-
" from the day OF lis inception down to
his moment in the light ot every fact
md every detail 1t has developed, the
)ne question and the onlv question In
'olved In this entire procedure is the sin-
gle one as TO whether the present chief oi
he executive department Of this govern.
nent shall be allowed in fulfiment OF his
obligations TO the people to administer
i through agencies of his own choice, or
be compelled by the obstructive power
IF majority In the Senate to he held by
The public 10 On accountability for an ad-
m tniatrat.an nf 49,. i.ch nfEna thrnunh