The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-27
FORTY.NINTH CONGRESS-.
THE EDMUNDS RESOLUTIONS
PASSED THE SENATE.
Senator Edmunds Of the Opinion
That Garland Can Be Impiis-
Oned-The House.

Presidents message transmitting the
report of the Civil Service Commits
sion. Referred.
Among the bills introduced was one
by Senator Hosr providing for in
quests under national authority. Re-
feued TO the judiciary Committee.
The Edmunds resolutions were then
placed before the Senate and Senator
ingalls, took the floor.
Senator Ingalls, spoke at great length
in support OF the resolutions, and at
the conclu'ion OF his remarks was APP
plauded by ihs Republicans.
Senator Logan then addressed the
Senats in support OF the resolutions.
Senator Logan declared himself in
favor CT open sessions, and in con-
Guiding said he respected the Pre'i-
dent as pleasant gentleman, but that
gentleman was mistaken in the idea
that he was anything more than an
American citizen, placed in his Office
to execute the will OF the people. A
Senator had said that in passing these
resolutions the S3Da'e could accom-
plsh nothing; it could not get the
papers. Well, that might be as things
were, but We could at least bring to
the notice OF officials a.d everybody
elsa, that no men could be Cesar in
this country. We 60 before the coun-
try and let the country decide. Sena-
tor Logan's speech was listened to
with marked attention, and excited
much favorable comment.
Senator Edmunds followed in sup
port of the msjority. The policy OF
the present administration, he said,
had been without precedent, and
would be without an imitator.
Senator Edmunds, in closing the de-
bate, reviewed the whole question
carefully, and contsnded that the two
houses OF Con ,ress had a right to see
the papers affecting the business Of Il 9
government. II, taid Senator Ed
munds, you look out Of this very pres
euce at this moment, the influence OF
Executive patronage to be given tn
Senators and their friends, there would
not be five votes in this chamber
against any one OF all the TesolutieG s
proposed by the Judiciary Committee.
There is the grip and the sex"
believe ss the Scripture Gays,
"Kuows his masters state" and
anybody here, Senator Edmunds said,
who bad been henchman,
or friend who was not in office, or be-
ing in Office was liable to be turned
out, who would vote against his party
10 cay that there should be revealed
the things told today by the Senator
from Indiana (Harrison), the Senator
from Illinois logan and the Senator
nom Kansas (Inga'ls) would find that
the lines of political preference would
fall in other places than theirs. The
Republican party, he said, was in
favor Of preserving liberty, JUS
tice, equal rights and fair play
and would 90 steadily forward
through thick and thin, FOL
the preservation OF a civil and pc
liticai liberty. They would 20 on tc
viudicsts the political rights Of every
American citiEsn-now overthrowD
swamped and suffocated in many
States OF the Union, and when it hsC
done that IL would try, in spite o
Democratic opposition, to give to thu
labor of the people, which was thu
peoples capitalists We llth-that pro
lection, encouragement and defeDs
that was the right Of labor, which wa
the capital of every honest working
man in the United States. [Applaus,
in the galleries.
The question was then on Senate
Van Wyck's amendment providin
shat in all such cases Of removal tn
matter OF confirmation will be cor
sidered in open session OF the Senate.
Senator Van Wyck made a strop
speech in advocacy Of the amend
ment.
Senator Logan said that he woul
vote for the amendment but for tn
fact that it was thought that it woul
cucumber the resolutions.
Senator Hoar raised the point tbs
the amendment was not in order, il
asmuch as it changed the rules OF tn
Senate, and no notice had been give
of it.
The President pro tenn. sustaine
the point OF order and an appeal take
by Senator Butler was laid upon tb
table-yeas, 81; nays, %. This was
strict party vote, except that Senator
Van Wyck and Riddleberger vote
with the Democrats, The vote is M
considered q test OF strength OF To
proposition for open executive sc
sions, since the Republicans who fave
the principle voted to table 1t aud tt
appeal and the Democrats who Of
pose it voted against tabliug it.
Senator Harris having demanded
separate vote upon the Edmunds res
lutions, the first resolution adoptlII
the report OF the Committee on Il
Judiciary was adopted--yeaS, 80; nay
! %.
The second resolution, condemnir
) the refusal OF the Acknowledgement
, send copies OF papers called Tor
the Senate, was adoptsd-yeas, .
nays, %.
The question being on the third re
olution, declaring it to be the duty
the Senate to refuse its advice 81
v consent to proposed removals OF Of
= cers the documents in reference to &
8 supposed misconduct of whom 9
|. withheld, Senator Gray raised I
5 point that Il changed a rule OF the Sc
S ate and was not in order.
l. The President pro tenn. overrul
8 the point OF order and Senator Gr
3 appealed from the decision.
Senator Morgan, inferring irt
some remarks OF Senator Edmun
that he held the Senate to hav'
|. rightto imprison the Attorney-G'
{ eral for refusing TO answer the
! mand made on him in this resolutlC
6 INQUIRED Of Senator Edmunds whetf
! that inference was correct.
= Senator Edmunds replied that
n was bound to say, for the progress
" constitutional liberty and law, Il
any officer of the United States exc
the President, about which he wo'
a 90 into no discussion now, was L
n fully bound to answer demand
"A either house Of Congress, and that
- he failed he could be punished 10
!. contempt
~ Senator Morgan-The Senator
r. stated in his resolution that the
~ torney. General is lawfully bound
q obey this order.
- II a. M,gt ,.nAnU