The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-03-03

the inauguration OF president in political
accord with both branches of congress, the
sections of the act regulating suspensions
from office during the recess Of the senate.
were entirely repealed and in their place
were substituted provisions which, instead
of limiting the causes of suspension to mis-
conduct, crime. disability or misconduct,
expressly permitted such suspension by the
president in his discretion and completely
abandoned the requirement obliging him to
report to the senate the evidence and rea-
sons for his action.
with these notifications and with all
branches of the government in political har-
mony and in the absence of partisan in
centive to captious obstruction, the law as
it is was left by the amendment of 1869, was
much less destructive of executive discre-
ton President Cleveland then says that
President Grant, for whose freer admins
tration of his high office the most hateful
restraints" of the tenure of office law We're
repealed in his first message to congress ad-
vocated the repeal of that law, and quotes
from President Grants message the passage
so advocating. He then continues: And
so it happens that after an existence of nearly
twenty years of almost innocuous desuetude
these laws are brought forth, apparently the
repealed as well as the unrepealed, and put
in the way of an executive who is willing,
if permitted, to attempt an improvement in
the methods of administration.
The constitutionality of these laws is by
no means admitted. Bat why should the
provisions of the repealed law, which re-
uuired specific cause for suspension AMI a
report to the senate of evidence and rea-
| sons be now in effect, applied to the pres
ent executive, instead OF the law, afterward
passed and unrepealei, which distinctly per-
mits suspensions by the president in his dis
cretion' and carefully omits the eiuire-
ment that evidence and reasons for his &C
ton in the the case shall be reported to the
senate, the requests and demands which by
the score have for nearly three months
been presented to the different departme ants
| of the government, whatever may lie their
| form, have bnt one complexion. They as
sumo the right OF the senate to set in iudG.
| ment upon the exercise OF my exclusive dis
| erection and executive function, for which
| AIN solely responsible to the people from
whom | haze SO lately received the sacred
trust of Office Ny oath to support AMI Dc
fend the constitution my duty TO the PEG
pie who have chosen me to execute the pow
| ers of their great office, and not to relin-
| quish them and my duty 20 the chief mag
| istracy which | must preserve unimpaired
| in all its dignity and vigor, compel me to
refuse to comply with these demands.
ITO the end that the service may be i'm
| proved, the senate is invited to the fullest
scrutiny of the persons submitted to them
for public office, in recognition of the con-
stitutional power of that body to advise and
consent to their appointment l shall con-
tinue as have thus far done TO furnish, al
the request of the confirming body, all thu
information l possess touching the fitness OF
the nominees placed before them for theil
action, both when they are proposed to fill
vacancies and TO take the place of suspended
officials. Upon refusal to confirm | shall
not assume the right to ask the reasons for
the action of the senate nor question its de
termination can not think that anything
more is required to secure worthy incum
| bents in publ Office than a careful and in
| dependent discharge of our respective du-
ties within their well-defined limits
1t has been claimed that the present
executive having pledged himself not to re
move officials except for cause, the fact of
their suspension implies such miseondu Oh
the part OF suspended official as Injuries
his character AMI reputation, and therefore
the senate should review the case for his
vindication | have said that certain
officials should not, i'll my opinion, be Ie
moved during the continuance Of the term
for which they were appointed solely for
the purpose OF putting in their place thos
/ in political utilization with the appointing
| power; and this declaration was Immediately
followed by description of official partisan
ship which ought not to entitle those in
whom it was exhibited TO consideration 1t
| is not apparent how an adherence t. the
course thus announced carries with it the
consequences described. If in any degree
the suggestion is worthy of consideration it
is to be hoped that there may be defense
against unjust suspension III the justice OF
the executive
Every pledge which | have made by
which have placed limitation upon my
exercise of executive power has been faith.
fully redeemed OF course the pretense i;
not put forth that no mistakes have been
committed; but not suspension has been
made except it appeared to my satisfaction
that the public welfare would be improved
thereby. Many applications for suspension
have been denied, and the adherence to the
rule laid down TO govern my action as to
such suspensions has caused much irritation
and impatience on the part of those who
have insisted upon more change in the
offices The pledges have made were made
TO the people and to them am responsible
for the manner in which they have been re
deemed / AM not responsible to the senate,
and | am unwilling TO submit my actions
and official conduct to them for Judgment
"There are no grounds for an allegation that
the fear OF being found false t. my profss
sions influences me in declining to submit tc
the demands of the senate | have not con.
stantly refused to suspend officials, and thus
incurred the displeasure Of political friends
and yet willfully broken faith With people
for the sake of being false to them.
Neither the discomfort of party friend,
nor the allurements constantly offered OF
combinations of appOlntees conditioned
upon the avowal that suspensions have beer
made on party grounds alone, nor the threat
proposed III the resolutions now before the
senate that no combinations will be made
unless the demands OF that body be con-
piled with are sufficient to discourage or de
ter me from following in the way which
AIN convinced leads to better government fol
the people. GROVER CLyvELAND."
1t is not expected that debate on the issu,
between the president and senate will be re
viyei until the educational bill is dis
posed of.
Above all other earthly ills
| hate the big, old-fashoned pill;