Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-10

ave nad even considered IL. was
possible to carry on the Government II
that way? lie tEdmunds) thought not
There was about fifty years ago very
celebrated senator from southern
State who, on similar occasion, in al
executive session concerning the Pan
ANA mission--IIayne, Of South Caro-
Misunderstanding a resolution which Il
was proposed the Senate should adop
for the purpose Of getting possession o
all the facts relating to an assembly
Of congress of the South American anc
Central American States and the Unitec
States, some very Jealous friends o
the President apparently opposing the
resolution-said: However the gen
tleman may be enamored Of this new
doctrine Of confidence in rulers, it is not
a aground ! apprehend on which the Sen
ale ought to act in fulfilling their consti
tutional duty Of giving advice to the
President. If we are TO act by faith
and not by knowledge, we have
no business to be here" lie ed
mundS) thought so too. The know.
ledge was denied, and if the Senate
acted in the direction that the AttOr.
ney-General and the President desired
it to act in putting through these 643
or $50 removals and appointments by
faith and not by knowledge, then he
agreed with Senator Iayne that "we
have no business to be here" lie
would say in fairness to the gen.
tlemen on the other side-the
minority-as they say in their report
that there had been no instances OF
calling for papers in such case as this
that had bCen obeyed until 1867, that
it was true, because until 1867 there
was no statute authorizing the Presi-
dent to suspend any official at all. II
was, therefore, to him a perfectly easy
and safe proposition thatuntil 1867 no
case Of a call for papers had
appeared in which the President OF
head Of department had acceded to the
demand. Perhaps the minority had
simply meant to say that the Senate
bad never with success called on the
President for his reasons for removal.
In 1885 President Jackson removed
surveyor general man named
Wirtz--as he had lawful right to do.
lie had not suspended him. There
was no law for suspensions. He
appointed to fill the vacancy a
man named Williamson. The Senate
called on the President for papers and
information regarding the removal Of
WITT. The President replied in a
Characteristic message, saying in SUBJ
stance that that was one of the nu-
merous calls made on him by the Sen
ate which he had hitherto complied
with, but he was going to stop now ;
that be had removed Writ, a.
he had a right to do, and the
reason was none Of the Senate's bust
ness. The Senate next day, without
division. rejected Williamson, although
in the very mes Sage in which the Presi-
dent said he would not tell anything
about what Writ had been doing he
took particular pains to say that Will
hanson was one Of the beSt.qualiied
ard most valuable personages he had
ever known. That was the end of the
affair between President jackson and
the Senate on the subject Of papers
about appointments. The minor
ity Of the committee had said
truly that no such spectacle as this had
ever been witnessed during the time the
Democrats had control of the Senate
from 1879 to 1881, and the President
in his supplementary minority report
to the deliberations Of the Senate had
stated with fitness Of rhetoric which
was as changing as it was unique that
these statutes Of the United States
and tie practice under them had
now for many years fallen into
state Of innOcuOus desuctude." II
that were true it ought to be one Of the
missions of the President in discharg-
ing the duty that the Constitution i'm
parts to him to take that statute out OF
disuSe If be might use shorter and
humber phrase, and as he was sworn
to do, and put it into faithful eXecu-
ton. The minority Of the committee
said that no such spectacle as the Ju-
dietary Committee was now presenting
to an astonished world and an aston
ished and injured President and Attor-
poy-Gcneral had been presented in
Democratic times.
LET US see" said Mr.. Edmunds.
g On the 18th Of March, 1879, the Dem
ocrats had a majority Of this body.
Their Committee ON judiciary was
Mcssrs. Thurman (chairman), McDon-
aid, Bayard, Garland, Lamar, Davis,
Edmunds. Conkling, and Carpenter.
Referring to the committees letter
book. Mr.. Edmunds said 1" do not
know but that it is private and con-
ldential, but | Will take the liberty
Of reading it laughter, even if it GET
to the ears Of the Attorney-General
and President of the United States. ."
Mr.. Edmunds then read a copy Of a
letter from Mr.. Thurman as chairman
of the committee 10 the Attorney-Gen-
cral, dated March 81, 1879, calling for
- such information as may be in the
possession Of your Department con-
corning the following nominations, to-
ecther with any suggestions you may
be pleased to note"
" Tn the 7th Of April, continued
Mr.. Fdmunds, there came in horse
of different color-the same kind Of
an animal that we have here now.
Laughter Accordingly, on that day
this letter was written to the Attorney
General of the United States
" Sir Under the direction of the
Judiciary Committee Of the Senate |
have the honor to request that you will
to the committee any pa
pers or information in your possession
touching the question ofthe propriety Of
removal emphasized by Mr.. Edmunds)
Of Michael Shailer, Chief Justice Of the
Supreme Court Of the Territory Of
| tab, and the appointment Of David I.
{ oIbin TO the Office.
Very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
"AILEN c. THURMAN,
Chairman