Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-02

NhNNA Nhuh dpbAOH OF Aut DGuAkt hht' .hNN
majority clam authority TO report such
resolution 10 the Senate for its adoptlon2
what possible connection has the subject
mentioned in the resolution with the papers
ana documents called for in the case OF the
suspension of Mr.. Duskin-which is the only
matter referred by the senate TO the judi
ciary COmmitteeY The Information OF the
minority of YOUR committee is that Duskln
never was Uuion soldier, but, on the contra
ry, was either a member OF the Confederate
army or Confederate sympathizer in his ma
tive state OF North Carolina. The minority
OF your committee fully endorses section l,'04
of theiReyised statutes and heartily favOrs Is
faithful eNeUutiOn.
REPUBLICAN PARTISANs.
But their Information aud belief satisfy
them that under its operation during the adj
ministrauans Of Republican Presidents par
tisan aud p0htical inHueaces ana consdefa-
lions have governed in greHt degree IN the
selection 0f Intended benefc aries OF the stat
ute, so that no equal and just distribution has
been madB6y Republican Presidents among
the meruorious class described 10 the law as
Is doubtless desired alike bv Republican ana
Democratic soldiers and marines who were
comrades in common cause.
THE REPUBLICAN, OBJECT.
Such unauthorized action of the majority OF
your committee serves one purpose, and mat
Is 10 furnish additional proof OF what was be-
fore manlfest-that the object and intent ot
this extraordinary proceeding Is TO secure
political and partisan advantage ano ponent.
Cleveland and try him by the senate with an
uniriendly political majority for making sus-
pensions in alleged violation OF has public
pledges and promises not TO make removals or
suspensions except for cause. President
Clevelahd's promises and pledges are pnrt OF
tho published history of the country, ana for
their faithful performance he denies his re-
sponsbllity TO the Senate and stands ready
for trial by the people.
NO PARTY PROMISES.
did m "a Ia n tAratni iae IN nj during tho term
OF a civil officer he would not suspend or re-
move him for tho sole reason that he was
Repubican-merely being Kepublican-it
ne mad been and was a capable aud faithful
and efficient officer. the Presdent declared he
would not regard as sufficient cause. But II
such officer, while in Office, had used its power,
or influence, or emohments, to promote
the organization and success OF
his party by attending county, district,
state, or national conventions, and making
himself active as partisan IN elections, the
President has declared such conduct anu Ac-
tion by any incumbent, however capable,
faithful and enicicnt in the discharge ot ms
official duties, rs violation OF the spirit or
the law, declaring that civil ohicc Is pubic
trust for public uses, and not To be employed
rs an element OF power in party organizations
aud elections, and that sucn conduct would
be treated rs suffcient cauee for suspensions.
NOT TO BE CoERCED.
The President declines to submit voiuntarl-
ly 10 the decisions Of tribunal having no
such cause for suspensions, especially when
his fear that such conduct In an Oineer might
be regarded by the Republican majority as
reason for the retention Of the incumbent In
ONCE. The President VIII never avoid trial
by people for the exercise OF any OF bis powers
or the discharge of any of his official duties a.
he viii have Il fair tribunal on the whole
truth. but he declines obedience 20 any IN
lawful summons to trial. under usurped au-
th0rity by an unfriendly tribunal on mere
papers and documents relating exclusively to
suspensions, ana containing 10 nearIy every
case only u partial statement OF the cause,
facts and reasons for his official act of suspen-
sion.
NATURE OF THE EVIDENCE.
In large majority Of the cases Of suspen-
sion, as the minority arc informed, the Presi-
dent had information communicated 10 him
orally br persons considered reliable. which
10 would be impossible for MIN 10 remember
or reproduce IN every case 80 as to put the
Senate IN posse -siOn Of all the facts which gov
erned him in the suspension, II the senate had
authority under the constitution or the laws
OF the United states tOoall him to an account
In conclusion the minority Of your committee
are gratided az being able 10 state that Ia the
Forty-slXth Congress when the Democrats
had d majority in the senate, no such specta-
Gle as that now exhibited TO the country was
ever witnessed in the story OF ts proceed
ings, all OF which 10 respectfully submitted.
JAMES l.. PuGH.
RICHARD COKE,
GEORGE G.. VEST.
hVM EAL ~ pAAhoVEf
DESTRUCTIVE OF RESPONSIBILITY.
The minority makes voluminous citations
from debates Of ongrcss. Mr.. Madison ia
vored giving tho President entire power of
makingremovals, and said II an 0ffcer should
not be displaced but by the advice and con-
sent Of tho senate, the President was NO
longer answerablo Tor the conduct Of the oft-
Ger. All would depend on ihe Senate. The
would destroy the real responsiDility without
obtaining even a shadow; for no gentleman
f.rflA praH n IN " TpannnaIhAlffU a
senate could be Of such a nature as 10 afford
substantial security.
NO GREAT DANGER.
Mr. Clymer asked what great danger would
arise from the removal OF a worthy man
when the senate must be consulted in the
likely The Senate would conseut
TO advance an improper char
acter2 The presumption was that the Presl-
dent would not abuse his power, or II be did
one good N an would be changed for another.
III the President were divested Of his power
his responsibility would be destroyed, and he
would be unable 70 afford that security to the
people which tlle constitution contemplate.
What use would IL be TO call the citizens Of
the Union together etery four years to obtain
purified choice Or representative II ho was
TO be nero cipher in the gOvernInentr II
the power Of removal was taken away the
President ought 20 resign the power OF super
intending and directing the executive parts
OF the government into the hands OF the sen
ate Al once. "And them" he added, ''we be-
come dangerous aristocracy."
JUDICIAL OPINIONS.
large number Of Judicial opinions are
quoted upholdng the validity ana binding
character OF tie settlement OF this question
made In t7sO. Mr.. Webster, the minori y say,
ID paradcd IA an authority 70 support the
present claim Of the Senate, and the following
quotation 10 made from his speech in 1895 on
executive patronage; "fhe bill before the
senate, IL must be observed, expressly recOg-
niIes and admits the actual existence Of the
power OF removal. do not mean. 10 d n
that the President has this power. The settle
ment Of - gave him that, and II has since
been affirmed. / consider therefore set
tied point. settled by construction, settled
by precedent, settled by the practice OF the
government and settled by statute, at the
same time, In my deliberate Judgment the
original decision ygas wrong
sHERMAN's EXPRESSIONS.
Among the expressions OF Senator sherman,
quoted IN the report, IRE the following; "tf
there was 90 much danger OF this executive
with large majority In both houses, lit was
OF the administration OF John Quincy
Adams Mr.. Sherman was speaking, repeal
these OLD laws which conferred upon
the President the power OF removal. Not
withstanding all that will be said and writ
ten the ins will try 10 limit the power Of the
outs. and vice versa.
Has the senator from Vermont (Mr. Ed
mundsl arrived at that exemplary anu for
giving state OF mind that he would not DO
willing 10 remove any man who Was a Demo-
crat unless he could be convicted OF n crime
upon satisfactory evi1enccT