Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-03-06
CLEVELAND AND THE SENATE
The President Defines hia Posi-.
ton In Message.

WAsulSo7oN, March 3.-Thc presi-
dent has addressed message to the
senate In reply to the demand Of that
Body for documents relative to certain
appointments. The president refers to
the resolution Of tho senate, calling for
the Dusken papers, and the reply Of the
attorney general thereto and says:
Upon this resolution and the answer
thereto, tho issue is thus stated by the
committee on the Judiciary at the outset
Of the report. The important question
then is, whether it is within tho con.
s,itu,lonal competence Of either house
Of congress to have access to the official
papers and documents in tho various
public offices Of the United States ere.
ated by laws enacted by themselv es.
do not suppose that "the public Offices
Of the United States" are regulated or
controlled in the relations TO either
house Of congress by the fact that they
were created by laws enacted by them
selves. 1t must be that these instru-
mcntalities were created for tho benefit
Of the people and to answer the general
purposes Of government under the con.
stilu,lon. While, therefore. sm con.
strained to deny the right Of the senate
to the papers and documents described
so far as the right to the same is based
upon tho claim that they are in any
view Of tho case official, am also led
unequivocally to dispute tho right Of
tho senate, bv tho aid Of any document
whatever, or in any way save through
the judicial process Of trial or impcach-
mont, to review Or rovcr.o the act oftho
executive in the suspension during tho
recess Of tho senate Of federal officials.
l believe that tho power to remove or
suspend such officials is vested in tho
president at once by the constitution,
which in express terms provides that
tho executive power shall he vested in q
4 president Of the United States Of Amer.
2layaaa tkats he shall take care that the
] sws = lilhI 4 ssseessaa. The son
- Rrs ss Is IS g t1 = al
govesnsasi ID 1 =! ! Z
BY express provisfcnA L.
Legislative duties the right to advfsS ~
consent to appointments to office and to
sit as court Of impeachment, it con
ferrcd upon that body Ill the control and
Regulation Of executive actions supposed
10 he necessary for the safety Of ths
people. and this express and spccia
grant Of such! extraordinary power
is not in any way rclated 10 or grow
ing out Of general senatorial action.
| have SO lately received the sacred trust
ofotfce, and nv oath 10 support and de.
fend the constitution, my duty to the
people who have chosen me to execute
the power Of this great office, anc
to relinqui.h them and my duty to the
ohlofmagistracy-which must preserve
unimpaired in all Its dignity and vigol
compel me to refuse to comply with
these demands. To the end tha, the acr
vice may be improved, the senate Is in
vited to tho full est scrutiny OF the per
sons submitted TO them for public Office
in recognition OF the constitutional powe,
Of that body to advice and consent tt
their appointment. shall continue, a
l have thus far done, TO furnish Mt tho
rcqucs, Of tho confirming body all tho
information l posses touching the fit
ness Of the nominees placed before then
for their action, both when they are pro
posed to fill vacancies and to take Tho
place OF suspended officials. Upon re
fusal to confirm | s.iall not assumc tht
right TO ask the reasons for the action o
thesenatc nor ques,ionits determination
l cannot think that anything more is re
quired to secure worthy incumbcnts i,
public Office than careful and indie
pendent discharge Of our respective du
tics within their we'll defined limits. 0
course, the prctensc is not made that IL,
mistakes have been committed, but no
q suspension has been made except
appearcd to my satisfaction that tn
public welfare would be improved there
by. Many applications for suspcnsio,
have been denied and the adhcrancc t,
the rule laid down to govern my actor
as to such suspensions has caused muct
irritation and impatiencc on the part 0
those who have insisted upon NOR
changes in the Offices. The pledges
have ncde were made to the people
and to them l am responsible for th'
manner in which they have boon re
deemed. am not responsible to th'
senate and am unwilling to subm,
my actions and official conduct to then
for judgment. Neither the discomfort O
party friends nor the allurement,
of confirmat.ons Q: appointments
conditioned upon the avowal that sus
pension has been made on party ground
alone, nor the threat proposed in tn
resolutions now before the senate, tina
no confirmation will be made unless tn,
demands Of that body be complied with
are sufficient to discourage Or deter m,
from following in the way which I an
convinced leads to hotter governmen