Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-20
SATURDAY.......MARCH 20, 1886.
An Illustration.

Mr.. EDMUNDs's resolution has re-
minded . Republican senator oil
"barren ideality" of the days OF old
ZACH TAYLOR. The Washington cor
respondent of the New York Herald
repe.ts the senator s illustrative story
a follows:
The New York delegation in the
House had unanimously requested
General Taylor to appoint certain
man to Office. The General declined
10 do it. Thereupon the New York
members met and agreed that the Pre-.
sident had ipsulted them, and appointed
two of their number to see him and re-
monstrate. The old General received
them. and they represented that they
were deputed to ask him why he did
not. as the delegation had requested,
appoint John Jones. because he is
rascal said the General. The two
unlucky ambassadors, after little ST.
lence, began to make new appeal, but
the President turned his back on them ;
and they, finding that the audience had
ended, departed. On the steps OF the
White House, after the door had closed
behind them, one said to the other !;
I" Look here. This thing is very Sc
rious. I'm trying to make up my mind
about it. I'm puzzed about two
things. First, I'm sure the Presi-
dent has insulted the New York delega'
ton in Congress; but, second, what are
we going to do aboutit?"
There's the very question that lies at
the foundation Of all this senatorial
"gabble IF we may use such word.
"What are you going to do about it,"
What is the use Of arguing with the
President? What is the use of re-
solving that he ought to do what you
know he will not do? Why should
the Senate expose itself to the taunts
of wicked world that has no sympathy
with senatorial privileges nor with star
chamber Investigations? There is
nothing to come of it all. If, as Mr..
EpMUNDs has intimated, the Senate is
q court, it is certainly nothing better
than moot court so far as the matter
now under consideration is concerned.
If the Senate shall adopt Mr. Ed
MuNps's resolution. the President will
merely laugh that body to scorn; and
the House Of Representatives will con-
graduate him upon his pluck.
The amendment to Mr.. EDMUNDs's
resolution offered by Mr.. VAN WICK
ought to be supported by the Demo-
cratic senators. That amendment pro-
yides that in all "such cases 1--WE sup.
pose wherever documents and papers
are furnished to the Senate by the
President) the Senate shall sit in open
session during the progress of the IN
yestigation into the fitness or the char
acter Of the nominee. Now, if Mr..
EDMuNDs was sincere when he ar
raigned the President for secretly stab
bing the regulations Of faithful officers
let him accept Mr.. VAN WYcK's
proposition, and refuse to allow the
Senate to stab secretly any good nomi-
nee's reputation.
Governor JOE BRowN, like Mr..
NANCY, distinctly declared in his
speech of Thursday that the tenure-oi'
office act was unconstitutional. Surely
is. Let it be consigned to the molcs
and the bats. That is the law which
the President said had fallen into a
state of innocuous desuetude."
But, after all, the best thing the
Senate could do would be to lay Mr..
EpMUYps's resolution upon the table,
never to be called up.