Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-04
The Presidents Message to the
Senate.
DEFENDING HIS REFUSAL TO SEND TO THE
SENATE SUPPRESSED PAPERS
TEXT OF THE MESSAGE IN FULL.

TEXT OF THE MESSAGE IN FULL.
To the Senate Of the United States.
Ever since the beginning of the present SCI,
sion OF the Senate, the different heads of the
departments attached to the executive branch
of the Government have been piled with vari-
Gus requests and demands from committees
of the Senate, from members of such com
mittees, and at last from the Senate itself r.
quiring the transmission of reasons for the
suspension of certain officials during the re
cess of that BODY, or for the papers touching
the conduct of such officials, or for all pa
pers and documents relating to such suspen
sions, or tor all documents and papers filed in
such departments in relation to the manage
ment and conduct of the offices held by such
suspended officials The different terms from
time to time adopted in making these requests
and demands. the order in which they
succeeded each other. and the fact that when
made by the Senate the resolution for that
purpose was passed in executive session, have
led to a presumption the correctness of which
will, suppose, be candidly admitted, that
from first to last the information thus sought
and the papers thus demanded were desired
for use by the Senate and its committees in
considering the propriety of the suspensions
referred to. Though these suspensions are
my executive acts. based upon considerations
addressed to me alone, and for which | sm
wholly responsible, | have had no lnvi-
tation from the Senate to state the
position which have felt constrained to as
sumo in relation to the same, or to interpret
for myself nv acts and motives in the premi-
SEES. In this condition of affairs | have for
borne addressing the Senate upon the subject.
lest might be accused of thrusting myself
unbidden upon the attention of that body.
no of tb, ha lad,
ciary of the Senate, lately presented and pub.
lished, which censures the Attorney General
OF the United States for his refusal to trans
NIT certain papers relating to a suspension
from office. and which also, il | correctly in
terpret it, cviuces Misrepresentation of the
position of the executive upon the question
of such suspensions, will, | hope, justify this
communication.
REVIEWING THE PROCEEDINGS
The report is predicsted upon resolution
of the Senate directed to the Attorney Gsner-
al and his reply to the same. This resolu
ton was adopted in executive session devot ID
entirely to business connected with the con-
sideration of nominations for office. 1t re-
auired the Attorney General ito transmit to
the Senate copies of all documents and papers
that have been filed in the Department OF
Justice since the LIST dav of January, 1885, in
relation 10 the management and conduct Of
the Office OF District Attorney of the United
States of the Southern District of Alseama.
The incumbent of this office on the first day
of January, 1885. and until the 18th day OF
July ensuing, was George Nj. Duskin, VINO
on the dav last mentioned. was suspended by
an executive order. and John ID Burnett de.
signated to perform the duties of said office
At the time of the passage of the resolution
above referred TO, the nomination of Burnett,