National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-03
The President Against tho Sonatc-Tho
Cnse in IA NnIahnll.


The President says that there nre dcpos-
tied in the executive department two Kinds
oipopers-tD official papers aud (2) papers
unofficial dnd prirdte.
The first, he says, will be ''frcely trans.
mittcd to the Senate upon its demand"
The second, he says, he has directed shall
not he transmitted.
The above is the whole issue. 1t Is true
the President further says that he is sure
the Senate wishes the papers for the pur-
pose Of reviewing his reasons for suspend.
ing Republican officials. He asserts that
| the Senate has no right to make this review,
although he does not directly deny, but
only refuses TO admit, the constitutionality
Of the tenure Of Office act.
But the Senate has not yet asserted, in
any form the right which the President
c nies. 1t is a gratuitous assumption on
his part that the Senate will do this. When
It does the question will arise for discus
sion. AS the case now stands the Presi-
| dents lecture on this point thus thrust
into the faces Of the Senate is entirely un-
called for aud unwarranted.
The sole question, which cannot be ob.
scured, is; Are part Of the Department
records puJiic and part prirdtCl
The attempt made by the President and
his advisers to separate the department
records into public and pirate documents is
fanciful and without warrant of law or
custom. All the department records are
official and public. Each house of Congress
is entitled to see them all, and no power
can ask What use do you propose to make
Of your knowledge Of them?
Nay more. we hold that crcry cti.cn has
the right, under suitable regulations, TO see
the public records. The President discusses
this question as II It were only one between
him and the Senate. We put It as a
broader one, between the President and the
citizen. What right has he to receive "let-
ters and representations addressed to the
Executive or intended for his inspection" )"
making grdrG charges against public officials.
cause them to be ''preserved In the public
Offices" sin the underlined and sacred solem-
nifty Of department files" to use his own
words and yet refuse the officials whom
he thereupon removes from Office access to
these charges against them9 We stand
amazed at the Presidents cgreglous blum.
der.
Many of the documents on file in the de.
partments which the President says are
private and shall not be seen by the Senate
are dGddtits making charges against Off.
clals who have been removed. Postmaster
General Villas, in his confidential circular
letter to Democratic congressman, invited
them to send him a.fidaUitS against Republi.
! Cd H.,
moved. Such postmasters have asked to
see the aflldavits filed against them, and
have been denied. Now the President tells
the Senate that such aflidavits are confiden.
tial may or may not have Influenced him,
and that they shall not be seen by any one,
not even by the Senate.
Such treatment OF citizens is without
shadow Of justification. What right has
any public officer TO invite disgraclng
charges against his subordinates, place
them on file, remove the accused, and then
refuse him and his friends aud the United
States Senate the right to see the accusl-
tions9 The very word allldavlts suggests
counter aflldayits, hearing, candid de.
cision. The position taken by the Presi-
dent is revolving to the sense of fair play,
which Americans above all other peopl,
claim to cherish.
Every American citizen accused In
writing deposited in any public Office has
right to sec the accusation, unless he Is O
formal criminal.