The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-09-08
A PLAIN ISSUE
e Now Rests with tho Senate Alone to
Show Cause Why an Honest Colored
Democrat Should BE Sighted by tho Re-
publicans

Democrat Should Be Sighted by tho Re-
publicans.
When President Cleveland came into
office Frederick Douglass, VINO is, mex,
to Senator Bruce, perhaps the best rep.
resentative that the colored race has
put to the front, was occupying the fat
place of recorder of deeds for the Dis.
trict of Columbia. He had originally
been appointed by Mr.. Hayes, fol
the well-understood purpose of cater.
ing to the colored vote, to the 20.
sition of United States Marshal Of
the District-a place which, under
the well-established Washington
procedure, makes it's incumbent
the usher at the White House recep-
tons. When Mr.. Arthur came to the
Presidency he was quite indisposed to
do any injustice to Mr.. Douglass, but
was equally indisposed to permit col
ored man to occupy that high social
position. So he appointed him to the
much more lucrative position of re-
corder of deeds, and put in Morton Nc
Michael, of Philadelphia, as marshal.
So it was as recorder of deeds that
President Cleveland found him.
One of the first acts of the new Presi-
dent was to teach Mr.. Douglass that he
had no social scruples against him.
He was personally invited to White
House receptions even in cases where
invitations were very rare. He was
treated not only like man, but like a
gentleman. And when it came time
for him to leave office he left it with so
kindly an opinion of the Democratic
President that his published card
stands on record as one of the best of
the tributes paid to the personal manli-
ness of that officer. The card is Wig
orous Republican document; but it is
at the same time glowing compli-
ment to the worth of President Cleye-
land.
In the place of Mr.. Douglass as re-
corder of deeds the President appointed
another colored man-W. C. Mathews,
Of Albany. The Republicans of the
Senate, who. believe that no colored
man should hold Office unless he votes
the Republican ticket, rejected the APP
pointment. There was no question of
the appointee's worth. The rejection
was purely partisan performance.
And now, after Congress has ad-
Journed, the President reappoints the
rejected nominee, Mathews. It is a
sharp issue with the Senate. If there
has been similar case in the history
of our country it has escaped us. Yet
the President is a thoroughly sound
lawyer and not likely to take step of
this kind without full consideration of
all its bearings. Whence does he get,
Or whence does he think he gets, his
power?
Certainly not under clause 2, Of Sec
ton 2, OF article II. of the constitution.
That simply gives the power to nomi-
nate, and, by and with the advice and
consent OF the Senate, to appoint GER
tain officers. This consent the Senate
has refused. But clauses of the same
section confers upon him another and
wholly distinct power, as follows:
1.-THE President shall have power to Ill all
vacancies that may happen during the recess
OF tho Senate. by granting commissions which
shall expire at the end of their next session"
The retirement of Mr.. Douglass and
the rejection by the Senate of Mr.. Math-
ews leaves a vacancy, and the Presi-
dent under the above provision, finds
full power to fill the Office all interim.
His appointment will 60 to the Senate
again within thirty days after its re-
assembling, and it will once more have
the opportunity of acting upon it,
Cincinnati ENQUIRER.