The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1886-01-26

J. 4 Dawson, Of Colorado, 10 be Sur.
yeyor General Of Colorado, vice Norman
n Medium Of New York, suspended
under section 1853 Of the Revised Stat.
utes This was the first Of the suspend.
ed cases reached, and Senator Edmunds,
rising, asked Senator Plumb, the Chair.
man Of the Committee on Public Lands,
from which the nomination had been
fayorably reported, whether the causes
Of the suspension had been investigated
by the committee, and If in it, opinion
it was sufficient
Mr.. Plumb replied that Mr.. Teller, the
Senator from Colorado, who was also a
member Of the committee, and bad made
the report, was more familiar with the
case than he.
Mr.. Edmunds said that he would like
70 hear from the Senator from Colorado,
and desired 70 direct the attention Of the
Senate particularly to The case. lie
believed it was the FIRST one Of the kind.
Mr. Teller explained at length that
while Mr.. Medium had been suspended,
there were no charges against him, and
he did not make am objection to the
confirmation o. his successor, who was a
fl man, aad whose appointment WaS
generally commended.
Mr.. Edmunds asked whether the
Interior Department had been called
upon for the papers in the case, and
whether any information touching the
suspension had been furnished
Mr.. Teller replied that the usual in
quiry had been made, and n number oil
papers had been sent TO the committee
but there was nothing in them to shoY
the cause Of suspension. He was aware
that there was no information OF thi.
sort on the files Of the department, OF
the committee would not have reported
/ the case
| Mr. EGmunds then made an extended
speech, in which he took the ground
/ that the Executive branch OF the Gov
eminent could, and should, be made to
furnish all OF the information in ITS
possession touching the suspension of
officials The President might not be
called upon TO explain his acts, but the
Senate was justified in asking of him all
OF the information in his possession upon
which his action was based. Mr.. Ed.
munds said that the Administration had
decided not to furnish any papers to
show the reasonl of suspension, and had
taken the position, he understood that
the President alone had the power TO
suspend, aud that the Senate was not
entitled to advise him in regard to any
thing but appointments lie did not
agree 10 this doctrine, and, furthermore,
the officials who were suspended and
their friends were entitled to know what
charges had been made, and what other
influences had been exerted to bring
about removals under an Administration
which had repeatedly declared that
faithful officials should be retained in
office, and that removals would not be
made except for cause. Mr. Edmunds
declared very positively that he would
not agree TO the confirmation of the
successor Of any suspended official unless
| the Administration would furnish infor
nation upon which the Senate might
act intelligently. He was in favor OF
authorizing each committee to send for
persons and papers, and to bring before
IT the members Of the Cabinet " nsces
sary TO ascertain the information upor
which suspensions had been made.
Several other Senator's engaged in the
discussion on the Republican side, tax
ing the same views rs Mr.. Edmunds, and
all very strongly expressing their APP
proval of the suggestion to search the
files of the department in each case.
The only Democratic Senator who
spoke was Mr.. Salisbury, who defended
the Administration and held that the
Senate had no right to inquire into the
reasons OF suspension
After long debate, which lasted
more than an hour, Dawson was con
tirmed, Mr. Teller making personal
matter of it, Mr.. Edmunds gave notice
however, that he should oppose the con
firmation of the successor of every sus
pended official unless the Administration
should at least say that there was nc
information in its possession bearipgupor
them