Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-23

tnIhg tnat MI. Logan could not under
stand.
UNDERSTOOD IN THE PAST.
Mr.. COlquitt said that it had been un-
derstood in the past. Gen. jackson had
understood 1t. There was nothing mys-
terlous in 1t that Mr.. Colquitt could see.
The Senate demanded the papers as a
matter OF right. Senators would ask to
see them as matter OF courtesy. He
Thought that very broad distinction.
Mr.. logan said there were some Sem
ators who would like to see the papers
but VINO did not go to the departments.
de was OF tnat number. He did not go to
department to see papers. He never
had done so and did not expect to, but
ne would like to see papers.
CALLED NICE DISTINCTION.
II the Senators In their aggregate ca
pacity as the Senate passed resolution
respectfully requesting papers, and the
papers should be denied, he was afraid the
country would not see the nice distinc-
tlon made by the departments, when the
departments gave papers to individual
Senators to be read here in order to con-
demn some persons.
Mr.. COlquItt said he had merely read
the papers to show that in a case of Of
fensive partisanship the administration
should use its authority, and should sus-
pend or remove men OF the character in
dicated. The only object that Mr.. Col
quitt could see that was to be subserved
by the adoption OF the resolutions re-
ported by the majority of the committee
was to place on record and perpetuate
the malice of that majority.
UsURPING POWER.
The Senate in this matter, be said, was
merely usurping power tOpresent articles
cuser and Judge. The House of Repre-
sentatives mad not presented such articles
against the Attorney General, nor had
any member OF that House proposed to do
so. 1t was left r this body of "grave
and reverend seigniOrs, ''actuated by party
feeling, to first file articles OF impeach-
ment and then proceed to pass their own
judgment on them-in cOntravention of
all principles and practice relating to i'm
peachment.
THE INTENTION.
The intention was, by the passage of
these resolutions, to produce, if Doss' BILE,
all the moral effect Of Impeachment. This
was an act unworthy of the senate aud
would simply have the effect of showing
that the Senate had not got beyond the
limits of a political junta. Mr.. Colquitt
had listened TO the mournful earnestness
OF the Senator from Vermont in comment
ing upon the outrage perpetrated on the
Senate by the refusal to submit to this
demand for papers relating, as was said,
to ''the manner OF conducting an Office"
That was the plea.
IN sHERMAN's TIME.
Mr.. Colquitt did not mean to insinuate
any lack OF sincerity in these resolutions.
He would not impugn anybOdy's motives
in the present case with its action,
but he would compare the Senate's action
when a Republican Secretary OF the
Treasury Mr.. sherman was the officer on
whom the call was made.
sHERMAN's LETTER.
Mr.. CoIquitt then read the letter already
read by Mr. Kenna, addressed by Mr..
Sherman when Secretary Of the Treasury
to the Committee on Commerce OF the SEN
ate as to papers relating to the suspen-
sion of the Collector of the port OF New
York. In this letter Mr.. Sherman states
tnat to comply with the request of the
committee would require him ITO disclose
papers of q confidential character filed in
The department" Mr.. Colquitt believed
he had heard somebody in this debate
characterize the word ''fled' as indicat-
ing something very solemn, something
cOnsecrated TO the general good. He in
quIred if we were "Playing at politics in
ting up card-houees in order to pull them
down again?
PARTISAN CONFLICTS.
"Was this floor to be made the scene OF
partisan conflicts, with view of elevat-
ing one man and pulling down another?
WhV this discrimination? Why con-
demn a Democratic Attorney General and
President when no censure had been
found for a Republican Secretary of the
Treasury or President? Oh, for a sense
OF rigid justice-fOr one weight and
measure for all. That was the rule of the
honest trader, and should be the rule of
an honest Senate" Mr.. Colquitt could
scarcely believe that among the we'll
tempered, moderate men Of age and infu-
ence on the Republican side enough votes
would be found to pass these resolutions.
REPUBLIcANIsM's LAST KICK.
However, he said. the people were not
going to be gulled in this case. They un-
derstOod the situation. They were the
expiring agOnies of a political party in
the thrOes Of dissolution. How it clutch
ed. How it glared. How it raved. He
would take no delight in a Democratic
triumph that merely brought humiliation
TO others. If it were a case OF personal
misfortune or bereavement no man would
be reader to offer sympathy, but this was
not such a case. He wished he could
sooth the feelings Of the Republican Sena-
tors. He recommended to them as apt to
relieve their disappointment BolinbrOkes'
"Rehectons Upon Exile" and Baxter's
"Saints Rest"
Mr.. Frye thought the latter work par
ticularly appropriate.
Mr.. Colqultt reminded the Republicans
that patriotism was sacrificing. He pre-
sumed that they could become recOnciled
10 the new order OF things and to their
own sufferings, II that order and those
sutlerngs redOuuded 10 the prosperity
and happiness Of their fellow citizens.
MR.. JAcKsoN's ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Jackson followed Mr. Colquitt, also
In opposition TO the majority report. He
believed the right Of removal OF officers 10
be wholly in the President. So far a 5 acts
Of Congress made removals dependent on
the consent OF the Senate those acts we're
an encrOachment on the constitutional
rights and powers OF the President. But
aside from that II was the candid conylc-
tion OF all real advocates OF admlnistra-
tive reform that all such attempts mad
been unwIse and had been attended with
no substantial benefits 20 the public SER
vice. In this connection Mr.. jackson
cited, without reading, an article written
by Mr.. HOar and published In the North
american Repie,D for November, 1881.
The Senator from Vermont Mr.. Ed
munds) had presented the Senate side OF
this controversy with great ingenuity and
ability, Mr. jackson said, but the in
penulty and ability displayed had not