Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-02-03
PRESIDENTIAL lNFALLlBlLlTY.

Democratic Yield to the
White House Potcntate who Snubs
themnt His Pleasure.
Washington, Jan. 30-The democratic
senators nave sold their birthright for q
mess Of pottage. About two weeks ago,
they had @ caucus and appointed Messrs.
Harris, Maxey and Vest a committee OF
discovery to explore the presidents
mind. They went to the white House,
had an interview with the coordinate
branch of the government, and a Sec
ond caucus was held to hear their re-
port. Ii was simply that they had not
been able to discover anything. The
president had declined to take them in
to his confidence as to the answer that
would be given to the inquiries of the
senate for the papers relating to sus-
pended cases, and when they asked him
what he wanted the democratic senators
to do, he replied that they could do as
they pleased. The caucus listened in
blank amazement to the recital of the
snub the committee had received, and
the next day when MI. Edmunds pre-
sented his resolution instructipg
the attorney general to send
in the papers, they sat silent
in their seats, neither speaking nor vot-
ing. There was a good deal OF ind1gna-
ton expressed privately at the autocratic
manner of the executive, and some of
the senators were inclined to tell the
president he could go to thunder; but
upon reflection it was thought best to
t etand by the man who had the offices to
. give out, and q resolution passed to sus-
tain the president in whatever course he
decided to adopt. In other words, the
democrats decided to swallow the snnb
o and go it blind whichever way the man
, with offices led. As 1901 as Mr.. Gar
lands reply was received yesterday, a
Is call was issued for a third caucus, which
u was held at the senate reception room
this morning. After two hours of dis.
oussion, the caucus adopted the follow.
ing resolution:
9 Resoloed, That we approve the views
and action of the president, commune
Gated to tho senate through the letter
of Attorney General Garland of January
29th, and W. cordially support the exec
utive therein.
l. Thus the democratic senators &C
knowledge the infallibility of the presi
dent, and repudiate the ancient doc
trine that the legislative branch of tAt
~ government ls supreme. Congress i'm
peaches the president, and his duty ii
t, to execute the lawB it frames. The presi
N ent cannot interfere with congress in any
way, and his veto can be overridden b!
a Two third vote. The senate, as th,
upper branch of the legislature, o bod,
that never expires, has always held itsel
=, to be beyond courts or legislative power
VI and for the democratic senators to sur
IN render this doctrine, first taught b.
Thomas Jefferson and the elder Adams
an lie giving up more than any one expect
ed they would do. The republican sen
OF ators are particularly anxious to con
ut slider executive business in open session
III ordsr that they may place th'
democrats on record on this ques
ton; and it Is we'll known that some o
D. them will shrink from that dilemms
n. There is no hereafter to executive SEES
sion. No record is kept beyond the fac
!, of confirmation or rejection of nomina
:. tions. Nothing q senator says behin'
1t the doors ever comes back to haunt him
c. and he can be es inconsistent as b
10 pleases; but in open session the recor,
- is permanent and complete, and th
az democrats are now building a fire t
or roast them for the future. Senator
Morgan and Beck are opposed to SUI
rendering the perogatives Of the senate
but it is doubtful if they would stan
KS up and take issue against the president
,h Senators Eustis and Vance would like t
u. trip up the coordinate branch of th
~ government il they could, as they hav
been badly left in the matter Of Offices
a but as long as there 10 pie in the pantr
they will not commit the u~ppardonabl
ko sin.