Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-03-11

found IN The departments. TIVE years nl.e. sne
law OF 1867 was passed. and within less Inan
five weeks after the inauguration OF a presloens
IN political accord with both branches OF con
Rress. the sections Of the act regulating suspen-
SONS from Office during the recess OF the senate
wers entirely repealed. and In their place "eas
limiting the causes Of suspensions
20 misconduct, crime. Disability ana
disqualification, expressly permitted suca
suspension by the president in his discretion,
and Completely abandoned the requirements
obliging him 10 report TO the senate tne eNl-
dence and reasons for his action. WIN the2e
qualifications. and with all branches OF the gov
ernment in political harmony, and In the ansSnce
OF partisan incentive to captious obstructloh.
the law rs IL was left by the amendment ot
1869 was much less destructive to executive
discretion: and yet the great general AND pat
riotic citizen who. on the 4th day OF March, lSos,
assumed the duties Of chief executive, anu IoI
whose freer administration OF his high once the
most hateful restraints OF the law OF ISOI Were,
on the 5th day OF April, 1868, removed, minaiuI
Of his Obligation 10 defend and protect every
provocative Of his great trust, and apprehen-
siye Of
THE INJURY THREATENED
the public service in the continued operation OF
these statutes, even in their modthed FORM, IN
his first message to congress advised their re-
neal and set forth their unconstitutional char
acter and hurtful tendencies. 1 am uhaDie 70
state whether or not this recommendation iorn
repeal of these laws has been since repeated. u
II has not. the reason can probably be found In
the experience which demonstrated nSIacb Una.
the necessities of the political Situation out
rarely developed their vicious character: anu 80
n hannaus that after an existence Of nearly
twenty years OF almost mucous desuetude,t hsss
laws are brought forth, apparently the repea.su
as well as the unrepealed, and then put IN TUG
way of an executive who is willing, II permitted,
to attempt an Improvement in the metnous W
administration. The constttutionallty Oh thess
laws is by no means admitted. But why shoulu
the nroyisions OF the repealed law, which re-
duired specific cause for suspension ana report
TO the senate of evidence and reason, De now
in effect applied to the present executive, m
stead Of the law afterward passed and unre-
pealed, which distinctly permits suspensions ~
the president 10 his discretion, and caretully
omits the requirement that evidence ana rea5
sons for his action in the case" shall be reported
to the senate? The requests ana DEMANDS
which by the score have for nearly three months
been presented to the different departments OF
the government, whatever may be their form,
have but one complexion. They assume tue
right of the senate to sit in Judgment upon tne
exercise of my exclusive discretion and the ex-
ecutiys function, for which I am solely responsi-
BILE to the people, from whom l have so lately
received the sacred trust OF office. MY oatn 20
support and defend the constitution, my uutS
to tho people, who have chosen me 70
execute the powers of this great office ana not
to relnqulsh them, and my duty to the chiei
magi'tracy, which 1 mus pressIye u 10 IsTnse
TO comply with these demands. To the END tnat
the service may be improved, the senate IL m
mitted to them for public otic. in r~ecognition OF
the constitutional power OF that body TO sdVlse
and consent to their ppointment.
II CONTINUE,
as / have thus far done, to furnish, at the re-
Quest of the confirming body, all the 1nforna-
tion ! possess touching the fitness of the NOM
inees placed before them for then acSlon- DOM
when they are proposed to NIL vacancies and TO
take the place OF suspended officials. Upon a re-
fusaI to confirm, / shall not assume the
right to ask the reasons for the action
of the senate, nor question its determination;
/ cannot think that anything more Is required
TO secure worthy iDcumbents in public ONCE
than a careful and independent discharge OF our
respective duties within their well-dehned Inn.
it's. Though the propriety Of suspensions might
be better assured IL the action OF the resident
was subject to review by the senate, yet IL the
constitution and the laws have placed this
responsibility on the executive branch OF the
government IL should rot be disturbed. nor the
discretion which it involved relinquished. IL
has been claimet that, the present executive
having pledged himself not TO remove of1-
cials except for cause, the fact of the sus-
pension implies such misconduct on the part
of the suspended officer as injuries his
character and reputation, and therefore
the senate should review the case for his ylndl-
cation. have said that certain officials should
not, in my opinion. be removed during the con-
tinuance of the term for which they were APP
pointed solely for the purpose OF putting IN their
places those in political atffliation with the APP
pointing power, and this declaration was imme,
diately followed by a description OF official
partisanship which ought not to entitle those In
whom IL was exhibited to consideration. is
not apparent, however, whether the course thus
dIlDuUCeu CaIEAtH Win IL lhc NbhSt4tthNNo e
scnbed II in any DEGREE the suggestion is
worthy of consideration. it is to be hoped that
there may he q defense against unjust suspen-
sion in the Justice of the executive.
PLEDGE WHICH 1 HAVE MADE,
by which / have placed a limitation upon my ex-
ercise of executive power, has bsen faithfully re
deemed. OF course the pretense is not put forth
that no mistakes have been committed, but not
a suspension has been made except it appeared
to my satisfaction that the public welfare would
be improved thereby. Many applications f
suspensions have been denied, and the adher-
ence to the rule laid down to govern my action
as to such suspensions has caused much irrita-
tion and impotence on the part of those who
have insisted upon more changes in the offices
The pledgesI have made were made to the Pc
pie, and to them / am responsible for the man
ner in which they have been redeemed. / am
not responsible to the senate, and / am I'M
willing to submit my actions aud official con-
duct TO them for Judgment. There are no grounds
for an allegation that the fear OF being
found false to my professions influences me in
declining to submit to the demands of the SEN
etc. | have not constantly refused to suspend
officials and thus incurred the displeasure Of
political friends, and have not yet wilfully
broken faith with the people for the sake of be-
ing false TO them. Neither the discomfort of
party friends nor the aliurements constantly Of
toned upon the avowal that suspensions have
been made on party grounds alone, nor the
threat pfoposed inLae revolutions now before the.
senate, thar no CONTINUATION VIII be maue U1fcsS
the demands of that body be complied with, are
sufficient TO discourage or deter me from follow
ing in the way which / am convinced leads to
better government for the people.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, Washington, d. C., March
/. 1886.