The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-24
FORTY.NINTH CONGRESS-.
FOURIHO JULY CLAIMS PASSED
THE HOUSE.
speeches BY Senators Jackson and
George on the Bdmunds ResOlu-
tlOns-The Indian Bill.

WASHINGTON, March 23.-Senate.-
The Chair laid before the Senate a
number Of House bills, among them |
the bill granting pension OF 1900 |
wear TO. the widow OF Gen. Hancock.
On motion OF Senator Blair that bill
was al once passed, Senator Blair stat
inc that II had been this morning con
aidered by the Pension Committee OF
the Senate.
Senator Beck withdrew the motion
heretofore made by him TO reconsider
the vote by which the Senate agreed
10 the House resolution 10 provide
flowers for the new pension building.
Senator Ingalls's resolution OF in
auiry offered yesterday was agreed to,
asking whether the Postmaster General
had received the Senate resolution
calling for information as 10 the num-
Der OF iourth-class postmasters re-
moved under the present administra-
ton.
Senator Beck called up resolution
offered by him on December IS, 1885,
relating to the payment OF customs
dues in coin. Senator Beck said the
resolution had been amply discussed,
and he now moved its reference to
the Finance Committee. The motion
was agreed 10.
The Chair laid before the Senate
Senator Logan's bill to promote the
efficiency OF the army.
Senator Henderson spoke in favor
OF the section increasing the force TO
10000 enlisted men. He read from
testimony given and letters written
by Gems. SchoHeld, Pope ard others
10 show the inadequacy Of the present
force Of %, 900.
Discussion OF the bill continued up
to 1850 o'clock, when 1t was laid aside,
and, on motion Of Senator Van Wyck,
the Senate took up aud passed the bill
10 confirm entries heretofore made on
the public lands in accordance with
the rulings OF the Land Office in force
at the time the entries were made.
The unfinished business, being the
Judiciary Committees resolutions,
was then taken up, and Senator Jack
son proceeded TO address the Senate
in opposition to them.
Senator Jackson inquired whether II
was in the line OF the "calm and Or
Derby administration OF the govern
ment," referred 10 by Senator Ed
munds, that the Senate should permit
all the pending nominations to remain
Enacted On-to let the vacancies in Of.
Gee remain untitled, and have the SEES
sion close, leaving all these trouble
some constitutional questions to be
raised In the recess. Senator Jackson
in concluding his remarks said: 81 see
nothing in this but an attempt to en-
croach on the functions and rights Of
, the executive, and OF obstructing him
and his administration in their efforts
at reform. No President for the past
half century has ever acted with more
moderation, none with more conscien-
tious regard for the public interests
and yet, at the very outset OF his adj
ministration, no is to be obstructed in
this way on grounds wholly unwar-
ranted. He may we'll appeal from this
Senate TO the country, for the country
will sustain him in his action"
Senator George followed, also in OPP
position TO the majority report. He
commended that the power OF removal
was vested in the President alone. II
was not in the power Of Congress TO
subject the President to any subser-
viency or servility to any other de-
partment OF the government. Con-
gress could not grant a new power TO
Itself, nor could II grant new power TO
an officer, except TO enable the officer
10 execute power granted him by
the constitution neither could II take
from any department OF the govern
ment any OF the powers conferred On
II by the constitution. Senator George
had been accustomed 10 regard the
Senate as high council in which the
rights and interests of the States we're
maintained. Since he had been here
he had seen little to impair that view,
but much TO confirm. "0f course, {"
said Benator George, 81 do not refer
in this statement to executive sessions,
the proceedings Of which, by an in.
superable veil, are shut out from the
scrutiny OF the press and our con-
stituents, and Of which am not al
lowed 70 speak, or even TO think, out
side OF these walls, the prison-house
Of our eecrets. | hope ! may be par
doned here, by way Of parenthesis,
Senator George continued, shat
from the fmt secret session
attended, / have been ready and
willing, and AN now ready aud willing,
to vote TO consider all executive bust
ness in open session, except v here the
President, In relation to foreign ai-
fairs, shall request, for the public in
terest, q secret session. The position
Of the majority here, in proposing
that the Senate should refuse TO con-
slider nominations, was extraordinary,
not 10 coy revolutionary. The coun-
try would readily understand that the
Senators were not seeking evidence on
which 70 perform their legal duty, but
were asserting a usurped supremacy
over the functions OF the President.
The tenure-of.office law Senator George
Characterised as q political bastard.
He read from the speeches Of Senator'S
Logan, Hear and Allison, among 9TH
ers, in the debate on the attempted re-
neal Of the act, to show the want of
sympathy Of Senators then with the
act Of 1857. He inquired WHIT tber
Senators we're willing now, when
Grover Cleveland was President, to
stand where they stood in 1869, when
Gen. Grant was President; or would
they, under the lead OF the Senator
from Vermont, under the pTetense o.
giving aid to the "oalm and orderly
administration Of government" e
back on their own honorable record
reverse their former ecion, Iepudia,,
their sound opinions aud utterances
and censurs democratic Presiden
for doing exactly what in 1869 the,
Thought be outhtto do2
Senator Morgan obtained the flcol
and the Senate Adjourned.
The H0meo