The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-03-09


somewhat careful research that within
the foregoing limits there is scarcely in
the history Of this government until
now any instance Of the refusal by n
head Of department or even Of Pres
ident himself, to communicate official
facts and. information as distinguished
from private and unofficial papers, mo-
tivcs, views, reasons and opinions to
either House Of Congress when un
conditionally demanded.
| 10 which Of the classes thus recog-
nized do the papers and documents be-
long that are now the objects Of the SEN
ate's quest? They consist of the letters
and representations addressed TO the
Executive or intended for his inspection.
They are voluntarily written and pre-
sentcd by private citizens who are not
in the least instgated thereto by any
official invitation or at all subject to
official control. While some Of them
are entitled to executive consideration
many Of them are so irrelevant or in
the light Of other facts SO worthless
that they have not been given the least
weight in determination Of the question
to which they are supposed to relate. Are
all these, simply because they are pre-
served, to be considered official docu-
ments and subject.to the inspection Of
the Senate lr not, who is to deter
mine which belong to this class Are
the motives and purposes Of the Senate,
as they are day by day developed, such
as would be satisfied at my selection
Am to submit to them at the risk Of
being charged with making suspension
from Office upon evidence which was not
even considered t? Are these papers to
be regarded as official because they
have not only been presented but pre-
served in public Offices Their nature
and character remain the same. whether
they are kept in the Executive Mansion
or deposited in tho departments. There
isno mysterious power Of transmuta-
sssea in s4aaes.Msa.sl custody, nor is
there magic ints tho pndefinsd NJ,
sacred solemnity of department Rles.
II the presence Of these papers In pub
lie offices is stumbling blockin the way
Of the performance Of Senatorial duty,
IL can be easily removed.
The papers and documents which have
been described derive no official charuc-
ter from any constitutional, statutory or
other requirement. making them necces-
sary to the performance of the official
duty Of the Executive. 1t may not be
denied, ! suppose, that the President
may suspend public officers in the en-
tire absence Of any papers or documents
to aid his official judgment and discre-
ton, and ] am quite prepared to ayow
that cases are not few in which sus-
pensions from offices have depended on
oral representations made to me by citi-
zens OF known good repute, and by
members Of the House of Representa-
tivcs and the Senators Of the United
States, more than letters aud documents
presented for my examination. have
not felt justified in suspscting the We
racity, integrity and patriotism of the
Senator'S or ignoring their representa,
tions because they were not in party
affiliation with the majority Of their az
sociates, and l recall few suspensions
which bear the approval of individual
members identified with the majority in
the Senate.
While, therefore, am constrained to
dispute the right of the Senate to the
papers and documents described, 80 far
as the right to the same is based on the
claims that they are in any view Of the
official, am led unequivocally to dis
pute the right of the Senate, by the aid
Of any documents whatever, or in any
way save through q judicial process of
trial Of impeachment to review or re-
verse the act Of the Executive in the
suspension, during the, recess Of the
Senate, of federal officials. believe the
power to remove or suspend such off,
cials is vested in the President alone by
tine Constitution, which, in express
terms, provides that ''the executive pow
er shall be vested in President Of the
United States Of America" and that
"he shall take care that the laws he
faithfully executed"
The following is the concluding para
graph "Neither the discomfort Of party