The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-08-28
a PLAIN ISSUE.
It Now Rests with the Senate Alone to
Show Cause why an Honest Colored
Democrat should Bc siightcd NY the Re-
pubttcuus

It Now Rests with the Senate Alone TO
Show Cause why an Honest Coiored
Democrat should Bc Sighted ny the Re-
pubiicans.
When President Cleveland came into
Office Frederick Douglass, VINO is, next
to Senator Bruce, perhaps the best rep
resentativc that the colored race has
put to the front, was occupying the fat
place of recorder of deeds for the Dis
trict of Columbia. He had originally
been appointed by Mr.. Hayes, for
the well-understood purpose of cater
ing to the colored vote, to the po-
sition of United States Marshal of
the District-a place which, under
the well-established Washington
procedure, makes its incumbent
the usher at the White House recep-
tons. When Mr.. Arthur came to the
Presidency he was quite indisposed to
do any injustice to Mr.. Douglass, but
was equally indisposed to permit col
ored man to occupy that high social
position. So he appointed him to the
much more lucrative position of re-
corder of deeds, and put in Morton Me-
Michael, of Philadelphia, as marshal.
So it was as recorder of deeds that
President Cleveland found him.
One of the first acts of the new Presi-
dent was to teach Mr.. Douglass that he
had no social scruples against him.
He was personally invited to White
House receptions even in cases where
| invitations were very rare. He was
| treated not only like man, but like a
| gentleman. And when it came time
for him to leave office he left it with so
kindly an opinion of the Democratic
| President that his published card
stands on record as one of the best of
the tributes paid to the personal manli-
ness of that officer. The card is Wig
orous Republican document; but it is
ment to the worth Of President Cleve-
land.
! In the place of Mr.. Douglass as re-
corder of deeds the President appointed
another colored man-W. G. Mathews
of Albany. The Republicans of the
Senate, who believe that no colored
man should hold Office unless he votes
the Republican ticket, rejected the ap-
pointment. There was no question of
the appontee's worth. The rejection
was purely partisan performance.
| And now, after Congress has adj
journed, the President reappoints the
rejected nominee, Mathews. 1t is a
sharp issue with the Senate. If there
has been similar case in the history
of our country it has escaped us. Yet
the President is Il thoroughly sound
lawyer and not likely to take step of
this kind without full consideration of
! all its bearings. Whence does he get,
or whence does he think he gets. his
powerP
Certainly not under clause 3, of Sec
ton 2, OF article III. of the constitution.
That simply gives the power to nomi-
nate, and. by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, to appoint ccr-
tain officers. This consent the Senate
has refused. But clause 3 of the same
section confers upon him another and
wholly distinct power, as follows:
"The President shall have power to fill all
| vacancies that may happen during the recess
of the Senate by granting commissions which
shall expire at the end of their next session. y
The retirement of Mr.. Douglass and
the rejection by the Senate of Mr.. Math-
ews leaves vacancy, and the Presi-
dent under the above provision, finds
full power TO fill the Office ad interim.
His appointment will go to the Senate
again within thirty days after its re-
assembling, and it will once more have
the opportunity of acting upon it.
Cincinnati Enquirer.