New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-02

pUBIICANS KEPT IN TIE DARN
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WAsUINGTON March L." 1t is the hrst t1me III
the history of the United States said Mr.. Ed
mupds to-day. that any President of the United
STATES has undertaken to interfere with the deilO-
erations of either house of Congress on questions
pendinr before them, telling them what they ought
to do and what they ought not TO do.' Ihls de-
fines IN one sentence the extraordinary course
chosen by the President to explain 30 tde country
his refusal to furnish to the Senate Official papers
on file in the departments. Though there was
rumor in the air this morning that the President
would send message on this subject to the SEN
ate it was not thought that he would do 1t to-day
The first indication of something unusual going
Oh Was the discovery that the Cabinet
had hurriedly been called together by
telegraph this morning Mcssrs. Garland,
Bayard. Whitney and Manning promptly
responded to the call. They met the President at
IL o'clock. Three hours later Major Pruden, the
Presidents secretary presented himself at the door
of the Senate with bulky package under his arm.
The senate sitting behind closed doors IN
judgment upon Messrs. Plllsbury and Chase. An
intimatIOn carried TO the presiding officer that
special message of importance by the President
was waiting to be presented to the Senate mad the
effect of cooling the ardOr of Messrs. Beck, Vance
aud Harris, who for two weary hours had devoted
Pillsbury and Chase, were political martyrs and
the victims of misplaced confidence. 1t was unan-
lmously voted to open the doors and receive the
message A message from the President of the
United States" cried the venerable DOOrkeeper
Bassett as he took the precious document from the
hands of Major Pruden and advanced TO the desk OF
the presiding officer Every Senator was IN his
seat The galleries slowly filling. For The
first time this perfect quiet prevailed III the
chamber A pin might have been heard dropping.
Every eve was turned upon the reading clerk as he
slowly and in deliberate tones be gan to read.
Mr.. Edmunds gently stroked his beard and care
fully laId the forefnger of his left hand against
his cheek He looked thoughtful at first, worried
almost but. presently there spread d broad grin
over his features and before the reading of the
message was fairly concluded he all smiles.
As the sentence was reached where the President
declares that he could, if he chose, carry the
papels away with him or destroy them and
nobody would find fault with him, the
Green Mountain sage was scarcely able To
contain himself He fairly shook with delight.
His hands buried themselves deeper and
deeper in his trousers pockets he stretched
his legs until they reached away behind his desk,
and he beat the devils tattoo on the floor with his
heels until the galleries lost sight Of in The pict
ure before them, all trace of resemblance to the
accustomed. The homey features of Senator Wal
son reflected happiness as he nudged his neigh
Dor Mr. Edmunds, aud drew the latter's attention
to some peculiarly humorous passage in the
Presidents essay. General Logan, with one leg
carelessly slung across the arm OF his
chair, regarded with indignant wonder the read
ing clerk sentence after sentence dropped nom
his lips Mr.. ,oOner Wisconsin young Senator.
looked half surpTIs d and haf amused. In Mi
1iCrDlt GtrTsrp led
probation of the ludicrOus position IN which the
President has chosen to place himself Inc Repub-
licaus ALI looked as If theY cOuld scarcely
trust their own ears, but evidently they felt happy.
The Democrats all wore a serious look Mr. ilai-
ris had more than eve. the air of a mandarin such
as can he tea chests in grocery stores, full
Of wisdom and cOnccit / he venerable Mr.. Payne,
with his hand TO his ear, beat forward IN front
seat so as to lose not a snge word Of the I'roSi-
dents message. Mr.. Eustis seemed indifferent as to
whether The President made out or not. Mr..
Ransom looked as If he understood it all. Mr..
Pugh seemed discOntenied at having his thunder
stolen by the President III such unceTemOnlOus
fashion The poor Alabama senator had sat mp
nights for the last week preparing his minority
report and saw its merits ecilDsed by the
work of a more powerful hand. Mr.. Becks blood
mounted into his face, but 1t was difficult to de-
termne whether 1t was with indignation at the
Presidents lachrymOse pleading OF resistance to
the opportunities OF ofiice-seekeIs, because per-
sonal recOllectons crowded MS mind of certain
terviews between HIM and the President which he
was once wont to denOuuce IN the most unncas-
ured terms.
WHAT TIE SENATE DID WITH THE MESSAGE.
1t took the reading clerk nearly ha.f an hour to
get through his task, and the last word scarce
ly out of his mouth when Messrs Edmunds and
Harris were on their feet. Then followed these
proceedings:
Mr. Harris-Mr President, move that the message be
printed and lie on the table
MI EeimCnds -On that 1 ask for the yeas and nays /
do not that 1t shall be laid on the table Just now
Nj. Hafris~I will that the message be printed,
i;ne senate viii allow me TO amend my notion ,,,
The CGair-Tho Senator from Tennessee GIr. H,yris)
moves that the message be printed.
Mr. imunds-I add to that that it be referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Harris-I have no
Mr. Edmunds duterposing)-I believe have the floor
Mr. Harris-I seeking to interrupt the Senator
Mr. Edmunds-I merely wish 10 say word ! had
no doubt that the Senator from Tennessee did not
wish off my remark. Simply wish TO
remark in moving refer this to the Com
nttee he,Judicary that ithos very yvldy brought
TO my the communication OF King Charles the First
10 the Parliament IN telling them what. In conducting
their affairs they ought to do ana ought not to do And
think safe IN saying that Il Is the frat time IN The
history Of the republican United states that any Pres
with the deiiherations of either House Congress
Questions pending bef them. otherwise than by mess
comm snds him to mako from time to time This message
Il devoted sOoly question for the senate itself. In
regard TO ITSELF that 1t has uLder cons tetatOD That
Is its singularity think IL will strike rejecting
people in this country a newbst eXtraordipary-i
In these days OF REFORM thing at all be thought
extraordinary.
/ only wish to add to what have now said in the
statement that 1t shall go with this message
80 far the newspapers win n do me
the honor to have 1t go the President
OF the United States has (unnlentonally, no
doubt entirely lnissated the question. The Senate
OF the United States s oommuLicatOns to the heads
Of departments-not his heads OF Departments put tho
heads OF departments created by aw-drected them TO
transmit certain offcis papers, and that is all Inc
President Of the United States undertakes to change the
question into consideration by the Senate OF his fea-
motives for putting civil officer. as might be
called. "under arrest with which the Senate has not
undertaken In any way 10 make question at all by
he this bOdy-2ud they are all