The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-03-25
The REJoINpER.
Senator Pugh, of Alabama. Replies TO
Senator Edmunds' Attack Upon the Ad-
ministration.


When the Dustin resolutions came
before the Senate, on the 10th inst,
James L. Pugh, of Alabama, proceeded
to reply to Senator Edmunds' speech
of the previous day and voice the views
of the Administration. The Alabama
gentleman had large audience, for
not only were the galleries filled, but
many persons were, by invitation, in
the Senate chamber. His defense of
the Democracy was frequently ap-
plauded. and his remarks received pro-
nounced attention from the Republican
side of the Senate. A synopsis of his
able and comprehensive effort is here
with given:
Mr.. Pugh opened his speech by saying that
be had expressed his views fully upon the
subject of debate in a report made by the
minority of the judiciary Committee and the
main object he had now in replying to the
Senator from Vermont was 10 prevent, That
he admitted was 4 difficult undertaking,
that Senator from changing the character
of the question between the Senate and the
President. The real character of that con-
trOversy could not be misunderstood or
misrepresen;ed, as il had ARISEN upon facts
apparent upon the record and reported by the
majority OF the Judiciary Committee He read
the passage from their report end ny with the
declaration that tine public interest and the
public duty would require that the facts be-
made known i'll order that the senate may un.
dersIand and promptly advise their removal
aud then continued as follows:
The inquiry proposed by the Senate is to
be made with a knowledge OF the fact tlat
more than four weeks before the passage OF
the resolution was offered to the Senate the
term OF Duskin had expired. " hat possible
use can be made OF the informal on sought
III the case: " rs. the report of the
majority declares that the Information is
wanted to enable the Senate to discharge tho
great duty imposed upon il of max ny in
quiry as to the propr4ety or an Official act by
the President, the power to do which Is ex-
prcssly conferred upon him by law. to be eX-
trcised within his discretion. If the Senate
should dcc!ue that the removal was improper
or UNIV Sc, what would be tie eject of the de-
clsion! Can il restore Duskn? Is he II II a
suspended officer awaiting the adjournment
of the senate 30 be restored TO the duties of
his ONCE! Inc senate Is 10 day engaged IN an
inquiry about the matter from which there
can bc no possible practical result II is Il
mOo-ed question merely, and the Senate -
turned into moot court to discuss purely
abstract pro- OsItion.
The refusal of the Acknowledgement. in
obedience to the express order Of the PreS-
dent, To SEND IN tue DrlNate documents relat-
ing to the suspension of DuSkin was critic sed,
said senator Pugh. in the resolution OF the
majOr.t . as Il violation of duty. and that VIC
latiOn was denounced rs being subversiVe
of the principles of government and OF good
ADMINISTRATIONS act so characterized az
TO make 1t u sufficient ground for instant
impeachment. Senator Pugh quoted from
one OF Senator Edmunds' speeches on the
Tcnure-Of-Oifice act TO show that Senator Ed
munds held that a Cabinet officer should lie \
man personally agreeable to the President,
being one OF his confidential advisers. Yet
the Senate was asked to pass n resolution
cOndemning the Attorney-General for Obc.-
ing the President The Acknowledgement was
asked by this resolution of the Senate to dis
regard the positive order of the President.
and thereby make himself liable to instant
dismissal from the Cabinet.
There il. said MIR. Pugh, square issue
made in the report of the majority of the
Jude airy Comm ttec with the President up
on matter of fact that is within personal
knowledge. The President had stated that
the papers were private and unofficial,
and re.ated to nothing over which the
Senate had Jurisdiction The majorty
OF the Judiciary Committee and its
distinguished chairman, the Senator from
Vermont said that, though private and I'M
Official they would enable the Senate TO dis
charge a duty il had To perform, power it
claimed, revising the official act of the PreSi-
dent in suSpending Duskin. That was the
undisputed basis OF the claim % these private.
unofficial papers. 1t was the power
of the Senate to exercise the same control and
revision over the act of suspension or re-
moval that was claimed and exercised and
given to the Senate expressly 10y the constr
tuition of advising and consenting to appoint
menus
lis there any thing" said Mr. Pugh warm
ing up to the theme lin the history OF the
Government to support this claim! The is
tingu shed senator from Vermont has pre-
sented long array OF what he calls prece-
dents i undertake to say and L challenge
denial upon the fullest test, that there is no
case i'm the history of the Government for
eighty years where any such documents as
those called for in this resolution were ever
transmitted 10 the Senate III executive or pub
lie session Oh the order of the Senate"
Senator Pugh Endorsed all that the Senator
from Vermont had sad about Mr.. Thurman,
ana added: Yes Mr.. President, Allen g.
Thurman is the greatest and the wiSeSt and
the pureSt American statesman now living"
This Hllusion to Mr. Thurman was followed
by a loud burst of applause in the galleries.
such as had greeted the mention of his name
yesterday. Mr. Pugh. continuing. SAD he
was surprised that the great Senator from
Vermont should invoke the authority of Sem
atOr Thurman to sustain the claim now made
on the Attorner y General
Senator Pugh then read the letter which
was read yesterday by Senator Edmunds. ask
ing for Uapers bearing the removal of
Judge Shaner of the Territory of Utah, and
said:
THAT person was a judge of a Terri
torial court, and in the provision con-
Ierrng the power of suspension on the
Pres dent there IS an express exception
of judges of the United States The
question Is whether Territorial judges are en-
braced in that language. Tine Senator from
Vermont knows that that question is row
before the judiciary Committee. The SEN
ator from ermont knows that the Sen
atOr from New York. MI. EvartS. has
expressed the opinion that these Territorial
judges are not subject TO the power of SuSpen-
sion by the President. That Is to-day
open question before the very committee of
which the honorable Senator is chairman.
Then why is il that Senator Thurman, chair
man of the Judiciary Committee. sent that
order or request to the Attorney-General: He
sent II under section l16i-makng them sub 4
ject to removal, but only by and with the ad.
vice and consent of the Senate"
Senator Walthal Mass read for Senator |
Pugh from speech OF ex-senator Spraguc [
careful statement expressing the CONVICTION /
that the only function of the Scnae in the /
cases involved i'll the present discussion is |
merely one of assent or dissent, and strongly |
controverting the claim that the function OF |
removal is a legislative one. Senator Pugl
said that il was known that this statement !
was written BY Chief Justice Chase, and he
boldly challenged a reply to il.
But even if the right of the Senate TO re-
view suspensions were conceded, Senator
Pugh argued, il would not be cNpedient or
practicable for it to exercise the power. lh
support of this proposition Senator Pugh
read extracts from the minority report and
from message o. President Grant sent to
Congress in 1869, calling attention to the en-
barraSsments likely 10 arise from leaving on
the statute books the Office act, and
asking what faith the President could put
in subordinates forced upon him, and how
such offic ais would be likely TO serve an
administration knowing that il had NO faith
In him. In conclusion Senator Pugh said
that President Cleveland had no fear of an
appeal to the people. He was responsible
TO them. He supposed the majority in the
Senate had no fear of appealing 10 the people
in favor of the omnipotence of the Senate.
He knew the minority had none in appealing
TO the people upon the omniDotence OF the
constitution and the integrity of Mr.. CleYe
lands administration.
Opium eaters appear to be unfor
sunate in their attempts to find roya.
road out of their habit. Those who
sought painless cure in cocaine found