The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-03-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.

has had anything to gain by the SEN
ate's party tight but Senator Edmunds |
of Vermont. He hoped to obtain
through it safe reelection to the SEN
ate next fall. This he has probably &C
eOmplished, but all his adroit little
schemes for managing the controversy
have failed ignominiouslt through the |
presidents adhesion to sound policy,
good precedents and his constitutional
right and duty in the premises.
Every body was getting tired of the
useless debate when suddenly in the
midst OF republican senator's speech.
Senator Beck infused some new inter
est into it. He asserted that Duskin
was unfit to. hold office, that the YER
mont senator knew it, and that tho pa
pers were called for in his case because
Il was thought the president would
comply and precedent be thus estab-
| lished.
It was shrewdlv believed that as
Duskin furnished a bad example of an
official appointment under a republican
president. this democratic administra-
ton would fall into the trap laid for IL
by the resolution, which would make
Mr., Ddmunds master of the situation
and thus enable him to roam at will
through the antecedants of all other
cases.
The Kentucky senator said that eve-
rybody knew that Duskin was nomi-
mated in March, 1881, and the senate
did not see fit to confirm him. He was
again appointed after the adjournment
of the session and nominated at the Oc-
tober term of the same year and Mr..
Edmunds had not felt justified in re-
porting him to the senate for confirma-
ton. When he had finished this state
ment profound silence fell fol- a few
minutes upon the surprised senate.
Then Mr.. Edmunds arose with an ex-
preston almost of pain upon his face &,
turned upon the senator who dared, as
he said, to betray the senate's secrets
by speaking Of this matter in open ses-
sion- Mr.. Beck instantly denied hav-
ing violated his duty. "The records
and the papers," said he, "show three
nominations OF Duskin and it is because
the senator from Vermont knows that
he is unworthy, that the papers were
asked for because he expected to entrap
the department.
Mr.. Edmunds again insisted that the
senator was out of order and appealed
to the chair..to enforce the rules. The
chair mildly hoped that the senator
from Kentucky would see the distinc-
ton between public and private SEES
sion. He had undoubted right to pub
lie facts but-Mr. Beck (interposing)
remarked that he had, and that he
would prove next day by the press OF
the country and by the records Of the
house of representatives all that he bad
asserted. He also hoped in executive
session to get vote OF the senate to
compel the senator from Vermont to
produce evidence which was before his
own committee to show Duskin's unfit
ness. He hoped to prove that this eff
fort to make an Issue in regard to Dus-
kin was because Duskin's case was SO
: bad that it was believed the democratic
administration would be glad to prove
how bad he was and that it could then
be claimed as precedent in good cases.
"And hope to prove, continued Mr.
, Beck, t'that this move, made with such
a flourish OF tFumpets-Well, will moi
say what expect to prove, for 1 could
not do It perhaps in parliamentary Ian
guage."
. Mr.. Edmunds claimed to be greatly
shocked by what he claimed to be
violation of rules on the part of Mr.
, Beck. He said he would have to leave
what the senator from Kentucky haC
. said in utter silence. Whatever Other
gentlemen might choose to do, he could
not violate his "oath" or his "honor'
: by alludlng to what the judiciary com
a mittee had or had not done until he
> should have permission.
Senator Beck was not to be impose
upon by tame conventionalities, and
1 when question of honor was hurled
at him he grew warmer, more gesticu
latory, and stepping forward raised hi
p powerful voice higher:
1.-THE senator from Vermont" sale
he, ''speaks of my honor, and oath anC
4 integrity, and compares them with hi
D own. am willing to stand by the com
I parison. Whatever say, l say openly
and boldly. ] do not believe in secre
ways" Mr.. Beck had more respect FOL
= the man who meets his enemy in tn,
> open field and either knocks him dowr
e or takes fair knOck-down himsel
o than he had for the man who stabs hi
I brother under the fifth rib while thak
ing hands with him and asking him
chow Is that with thee, my brother q
He proposed to have all the proceed
d ings in March, 81, Oct. 81 and Dec. IS
e and all the papers filed with the judici
q airy committee, of WHICH Mr.: Edmund
Is chairman, and all the proceeding
had before that committee bearing OIL
the Duskin case made public so that tn
q country could judge whether he hat
8 told the truth or not. If he had no
n falsiEed, he wanted chance to prove it
since comparison had been made be
: tween the oath and honor OF himsel
and the senator from Vermont.