The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-13
FORTY.NINTH CONGRESS-.
THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE
PRESIDENT AND SENATE.
Senator Kenna's Speech in Support
Of the Observation-Disclosures
iDgs 10 the House.


the State Of Iowa in aid OF railroads.
Senator Plumb opposed the amend
ment heretofore offered by Senator
Spooner, Withholding from the opera
ton OF the act certain lands, as to
which a suit is now pending in the
United States Supreme Court. The
bill itself, Senator Plumb said, pro-
vided a perfectly impartial tribunal
for the settlement OF the rights OF all
claimants. The bill was a bill for
peace. He feared the amendment
might prove TO be Trojan horse.
The amendment was rejected, and
after considerable debate the bill
passed.
After debate, Senator Spooner's
amendment was agreed to-yeas, So
nays, Island the bill then passed.
The Chair then placed before the
Senate the resolutions reported from
the Judiciary Commite3 on the res-
tions between the President and the
Senate 10 have papers and Information
relating to suspensions from office, and
Senator Kenna w. Va. took the floor
in opposition to the report oil the ma
iority Of the committee. He Contended
tina. the Senate was not entitled to call
for and receive such documents and
papers as laid down by the Senator
from Vermont and said II paper
were addressed to the President pro
tempore in his ofiioia capacity that
fact alone, ceording to the Senator
from Vermont, made it an official pa.
per to which every department off.
cial Of the government was entitled.
1t might come f,om Pottawatso mie
Indian, signed in his native dialect,
involving remote contingency Of the
scalping OF the officers aud members
OF the Senate, and yet acco ding 10 the
definition it was an official paper. The
Senator from Vermont had proceeded
to demonstrate, assuming his theories
to be correct, that the Senate had
right to 20 into every department Of
the government, whether acting
in executive or open ses-
zion, rsnsacking the archives
of various departments and wrinGing
from them papers coming within the
definition he had read, and yet very
mockery of the situation seemed by
come providential interpesition to ex-
hibit iteelt within a moment after he
had concluded. No sooner had the
honorable Senator taken his seat than,
as customary in the Senate, some Sem
ator moved that the Senate proceed to
the consideration Of executive BUSH
ness, and the bells which were arranged
Tor the convenience OF members Of
The Senate began TO Jingle throughout
the Capitol, a body OF gentlemen COM
posing part of the co-oi dinRte branch
Of the government, having listened to
the argument, which undertook 10
cav that all mankind should have no
secret from the Senate, was admon-
ished by that ringing OF bells that the
time had come that the Senate Won d
put on its robe OF royal purple. Five
1 thousand brave men and fair women
were expelled from the galleries.
[ The eyes al the American press were
closed. The doors ratified aud senti-
/ nels took their posts, and as fitting
testimony, at the conclusion OF tie
speech OF the Senator from Vermont,
| the Senate was resolved into its an-
Gent secrecy, and as the files marched
oui and the officers assumed their
posts as guards OF the sacred privilege
OF the Senate, and denied every
where else, the thought came,
how abundautly practices may
engrait themselves upon the human
compo sition, and how little reflection,
! perhaps, members of the Senate had
given TO the fact that for hundred
years or more this body had been the
star chamber Of the American repub-
lie. Why, the Senator from Vermont
would deny privacy or confidence to
every paper in every department OF
the government. Let it be seen
where that might lead. Suppose some
respectable citizen or come vile man,
profiting by the suggestion Of the Sem
ator from Vermont, should choose to
address q letter to the President pre-
tempoIe OF the Senate declaring that
the question involved in this debate
was purely moot question; that no
body supportingi it bad any faith in 1t
that it was only the third or fourth
suggestion CT the change Of position
and status occupied by those a6yanc
ing it since the beginning Of the con
tToversy, and urging the President pre-
tempore TO advocate it on the theory
that il might prove to be profitable
makeshif: 10 maintain in their presen
positions as 100000 Republican Office
holders, and to prostitute to party
ends the present executive department
OF the government. 1t might come
from a vile source, and yet, under thu
definition OF this issue laid down b!
the senator from Vermont, that woul'
be an official paper, subject to any use
to which he chose 10 subject it.
, Suppose some vile man should ad
dress the presiding officer Of the Senate
orshould have done sosome weeksfg
a letter in which he states the pres
, emit pro tenn. was behind the times
/ that the Senator from Vermont wa
; moving in advance in this matter
that it was a popular issue among tn
people proposing to retain large nun
Der OF Republicans in responsible an
: lucrative positions, should say Sd
not allow him to take the advance
, look TO the approaching national cor
= vention in 1885; leok to your laurels
2 take the floor yourself" But tn
] question is not up Take the foo
, yourseli." "But the Senator fror
I Vermont has not vet prepared his n
/, port" take the floor yourself; thi
? issue must be met "But there
e nothing pending in the Senate o
. which 10 take the floor unless il be tn
r silver resolution OF the Senator fror
e Louisiana" Take il, notwiths,sn'
ing :,
: suppose some vile man, and b
I would be vile 10 write such a lette
= should have addressed communici
/ ton of that character to the PresideI
S pro tenn. in his official capacity. Thu
r paper. according TO the definition
! would be a paper of which the Senst
+ and the House OF Representatives an
= the whole government would be 81
n titled to. Suppose some other wi
man should have addressed letter
the presiding officer Of this body J
which be declared that the PresideI
a of the United States in his civil Sc
!. vice communications bad declare
/. that men we're to be removed emily Il
H. -