The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-17


tended that as precedents they were
not In point in the present oontro-
versy, and were only resorted to TO
cover mp the real issue and confuse
the public mind. During the year
that the present administration had
been in power the Senate bad in no
instance failed to treat il with Inn
partial consideration and exact us.
tice. The msjority OF the Sensts had
not sought 10 offer any factious oppo-
sition TO the administration, and gone
even further BY treating II precisely as
a Republican administration would
have been treated.
Senator Cullom discussed at some
length the constitutional question in
yolyed in the Presidents power OF re-
moval. he WAS willing to allow large
latitude to the President 10 the mat
ter, bat as the very hungry and very
Thirsty were clamorous for seats at the
official featte there was danger that
ialsehood, or eyen perjury, might be
res0rted 10. Was II true, az
had often been said OF late,
that "a public Office was a
public trust2 Was q public Office the
property Of the executive, TO give and
take a. willP Was the advice and
consent OF the Senate q peTfunctory
act, 10 be performed at the behest
of the executive. as his 0lsrks would
engross his letters? II the Presidents
statements were made in good faith,
TO the effect that removals should be
made for cause, il so, why conceal the
aause2 In his recent message the
President said he hoped a defense
against unjust suspensions might be
made in the justice OF the executive.
"The justice OF the executive, for
sooth Upon what meat doth this,
our Cesar, feed, that he is grown 30
great" The theory that the king
could do no wrong was long since ex-
ploded among enlightened nations.
II had no place in this land. II
the President had acted in good
faith, he had been deceived (;
dor" said Senator Cullom, persons
had been removed in Illinois than
whom no more faithful public servant
could be found and against whom no
charge OF official misconduct could be
sustained. The Senator knew and all
Their. neighbors knew they we're hon
est men. II they were not suspended
for political reasons, what in heave as
name had been their offenses2
Senator Cullom disclaimed any in
tention 10 keep his friends in off %,
k,.k .1xaIaataI aootuat oaorat ~ ua,o =
chamber" proceedings that reflected
ON the personal character OF honest
men. Men should not be allowed to
come sneakingly TO the Postoffice De-
paltment at the invitation OF the Post
master General and lodge secret COM
plants against honest men. A refusal
to produce the papers would be adj
mission that they could rot bear the
. light.
Senator Maxey followed. He OPP
posed the resolutions reported from
the majority Of the committee. The
real question at issue, he said, was one
OF grave Importance. The Dustin case
had been merely seized on as an oc.
casion to raise an issue with the Presi-
dent az TO the point involved. Senator
Maxey inquired where the Senate
found authority 10 condemn the head
OF department under the circum-
stances OF this case. Who so we'll as
that officer could know the facts on
which his action rettedP Referring 10
Senator Edmunds's likening OF the
Presidents recent message to a COM
munication Of King Charles l, Senat l
Msxey said the timilitude did NOT
exist. The fatal imbecility had brought
the king to the block by the semblance
Of court. A court organized to con-
sist would not be found in this case.
He who would attempt to play the roll
OF Cromwell here would fud thai
this was not the country fol
It. The Cromwell had not been borr
who, in tbs name oil the Senate, could
grasp the constitutional powers vestsc
in the executive OF this Republ' c
However much the issue might be dis
guised, he said, the real object was tC
ascertain the Presidents reasons foI
the suspension and removal OF officers
IL was an attempt to do indirectly
what contessedly could not be done
directly. The report Of the majority
of the committee, Senator Maxey char.
acterized, is simply stump speech
digni6ed with the name OF a commit
tee report, Complaint, he said, wa
made In that majority report that 64E
suspensions had been made undel
this administration. The complaint
made by the people, Senator Maxey
said, was that there had not been ter
times 463 removals. The Significance
Of the election OF 1884, as he construed
il, was that the people wanted
q change from Republican tc
Democratic methods, principles and
policy. What was wanted and ex'
pected was a Democratic administra
ton, root, stem and branch. Genuine
civil service ref)rm demanded tba'
the executive who was required by
the constitution to take care that the
laws were faithfully executed should
have the selection of honest and com
petent agents in accordance with the
policy indicated by his election
stripped OF all unnecessary verbiage.
The eimple issue, Senator Maxey said
was: Where and in whom was the
power Of removal lodged by the con.
stitution2 He declared the power OIL
removal was essentially a mater o.
executive power and that the con
stitution no Shere restricted the
exercise Of that power. He
went on to argue that thu Senate
had no right to insist upon the
production OF papers which went tc
show the reasons for removals or sus
pensions, and said that the only OBJ
ject OF the Republican msjority wal
to keep Republican officeholders il
place. 1t was an attempt to contro
the discretion OF the President, but i
would fail. Senator Dolph then tool
the floor In support OF the me ority re
port, but the Senate adjourned before
the conclusion of his remarks, he still
retaining the floor.
The House.