The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-03-17
We call special attention to our new club
terms of six Weekly Sentinels for 80; twelve
MR.. PUGH ON THE STAR CHAMBER.

MR.. PUGH ON THE STAR CHAMBER.
The Republican Star Chamber, led by
Mr.. Edmunds, has created the ''ishoo" for
which their bravado and hollow sympathy
for republican institutions was intended to
serve. 1t was blow at an imaginary enc
my. 1t recited narrowing tales of woe that
did not exist. 1t asked for papers of the At
torney General thac he did not have, and
which it knew he did not have. 1t was
purely buncumb, intended to deceive the
public with a fancied specimen of old
Roman virtue.
But the chief of the star chamber received
Mr.. Pugh that he will always remember.
The star chamber advocate was overcome
with emotion at the wisdom, purity and
greatness of Senator Thurman. Here was
the great champion of true Senatorial dignity
that the star chamber chief so much ad-
mired that he could not forbear reading from
him precedent established which would
forever obscure the administration
for daring to deny to the Republican star
chamber the right to call for the private cor
respondence of the President But, alas the
precedent of the really pure ex-senator Thur
man evidently failed to precede. Mr.. Pugh
showed conclusively from the records that
not only were the presidents of Mr.. Thurman
altogether in favor of the position taken by
the President, but that all the presidents
from the foundation of the Government
Pugh also consulted the precedents given by
Chief Justice Chase, expressing the convic-
ton that the only function of the Senate in
the cases involved in the discussion was
merely one of assent or dissent, and strong
ly controvertine the paInt that the function
OF removal was legislative one.
Rhetoric is the sole dependence of the
chief of the star chamber. Presumably he
nor his intimate colleagues intended to har-
rangue for any other purpose than for cleo
pioneering buncombe. Visions of Repub-
lican stump orators pointing with pride"
to the aimless record of the star chamber
and reciting as gospel the redundant senten-
ces of the star chamber chief, probably OBJ
| scured their perceptions as certainly as it
did their judgment.
But leaving the question of precedents,
WhAOu nldluly dIe the IcllduCe VI tulS Cudu-
| Der, that seemingly has learned nothing
whatever since the war and by which it is
| guided in the well worn ruts of lost age,
Mr.. Pugh showed the absurdity and inn
practicability of such a power being exer-
cised by the Senate as interpreted by the
self-constituted court OF inquisition led by
Mr.. Edmunds. He drew the lines anew so
lately questioned by the Republican revolu-
tionists as being the omnipotence OF the
Senate against the omnipotence of the con-
stitution, showing with startling clearness
the lengths the Republican Senate have gone
in subverting this bulwark of American in
situations.
And so it is exactly. 1t is a war of a fac
ton TO destroy the constitution and the laws,
and to usurp the supreme power. 1t has
gone long way toward its ambition, until
at last the question is squarely raised whether
the President, elected by the people, TO exer-
else certain powers clearly defined by the
constitution, shall remain as the executive
instrument supplied by the constitution,
or become the servant, thepuppet of a star
chamber council. The hand writing on the
! wall says no.