The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-03-15
CLEVELAND'S CHAMPION.
KENNA, OF VlRGIANA, uPHOLoS THE
PRESIDENTS COURSE.

The Most Effective Speech Delivered on
the Democratic side-Funeral OF Sen.
ator MIler-Thc Telephone Inquiry
Morrison's ON Dement'S Confirmation.
WASHINGTON CITY, March l5-Kenna, of
West Virginia, made the most effective
speech in the senate Friday that has been
delivered on the Democratic side Of the con
troversy with the president He started
out by accepting the issue made by Ed
munfs that all papers received by the presi-
dent referring to official acts were official
papers and subject to the call OF the senate,
and argued against that position 10y the re
ductio a ahSardum. lie then proceeded
to cite recent presidents for the presidents
action Every since this controversy be
gan it has been repeatedly said that, while
John sherman was Sc rotary OF the treasury
he wrote a letter to Roscoe Conkling refuS-
ing 10 send papers that were desired from
the department files Sherman has been
several times twitted about this letter, and
has replied that he remembered no SUI IA
letter. and that he always furnishtd the
papers that were askel for kenna sent to
the clerks desk and had read this identical
letter sherman, in his speech some three
weeks ago, diSclamei for all senators on his
side any clam tn know the presidents
reasons for suspensions; they only elaine
the right to SCI the documents on file
kenna answered this by sending to the
clerks desk and having read the letter from
the finn u committee, of which Sherman is
a member, 10 the secretary of the treasury,
asking for the reasons or for the papers
L.. .
sion
He alsp quoted from Blaine's book
passages relating to the tenure of-ofiice act
To Illustrate MIR. Blaine, statement that the
Republican party passel the tenurc-of office
act to prevent johnson from removing Re
p lhiCan officials too fast and practically re-
p'alcd it in 1869 lest Grant should not be
able to remove Democrats fast enough
kenna read the bill offered by Logan, then
in the hous', declaring that all civil offices
except udgships filed prior to March 4,
1861, should become vacant June 20 1869 as
if the Democrats could not he turned out
fast enough one at time, and vet, said
kenna, while a fuss is being made over G43
suspensions by Mr.. Cleveland in eight
MONTHS Gen Grant made $50 removals in
seven weeks during six of which the tenure
| of-otiice act OF 1861 was in force This rate
was 50 slow that Logan wanted to make n
clean sweep by act of congress kenna
read in conjunction the tanure-of-ofiice acts
of 1867 and 1853, to show that the Republi-
cans had repeated every material feature of
the law Of 1871 One of the best
parts of Mr. Kenna's speech was that
in which he described the practical effect of
al attempt by the senate to revise all sus-
p, nsions. He drew a clever picture of the
way the government would be carried on
with the president before the judiciary com
mittee Of the senate trying to get marshal
out of office, the secretary of the treasury
| prosecuting a collector of custom before the
finance committee, and the postmaster gen
eral marching down to the committee of the
| senate on postoices and post roads with a
lot OF docum ntary evidence and witnesses
to zorro crate him. and trying to secure
removal Of Il 100 postmaster Kenna
closed with an eloquent defence of the presi-
d mt from the charges of Inconsistency and
a lack of canior which the Republi aus
have made. He received the warmest con
gratulations FROM Demo ratio senator's for
his spec II