The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-03-11

after the adoption Of the constitution comprising
many who aided In its preparation, Legislative
eSs o hs
matter OF removals from office was fully sus-
tained. think it will be found that In the
was generally, if not at ali times, a proposition
pending in some way curtailing this power OF
the president by legislation. which furnishes
eosed to be- to- tSs oo
stitution by such legislation. The first enact
ment OF this description was passed un-
ical bitterness, which eliminated in the
presidents Impeachment. This law provided
that the federal officers to which 1t applied could
ate ate, when shown by evidence satisfactory to the
president to be guilty of misconduct in Office or
crime, or when incapable or disqualified to per-
form their duties, and that within twenty days
after the next meeting OF the senate 1t should be
THE DUTY OF THE PRESIDENT
"to report to the senate such suspensions, will
the evidence and reasons for his action in the
case" This statute. passed in 1867, when Goa,
gress was overwhelmingly and bitterly opposed
to the president. may be regarded as an indica-
tion that even then 1t was thought necessary by
congress determined upon the snbjugation OF
the executive to legislate at will to furnish
itself law for that purpose. instead
OF attempting to reach the object in
6v an ion 91 any ycn thn
found its way to our stature book was plain IN
it's terms, and its intent needed no avowaI. II
valid and now in operation. it would justify the
present course OF the senate, and comment the
obedience of the executive to Its demand. 1t
may. however, be remarked in passing. that, un-
der this law the president had the privilege Of
presenting to the body which assumed to review
his executive acts his reasons therefor. instead
of being excluded from explanation or by papers
found in 1.-The the departments Two years M after M the
five weeks after the Inauguration OF president
in political accord with both branches OF con-
gress, the sections Of the act regulating suspen
sions from Office during the recess of the senate
wers entirely repealed. and In their place were
substituted provisions which. instead Of
To mscondac shs sr@e dlsabty and
disqualification, expressly permitted such
suspension by the president "in his discretion,
and completely abandoned the requirements
obliging him to report to the senate The evil
dence and reasons" for his action. With these
notifications and with all branches of the gov
ernment in political harmony, and in the absence
of partisan incentive to capttous obstruction,
the law as it was left by the amendment Of
1869 was much less destructive to executive
discretion: and yet the great general and pat
riotic citizen who. on the 4th day Of March, 1869
assumed the duties of chief executive, aud for
whose freer administration OF his high office the
most hateful restraints of the law of 1867 were,
on the 5th day Of April, 1869, removed, mindful
of his obligation to defend and protect every
prerogative of his great trust, and apprehen-
sive of
THE INJURY THREATENED
these statutes, even in their modified form, In
his first message to congress advised their re-
peal and set forth their unconstitutional char
acter and hurtful tendencies / am unable to
state whether not this recommendation for a
repeal of these laws has been since repeated II
1t has not, the reason can probably be found In
the experience which demonstrated the fact that
the necessities of the political situation but
rarely developed their vicious character: and SO
it happens that after an existence OF nearly
twenty years of almost innocOus desuetude, these
lay wa q re aDDarentlY
as we'll as the unrepealed, and then put in the
way of an executive who is willing. II permitted,
to attempt an improvement in the methods OF
administration The constitutionality of these
laws is by no means admitted. But why should
the provisions OF the repealed law, which re-
quired specific cause for suspension and report
to the senate Of evidence and reason" be now
in effect applied to the present executive, in
stead of the law afterward passed and unre-
the presdent "in his discretion" and carefully
omits the requirement. that evidence and rea-
sons for his action in the case shall be reported
to the senate? The requests and demands
which by the score have for nearly three months
been presented to the different departments OF
the government, whatever may be their form,
right of the senate to sit in JUDGMENT upon the
exercise of my exclusive discretion and the ex-
ecutive function, for which am solely RESPONSE
bic to the people from wo% vi nave s 50 afe y
support and defend the constitution. my duty
to the people. who have chosen me to
to relinqulsh them, and my duty to the chief
magistracy, which / must preserve un1mEa1red
in all its dignity and vigor, compel me to refuse
to comply with these demands To the end that
the service may be improved, the senate is in
vited to the fullest scrutiny of the persons sub.
mitted to them for public ofic. In recognition OF
the constitutional power OF that body to advise
and consent to their ppo1ntment.
WILL CONTINUE,
as have thus far done, to furnish, at the
quest of the confirming body. all the informa-
ton possess touching the fitness Of the NOM
inees placed before them for their action both
when they are proposed to fill vacancies and to
take the place of suspended officials. Upon re-
fusal to confirm, I shall not assume the
right to ask the reasons for the action
of the senate, nor question its determination.
I cannot think that anything more Is required
to secure worthy fpcumbents In public office
than q careful and independent discharge OF our
respective duties within their well-defned linn
it's. Though the propriety Of suspensions might
be better assured If the action OF the resident
was subject to review by the senate, yet II the
constitution and the laws have placed this
responsibility on the executive branch OF the
government it should not be disturbed. nor the
discretion which 1t involved relinQuished. 1t
has been claimed that, the present executive
having pledged himself not to remove Off
cials except for cause. the fact OF the sus-
Of the suspended officer as Injuries his
character and reputation, and therefore
the senate should review the case for his vindi-
cation. have said that certain officials should
not. In my opinion, be removed during the con-
tinuance Of the term for which they were ap-
pointed solely for the purpose Of putting in their
pointing power, and this declaration was imme-
6ia.ely followed by a description of official
partisanship which ought not to entitle those in
whom it was exhibited to consideration. Is
not apparent. however, whether the course thus
announced carries with it the consequences de-
scr1bed. II in any degree the suggestion is
worthy of consideration, 1t ts to be hoped that
there may be a defense against unjust suspen.
sion In the justice of the executive
THE PLEDGE WHICH HAVE MADE,
by which have placed limitation upon my ex-
deemed. OF course the pretense is not put forth
that no mistakes have been committed, but not
q suspension has been made except 1t appeared
to my satisfaction that me punilc weIale would 10
suspensions have been Denied and the adher-
ence to the rule laid down to govern my action
tion and impatience on the part Of those who
have insisted upon more changes In the offices
The pledges have made were made to the peo-
pie and to them & am % responsible sS ior the man.
not responsible to the senate. and ! am un-
willing to submit my actions and official con-
duct to them for Judgment. There are no grounds
for an allegation that the fear OF being
found false to my professions influences me in
declining to submit to the demands of the SEN
sts have not constantly refused to suspend ID
political friends, and have not yet wilfully
broken faith with the people for the sake Of be-
Ing 1RlSe TO ln6m. NclLneE LQ0 QfScOuConC OF
party friends nor the alurements constantly Of
fered OF combinations Of appointments condi-
toned upon the avowal that suspensions have
been made on party grounds alone, nor the
threat proposed In the resolutions now before the
senate, that no confirmation will be made unless
the demands Of that body be complied with, are
sufficient to discourage or deter me from follow
ing In the way which / am convinced leads to
better government for the people
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion. Washington. d. G.. March
i, 1885,
NOT AT ALL ALARMED.
NEW YORK, Special Telegram, March L.
Marvin Hughitt, of the Chicago 4 North.