Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-11
PUGH ANSWERS EDMUNDS
THE ISSUE SHOWN TO BE AS
DEAD AS A DOOR NAIL.

Expiration of His fern Makes Duskin's
Restoration ImpOssible-The Rights
of tho Senate in Gases of Removals
Shown by Review OF Precedents.
WASHINGTON, March 1O.--The Chair
this afternoon lald before the Senate the
resolution FROM the Judiciary Committee
concerning the relations OF the Senate and
the President. Mr.. Pugh said he had eK-
pressed his views fully upon the subject
Of this debate in the report made from the
Judiciary Committee by the minority, and
the man object he had in now addressing
the Senate in reply to the Senator from
Vermont, was to prevent, il it was in his
power to do SO, which he admitted was
difficult undertaking, that Senator from
changing the character OF the question
between the Senate and the President.
The real character of that controversy
could not be misunderstood or misrepre-
sented, as 1t had arisen upon facts appa-
rent upon the record, and reported by the
majority of the Judiciary Committee.
When the Senator from Vermont WAS at
the wheel, he steered by his own chart.
He never ran on straight lines.
EDMONDo AhNlA ABAhNE Eoos
He never consulted other sailors, and
he lost his temper when there was any
question as TO the'skill of his seamanship,
and when the officer OF the ship undertook
TO select the crew to man it without his
advice and consent he instantly headed
mutiny. At the risk of mourning the dis
pleasure Of his honorable and distin-
guished friend he should call a reckoning,
so that we might understand where we
are and whittier we are drifting. What
were the facts by which it is the duty OF
all of us to be guided? They were few
ard simple. On July II, 1885, George NJ.
Duskin, being District Attorney of the
Southern District OF Alabama, was sus-
pended by the President, and on the same
day JOhn D. Burnett was design
ated to discharge the duties of
that Office. On Dec. IA, 1885, the
Senate being in session, Mr. Burnett
was nominated to the Senate to get it's ad-
vice and consent to his appointment.
That nomination was referred to the Jn-
dietary Committee and IL lay there over
month. In the meantime, on Dec. 20,
1885, the term Of the Office of George NJ.
Duskin expired. On Jan. %, 1886, one
month after the term of Mr.. Duskin had
expired, and he was no Longer an incum-
bent of that office. a resolution was sent
by the Senate to the Attorney General.
The Senator here read the resolution Of
the Senate calling for the papers in the
Dusdin case.
THE MAsORITY's AIM.
For what purpose, he asked, was that
information sought by the Senate of the
Attorney General2 The majority OF the
committee stated distinctly the purpose
for which these papers were sought.
Here the Senator read from the majority
\ 81. -
ration that "public interest and public
duty would require that the facts be made
known in order that the Senate may un-
derstandDgly and promptly advise their
remoyal."l
1t was useless, Mr.. Pugh continued, for
him TO read other passages in the report
making the same statement that the use
the Senate intended to make of the dOcu-
ments and papers sought from the AttOr-
ney General was to enable the Senate to
exercise the power OF revising the act of
removal of Mr., Duskin by the President.
NATURE OF THE PAPERS.
What was the character of the informa-
tion sought by the Senate from the Office
of the Attorney General? The resolution
spoke for itself on that subject:
Reso7ued, That the Attorney General of the
United statts be, and he hereby is directed
10 transmit to the Senate copies of all docu-
ments and papers.
Not public documents, not official docu-
ments, not public or official papers, but
private documents and private papers re-
lating exclusively to an official act of the
President in the suspension of Mr.. Dus-
kin as District Attorney. The inquiry
proposed by the Senate was to be made
with the knowledge of the tact that more
than four weeks before the resolution was
offered to the Senate the term Of Mr.. Dus-
kin mad expired. Then what possible use
could be made Of the information sought
IN that case?
PURE FICTION.
II was pure fiction. Why the report of
the majority declared that the information
was wanted 10 enable the Senate to dis
charge the great duty imposed upon IL Of
making an inquiry as to the prOprietY OF
an official act by the President, the power
70 do which was expressly conferred upon
him by law TO be exercised within his dis
cretion. If they had deci1ed the removal
was improper or unwise, what would have
been the effect of the decision? Could il
have restored Mr.. Duskini Was he still
suspended officer awaiting the adjourn
ment OF the Senate to be restored to the
duties of his Office? Toe Senate was
to-day engaged in an inquiry about a
matter from which there could be no pos
sible practical result.
MOOT QUESTION.
1t was a moot question merely, and the
Senate was turned into a moot court to
discuss a purely abstract proposition.
The refusal OF the Attorney General, five
weeks after the expiration OF his term Of
Office, in obedience 10 the express order
of the President, TO send in private docu-
ments relating 10 the suspension OF Mr..
Duskin was criticised in the resolution Of
the majority as a violation Of duty, aud
that violation was denounced as being
subversiye OF the principles Of the govern
ment and OF good adminstratlon-an act
so characterized az 20 make IL sufficient
ground for instant impeachment.
What was the relation between the
President and his Cabinet officers? Mr..
Pugh would let Mr. Edmunds' own words
answer that question. He then quoted
from one Of Mr.. Edmunds' speeches on
the tenure OF Office act TO show that Mr..
Edmunds held that a Cabinet officer
should be gentleman personally agree
able TO the President, being ono OF his
confidential advisers.
MR.. GARLAND's POSITION.
Yet the Senate was asked 10 pass a reso-
luton condemning the Attorney General
for obeying the President, whose adviser
he was--who stood in that relation or
trust and confidence TO him indicated by
the quotation made FROM the speech OF the
Senator from Vermont. Tho Attorney
General was asked by this resolution Of
a.