The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1886-03-11

Ihs RgestSsnS aea nSsnss
The Pfcsslest a1d sspste hasr Al lss'
INA 10 up case" upon ~hich, Nc sap
pose botA sides ~ill appeal 10 the oown-
Try" Toe case may he briefly stated.
The senate. 10 selios upou oas q ihs sp-
pcinsment. ~ shs Apsnreer General. Office
real 10 tbs, officer f-r spy papen that
might be there 90 Ole relsiisg - the on
cssl predecessor sho bad been suspended
by the prssidepi). TIE Attorney General
replied that sci,tg nnd., the sdslre ~ lhs
pra.iteD: te sheall ~itLold lspers
referring 10 iio lnsat,er~s
bat ~oali lnral.h all psper. rria,iag &c
ihe rev arlpla,ee, TIE subject vas re-
erred to the judiciary committee, and Q
long report az. made by the m.ialiy Of
The committee though Senator Edmnnds.
msiatsiaiBg tue night ~ The Senate 70
copies Of papers on ale IL any VI The de
pxrsmenls u the government snd assert
ing that the nigh, hal never aefsfe been
questioned, o. like request dcmsJ,
Tue minorits II the COMMITTEES ma IL q
counter report. aLleh prsciicslls .siied
the real question a i.sa-. By sl.ilnius that
the Senate nai 10 riga, 10 rDquire OF the
President his rsasons for removals from
Office. Just rs til. report vas submitted
= long message Gas received from tue
President This wAs gsHnipe surprise
10 nearly all the Senators o., b,tn sides.
aud great curiosii, vas manifested ia iis
reading When the message had been
read disgust could be seen on the couu-
tepapces OF many VI the Democrats while
smiles lighted up the faces Of some Of the
Republicans, notably that Of Senator Ed
munds, who rnel, smiles during the SEES
sions OF the senate This message was al.
% referred to the judiciary committee,
and with tue two reports mentioned above,
will afford the basis OF much cloquence on
both sides.
We would like to give the Presidents
message 10 full, but il is far too long. The
argument is all founded on the assump-
ton that the Senate has demanded OF him
his reasons for removals when III fact the
Senate has made 90 demand on him for
anything, According to bis view depart
ment officials are his officials and the de-
psrtment files are repositories for bis pri-
vate papers. he claims tue RICH. to with
draw such papers and burn them up il be
chooses.
II this view Of the President is the COR
rect one II is high time the country knew
It, and we are glad the question is to be
decided once for all. IL has always been
regarded as fundamental doctrine OF the
government that the department officials
after they have been appointed and con-
6rmed are officers OF the government and
not OF the executive alone; aud that after
any paper has been placed on file it is 10
a certain sense public property and no
person has a right to withdraw or destroy
it. Indeed there is law which imposes
u fine and imprisonment on any person
who shall withdraw papers from the de-
paitment files, and only copies can can be
furnished when they are wanted in evil
dence.
When President Cleveland assumed Of
fee b. ordered all papers relating TO re-
movals to be placed on 6le in the appro-
pirate department. No doubt great many
private and confidential papers have thus
been made part Of the public records,
and be now seeks to keep them from the
light. But II such is the case the mistake
Il his own aud Congress is not to blame.
10 order to screen himself the President
seeks to reverse the universal practice and
10 introduce precedent which in our
view it would not do TO allow Oh any con-
sideration. II this new departure should
prevail the government archives, instead
OF furnishing useful fund OF information
for government and congressional action.
would merely serve "a cover for transac-
tious which may be OF very doubtful
character Instead OF letting in more
light. the President seems TO be bent on
withholding the light that has always
| eretofole been allowed to shine freely
sLei, yer light WAS d,slfsble II would
ssm thu, Cleveland, in this matter has
made more suppl mistake than did
And, johnson in III. bet days. II msy
be w.ll 10 r-toa,k thai he beet Democrat
ic papers DO nol sustain lie President 10
his course