Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-03-11

he pleases.~ We are bound TO say. and we
say 1t with great regret, that the attitude
taken by the president will not strengthen
his argument or his position generally.
TIMES (dUG.)
1t is proper, rdignified, self-respectful
and entirely respectful to the Senate, and
ought to put an end to the swapping and
snarling in. which these leaders have in
dulged. Itdiscloses, however, condi-
tion of things in The federal offices which
is unfortunate, injurious to the public in.
terest and unbusiness like. The civil
service of the government has reached an
extended development, which requires
that 1t should in all its branches be sub
Ject to an orderly and responsible system
OF management Suspension from office,
save in possibly'a few cases, of men in
positions OF great trust should be made in
manner and for reasons capable of a
public record. II appointments were
made as they should be, there could be
no serious difficulty in the way of apply
ing this principle to suspensions and re
moyals. There need be no occasion for
confidential communications, or for the
consideration by the president of any
facts on which his conclusions could NOT
with safety to all concerned and with ad
vantage to the public interests, he made
known fully One short and effective way
to accomplish this result would be the alb
olitlon of the pernicious and corrupting
practice OF secret sessions of the Senate
for the consideration of nominations. If
all nominations were to be openly consid-
cred, and all debates upon them were to
be public, the fino distinctions with
which the Senate's dignity is now so in.
volved would become of no Importance,
and the way would be open to full pub
lie knowledge of all acts OF the executive.
SUN (DEM)
The Constitution of the United States
provides that the President shall from
time to time give to Congress information
of the state of the Union, and recommend
to their consideration such measures as he
shall judge necessary and expedicnt.
1t can hardly be under this authority
that Mr.. Cleveland sent to the Senate the
remarkable message which was published
March /
The Senate had asked the Attorney.
General for "copies of all documents and
papers that have been filed in the Depart
ment of Justice since the 1st day of Jan
uary, 1885, in relation to the management
and conduct of the Office of District At.
torney of the United States of the South
ern District of Alabama"
MIR. Garland refused to send the papers
on the ground that they had exclusive
reference to the suspension by the Presi-
dent of the late incumbent Of the Of
fee. The Senate had not acted upon
this refusal except so far as to receive
report from a majority of the Judiciary
Committee on the 'vuhiect, when the
President prepared this message, in which
he endeavors to show that the Attorney
General did perfectly right in declining
to comply with the request for the papers
and, furthermore, that the Senate is en-.
tirely wrong in asserting any control
over the power of the Executive to sus.
pend persons from office.
To send such communication under
such circumstances is simply an attempt
to participate in the discussion by the
Senate of the important questions to
which it relates. Mr.. Cleveland would
scarcely venture upon the floor of the
Senate to give expression to his views
upon these topics, so he transmits them
in writing. In this respect his action is
novel and interesting
He speaks with no uncertain sound.
There is much more assertion of the per
sonality of the writer than is usual in pub
lie documents in free land. Indeed,
there is something of arrogance in the
whole tone OF the paper There is sarcasm
and there is bitterness. AT the same time
the earnest purpose of the President to do
right as he understands it, is evident
throughout. We have no disposition to
question his motives, but We seriously
doubt the correctness of some of the
opinions by which he proposes to be
guided.
The right of the President to keep or
destroy private or confidential cOmmuni-
cations will be disputed by no one.
When, however, he places a paper in a
public office, his own act stamps it as a
document of public import, and thence
forth its contents should be accessible to
the representatives of the people or any
one else having legitimate interest in
them. When Mr.. Cleveland says, 81
consider them in no proper sense upon
the files of the department, but as depos-
tied there for my convenience, remaining
still completely under my control" he
treats the Attorney Generals office as a
sort of safe deposit vault for his private
papers. Il suppose if desire to take
them into my custody" he goes on to
say, II might do so with entire propriety
and il | saw fit to destroy them no one
could complain" Upon this theory why
could he not 60 to the Department of
Justice and take the papers away five or
ten years after the expiration of his term
as President just as well as now?