The Wilmingtonian., 1886-04-03
The President Arraigned.
Senator Ingalls, Exposing the Mockery
of the Presidents Ppegensions.

Committee on the Judiciary, l understand
that the objections are practically four
First, that by the action OF the majority
of the Senate an attempt IS made to invade
the perogative of the President by demand
ing his ,reasons for the suspensions from
Office that Ee has made. To that iutcrpose
upon the threshold and in the vestibule of
this argument an absolute contradiction aud
denial
The President of the United States in the
message that he voluntarily, of his own mo-
ton, seut down to this body, starts out with
an absolutely unfounded imputation upon
TIE position of the majority. He says that
the Senate has beeu from time to time, in
various ways, through committees of the
body and by personal importantly, appealing
to the Executive to give his reasons for the
suspension of officials that laave been repor-
ted to this body with the designation Of
others to fill the places Thus to be rendered
vacant
Sir, deny it, and now challenge from
any supporter or adherent ofthe administra-
ton the exhibition of word, or syllable, or
justifable inference upon which til It allega
tion, so often repeated with SO much variety
of iteration, can be properly or justly found
ed.
The effort has been ingeniously made to
shift the issue, to darkon council by words
without wisdom, and to make it appear that
there has been a deliberate purpose and inten-
ha t,f for fnr oNpith
the recognized prerogatives of the Executive
by demanding his reasons for suspension
and unless | hear some Senator while this
debate is now proceeding and while | invite
the statement-unless [ hear something said
in support of that aYermeat, which | deny.
and which | affirm has been made for the
purpose of clouding this controversy in pop
ular estimation, shall assume that my
denial is not to be met.
Again, sir, it has been alleged in debate,
in the public press, by iutimatiou aud dcelar-
alton, and it has been the basis of many
studied arguments in this Chamber that
there had been demands by the Senate upon
the Executive for private papers in the cases
sent down for consideration. deny it.
contradict that statement by an appeal to
the record and before that great tribunal
by whom this issue is to be tried and deter
mined, I allege that that averment is with
out foundation. There has never been in
form or in substance, directly or indirectly,
expressly or remotely any demand made by
any committee of this body upon the Execu-
! a.. ~ a,,E
for the production of private papers aud |
shall be glad in the front of my explicit de-
nial and contradiction if some one of the
advocates, some one Of the champions of the
administration, will points ont before this
| controversy is concluded HHlaea, where, and
how there has been any demand made By the
Senate upon the President Of the Uuited
States or upon any head of a D1pa tment for
the production of private papers.
That issue was brought in here by the ad-
/ miuistration. 1t is said that guilty con-
science needs no accuser. We have been
told of those who fear in every bush an
officer" Sir, it was the interior conscious
ness of the administration out of which was
evolved this phantasy, this fatcical allega'
ton, that there was an attempt on the part
of the Senate to compel the production OF
private unofficial papers and communication,
in the possession of the President of the
United States. No Senator doubts that the
President occupies an absolutely Independent
position, and none would desire under any
circumstances to interfere with his admitted
prerogatives.
shall strip his controversy Of its falac
ious incidents. | shall cearaway the under
growth of Misrepresentation, sophistry, auC
false pretense, that have hitherto obstructeC
the pathway of our consideration of the rea
issues that are involved in this contention
With my consent it shall not hearafter bt
avemed before the popular tribunal that i
ultimately to decide this question that ther
has been an ndelensible and insoleat at
tempt to impair the constitutional prerorga
tives Of the President Of the United States.
Another allegation has been that Will
this controversy has proceeded the Senat
has been inactive, interposng paltisan OF
iections to the transaction of oxecu tive bus
, ness, to prevent the execution of his big
= trusts by the President of the Uuited States
yesterday had compiled from the recor
: of the executive Office, Tor the purpose c
showing what has been done in this particu
lar, statement, public under our rules
which shows that from the 2jth Of January
: 1886 to the date Of tine last executive sessio
:, there had bscn confirmed by the Senate fou
hundred aud niLety-three nominations
officers seut down by the President. Neve
in any single instance where there has been
vacancy, occurring by resignation, eXpiratio
Of term or proper removal upon which "
could properly act, has there beeu an instaI
of delay. The Senate has not inquire
whether the nominee was Democrat {
Republican, but has proceeded vigorousl.
: industliously and steadfastly in the perfo
nance Of its constitutional duties, and
there has been naction or non action upo
nominations, | shall show before | coucUt
> my remarks that it has been invited by Il
administration.
s Again it has been alleged that the actiC
, of the majority Of the Senate is instigatgd
n the purpose ofkeeping Republicans in otfic'
! that are moved by partisan consideration
it to thwart by all means in our power Il
IS efforts of the Executive to transfer Il
v official patronage of the Government TO Il
rs party that was placed in power by the vot