The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-03-02

harmony and in the absence Of partisan
incentive To captious obstruction the Law
as 1t was lett by amendment in 1869 wa
much leRs destructive OF Executive dis
cretion, and yet the great General ant
patriotic citizen who on the 4th day o.
March 1869 assumed the duties OF Ohiei
Executive and Tor whose ireer admins
tration OF his high Office the most hateful
restraints Of the law Of 1867 were on thu
9th day OF April, 1859, removed. Mindfuloi
his obligation 70 defend and protect every
prerogatiye Of his great trust and Rpple-
hensivs OF the injury threatened to the
public service in the continued operation
OF these statutes even In their modified
form, In his first message to Congress he
advised their repeal and set forth their un-
constitutional character aud hurtful tend
enCy, am unable 10 state whether OF
not this recommendation for the repeal oil
these laws has been since reported, II 1t
has not, reason can probably be found In
experience which demonstrated the fact
that the necessities Of the political situa.
tion but rarely developed their vicious
character,
THE REFIEENRNT OF sARCAsN,
And SO 1t happens that after an exist-
ence OF nearly twenty years OF almost in
nocuous desuetude these laws are brought
forth, apparently the repealed as we'll as
the uurspeRled, and putipthe 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 re,
pealed law, which required specific cause
Tor suspension and report 10 the Senate
ol 'eyldenCs and reasons, be now In elect
applied to the present Executive lnstead
OF the law afterwards passed and unre.
pealsd and which distinctly permits sus-
pensions by the President "in his diacre.
tion", aud carefully onits the require,
action In the Case" shall be reported to
the Senate,
The requests aud demands which by
scores have Tor nearly three months been
presented to the different departments Of
the Government, whatever may be their
form, have but one complexion. They
assume the fight OF the Senate TO ait In
judgment upon the exercise OF my exclu.
siVe discretion and executive function, for
which an solely responsible to the peo.
pie from whom have 30 lately received
the sacred trust OF office, my oath to sup.
port and defend the constitution, my duty
to the people who have chosen me to ex.
eCpte the powers ol their great office and
not torelinquish them and my duty to the
chief magislracy, which preserve unim.
paired In all It's dignity and yiEor, compel
me to refuse to comply with these de.
manda.
WHAT HR is WILLING TO DO.
To the end that the servics may be i'm
proved the Senate Is invited to acrutinize
closely the character OF persons submitted
to them for public office. In recognition
Of the constitutional power Of that body
10 advise and consent 10 their appoint.
ment shall continue as have thus far
done, TO furnish at the request OF the con.
firming body all Information possess
touching the fitness OF nominees placed
before them for their action, both when
they are proposed to fll vacancies and to
take the placeof suspended officers. Upon
refusal 10 Conhtm shall not assume the
right to ask the reasons for the action OF
the Senate, nor question It's determination.
| cannot think that anything more Is
required to secure worthy incumbents In
public office than careful and indepen.
dent discharge OF our respective duties
within their well defined limits. Though
the propriety of suspensions might BIZ
better assured II the actions Of the Presi.
dent was subject to review by the Senate,
yet II the constitution and laws have
placed this responsibility upon the Exec.
ptive branch oil the Government 1t should
not be divided, nor the discretion which
1t involves relinqulshed.
yiNDIcArioS or REMOVED OFFICIALS.
I'll has been claimed that the present
Executive, having pledged itself not 10 re.
move officials except for cause, the fact Of
their suspension implies suOh misconduct
on the part Of the suspended official as
Injuries his character, and therefore the
Senate should review the case for his vim.
dication.
l have said that certain officials should
not In my opinion be removed during the
continuance OF the term for which they
were appointed, solely for tho purpose Of
putting in their place those In political
utilization with the appointing power, and
this declaration was Immediately fol-
lowed by description Of official partisan
ship, which ought not To entitle those In
whom II was exhibited 10 consideration.
II is not apparent how an adherence to
the course thus announced carries with II
the consequence described. II any sug.
Hestion Is worthy OF consideration Il Is TO
be hoped that there may be defense
against unjust suspension in justice to the
Executive.
Every pledge which | have made by
which have placed a Limitation upon my
exercise oil executive power has been
faithfully redeemed. OF course the pre-.
tense is not put forth that no mistakes
have been committed. but not suapen.
sion has been made except II appeared 10
my satisfaction that tho pghllc welfare
would be improved thereby.
Many applications Tor suspensions have
been denied and the adherence to the
rule put down to govren my action as TO
such suspensions have caused much irri.
tation and impstience on the part af those
who insisted upon more changes in offices.
AEsRoSsiBLE TO THE PEOPLE.
The pledges have made were made To
the people, and 10 them am responsible
for the manner in which they have been
redeemed. lam not responsible TO the
Senate, and ! am unwilling to submit my
action and Official conduct 10 them ior
Judgment. There are no grounds ioF an
allegation that the fear ,ol being found
false to my Professions influences me In
Senate. | have not constantly refused to
suspend officials aud thus incurred the
displeasure OF political iiiepds, and yet
wlltplly broken faith with the people ior
the sake Of being false 10 them.
Neither the discomfort Of party friends,
nor the allutemBnts constantly offered OF