The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-03-09
The Presidents Message.

dents message to the Senate to-day in
regard to its demands for papers was re-
ceived when the Senate was in secret
session. When it was laid before the
body Senator Harris proposed that it be
road with closed doors. Senators kenna
and Van Wyck prostested against this
proceeding and demanded the doors be
opened. After brief debate Senator
Harris Withdrew his proposition, aad
when the doors were opened, the mes
SAGE was read. The following is its full
text:
I'o the Senate ofthe United States:
Ever since the beginning Of the pres
ent session of the Senate the different
heads of departments attached to the ex-
ecutivc branch Of tho government have
been piled with various requests and de-
mands from the committees Of the SEN
ate. from memb bers Of such committees,
and Mt last from the Senate itself, requir-
ing the transmission "t the reasons for
the Suspension Of certain officials during
the recess Of that body or for the pm
pers touching the conduct of such Off
cials or for all papers and documents
relating 10 such suspensions or for all
documents and papers filed in such de-
partments in relation to the management
and conduct of the offices held by such
snspended officials. The different terms
from time to time adopted in making
these requests, and the demands or the
order il which they succeeded each
other, ana the fact that when made by
the Senate, the resolutions for that pur-
nose was passed in executive session,
have led to presumption the correct
ness Of which will, l suppose, be can
didly admitted, that from the fist to the
last the information thus sought and the
PAPERS thus demanded were desired for
use by the Senate and it's committees in
considering the propriety of the sus-
pensions referred to. Though these
suspens;oas are my executive acts, based
1pon considerations addressed to me
alone, and for which I am wholly re-
sponsible, have had no invitation from
the Senate to state the positi IN which
have felt constrained to assume in reia-
ton to the same or to interpret for my
self nv acts and M olives in the premises.
In this c.ndition Of affairs have fore
born addressing the Senate upon the
subject lest might be accused Of
thrusting myself unhidden upon the
attention of that body but the report
of the Committee on the Judiciary OF
the Senate, lately presented and pub
lishcd, which censures the Attorney
General af the United States for hi' re-
fusal to transmit certain papers relating
10 suspensions from Office, and which
also, IL I correctly interpret it. evinces
.nisapprehension Of the position of the
Executive upon the question Of such
suspension, will hope justify this com
munication. This report is predicatcd
uDon \ resolution Of tho Senate directed
to the Attorney General, and his reply
70 the same resolution. was with consid-
Grafton Of nominations for Office. 1t re-
ouired the Attorney General Ito trans.
init to the Senate copies Of all documents
md papers that have been filed in the
Department Of Justice since the 1st
day Of January, 1885, in relation to the
management and conduct Of the office
of District Attorney Of the United
States for the Southern District Of Ala
Lama.s The incumbent Of this office,
on the 1st day of January, 1885, and unS
til the 18th day Of July ensuing. was
George NJ. Dustin, who. on the day last
mentioned was suspended by executive
order and John D., Burnette was desig-
mated to perform the duties Of said Of
flee. At the time Of tho passage Of the
resolution above referred to the nomina-
ton of Burnette for said Office was pend-'
ing before the Senate, and all papers
relating to said nomination were before
that body for it's inspection and informa-
ton. In reply to this resolution, the
Attorney General, after referring to the
fact that the papers relating to tho NOM
ination Of Burnett had already been
mt to tho Senate, stated that he wns
directed by the President to say that the
papers and documents which were men
toned in said resolution, and still re-
naming in the custody Of this De
partment, having exclusive reference to