The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1886-03-18
The Right Of the Senate TO OAoial Pa
noTu.

i
Senator Edmunis made very strong
speech on the question of the right OF the
Senate to call for official papers on file
in the departments. On the simple ques
ton as it stands bis speech was simply
unanswerable, and no attempt has been
made to answer it, except by substituting
another aud very different question,
The only reply the Democrats can make
to it is, that the Senate has no right to ask
the President to give his reasons for sus-
pending officials, But at the very outset
Senator Edmunds said that no one
claimed such right. The Senate has not
asked Of him his reasons, 10 fact has not
asked Of him anything 1t simply asked Of
the Attorney General oil papers on file in
regard to a certain suspended officer.
Edmunds remarked that IL would be q
very singular proceeding il the President
had filed his reasons for suspending an
Official il one OF the departments.
The Senator showed that such demands
have been made from time TO time since
the foundation OF the government. and
that the papers, with very few exceptions,
have been foruished without question or
comment 0uly a very few years ago.
when The sjoriiy Of the judiciary com
miltee was Democratic. it made similar
demand. signed by Thurman, Garland
and Bayard, the two latter being members
OF the present cabinet, and their demand
was honoreh without question. fhe prec
edenis are certainly very strongly on the
side Of the Republicans in this contro-
versy.
Senator Ednunds gave definition oil
"oflcisl papers He said that every
paper received by M officer OF govern
men, 10 his official capacity is an official
paper, and should be placed on file for
future reference. These official papers
are not for the benefit OF one individual
or OF one branch 81 the government. but
for the benefit u the whole. Each branch
OF the government must decide for itself
whether a prru,al u such papers may he
Necessary ~ not The President or q
head uf oae II the departments has no
ri, li H. JUICE shrih'r the Senate has
need OF ~ viii make good use II such
papers or nut The President has no more
right TO question tht motives ~ the Senate
than the Senate has 10 question the mo-
tives OF tar pn-il,i,i ~ making suspeh-
siobs Each brsnrh oi the government
has co-oi liasi. tights IL the matter which
the other has no right 10 bring iuto ques-
ton. To deny this rieLi or 10 question
the motives, On the par II the President
or beads 81 the departments. IL an assump-
tion Of poa.r Which y mol Only new, but
totally foreiar e. orr plan Of govern
meut. II Il frtntm" which liz con
trary 20 precedent aud which is not 10
consonsncr with The Independent chsrac.
ter Of the different departments Of govern.
ment
As We said at the outset, the position Of
the Republicans on the simple question at
issue Is sound and will be sustained by
the people. On The other question Of the
right to inquire into the reasons Of the
President in making suspensions, there is
no issue. for the Republicans have not ~.
sumed snch right II the President has
filed in the departments his reasons for
making suspensions. then il 10 bis fsult,
and by snch procedure he has waived his
rights 10 the matter.