Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-24
EsTABLIsaED 1850.
~. n. EsTLEI., EditOr ana Proprietor.
EDMUNDs' CLIQUE AIMING AT
IMPEACHMENT.

Mr.. Morgan Takes the Bull by the Horns
by Asking an Opinion from the Com
nlIttse on Privileges and Eiecttons-
The Resolution Laid on the Table
Democrats Supporting the Alabama
ian.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-In the Senate
today Mr.. Morgan offered a preamble
a ID resolutions which, at his request,
we're ordered printed and laid on the table
for the present. They recite the trstresO-
luton In Dir. Edmunds' series, and direct
the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions TO inquire and report whether, II the
Ofense of the Attorney General is as
stated therein. he is liable to lmpeach-
ment and removal from office. The fol-
lowing is the text Of the preamble and
resolutions:
WHEREAS, A majority OF the Committee on
Judiciary have originated report to the Sen
ate amt recommended the adoption OF the fol-
lowing resolution:
Rss6i0fd. That the Senate hereby expresses
lts condemnation of the refusal OF the Attor-
ney General under whatever influence, TO
send 10 the senate copies Of papers called Tor
by its resoluti09 of Jan 25, and set forth IN
the report OF the tommlttee on judiciary as y
violation Of his official duty and subversivc OF
the Fundamental principles of the government
and Of the good administration thereof.
WHEREAS, The Senate, il said resolution is
adopted as being true upon the facts and as a
matter OF law. will thereby the pre-
Judgment Of majority of this body, without
any trial according 70 law, that the At
torney General I the United States IS guilty
OF and condemned for willfully committing an
nfense in the conduct of his Office, " hich is in
violation Of his official duty, and ia subversive
Of ID fundamental principles OF the govern
ment OF the United States, and
WHEREAS. The AtfnFnpv General If nc has
IN fact Willfuliy committed any o1ense that
is in violation OF his official duty. and ia sub
yersive of the fundamental principles Of the
government of the United States, IS only
amenable to the condemnation of the Senate
when the Senate is sitting with the Chief JUS
tlce Cf the United States as a court Of i'm
parchment to hear and decide upon articles
Of impeachment presented by the House Of
Representatives, and
WHEREAS, It is alleged that the Senate has
no rightful authority to cause the Attorney
General OF the United states to be arrested,
tried aud runished for contempt Of its au-
thority and dignity if the Senate shall declare
that such contempt has been committed by
him upon the facts stated, and the averments
made in said resolution and in the report
which accompanies the same, and
WHEREAS, The senate would be exposed to
just censure. If they, IN the manner recon-
mended by the Committee on Judiciary. pro-
Ceed to announce their iudgm Mt Of condem-
ration against lie Attorney General of the
United states upon an accusation that in
fENfltH q N lNHHee which IS DONleldDG Dp Lnt-
feAChmeni. aad the Senate wOult also be
expose 70 Just censurp II II should attempt
10 declare the Attorney Gencral 90 be IN con
Tempt of its authority and tn pass Judgment
Of condemnation against him for such con
tempt without having hiIn Notified Of he
Uha -ge, ann aifaigned TO answer tne same at
the bar Of he Senate.
RssOfged, That the Committee on Privileges
and Elections be instructed TO inquire into
aud report upon the qaestion whether the
OF n charged against the Attorney General
Of the Onitea tates in said resolutions is Of
the 8ss of ohenses for which the head Of a
department mas be mpeached and removed
from Office, and whether the Senate can take
jurisdiction of said alleged O0ense, in the
manner provided for in said resolution, and
can proceed to convict aud condemn the
Attorney General, in advance of trial, for
said alleged o6ense by resolution Of the sen
ate, there being no impeachment Of said OFF,
cer in The mode required bv the Constitution.
ResOiUsd, That aid committee be instructed
10 further inquire and report whether the
senate has the power, un 'er the law aud
rules adopted for its government, to arrest,
try, convict and punish the Attorney General
ni the United States FOR contempt OF its right
ful au hority.
Rssolrsd. That said committee be further
Instructed to inquire and report whether the
matter stated aud referred TO IN the manner
set forth in the resolutions reported from thu
Committee on Judiciarv above copied con
stituLe any crime or misdemcauor in office
under any law Of the United States, aud if so
what penalty is annexed 10 said crime or mis-
demeanor, and what tribunal has rghtful
jurisdiction to try, and on conviction TO con
demn the Attorney General Of the United
states TO punishment for the same.
Res s1lDsd, That said committee be further
instructed to consider, ascertain aud report
whether in the conduct of the ATTORNEY GEN
eral, as stated IN the resolution reported from
the Committee on Judiciary, and in the ac-
com panying report, he has violated any aud
what law OF the United States, and in what
respect he has violated said law, and whether
he has done any and what acts IN the conduct
OF the business OF his Office to which said reso-
luton relates that be might not have done in
the exerclsa of his lawful discretion.
Rssolssd, That said committee be further
instructed % inquire and report whether the
senate has any constitutional right orpOW er
20 give its advice and consent TO removals
from OF ee by the President, aud whether by
Withholding such advice and consent the Sem
ate can prevent the mcvai OF any person
from Office bv the President.
R0s0ioei. That said committee inquire and
report whegher the Senate, If q MAJ. srlty shall
agree TO 6 resolution above recited (which
was reunrfed from the Committee or the Ju-
ciargl has the right under tue onstitution,
W thpaid its consent to the remuval Of per-
sons by the President who are unfit for office
under the rcumstances mentioned in sad
report Of the Committee ON Judiciary and
in the resolutions reported by said committee,
and whether the Senate can bind ts members
hy any declaration Of the duty of the senate.
or by any rule a. a duty 10 the Senate "a the
same is declared in the following resolution
tfhNulhE NtAN RtWAAo anu lANAiNA 'ultlNtN ~
the senate, which was also rcnorIed by the
Committee on the Judiciary viz;
Resoired, That it is under these crcum
stances the d ~ ol the senate TO refuse its
advice and consent 10 the proposed removals
of oficers, documents and papers IN reference
10 the supposed Official or personal misconduct
Of whom are wltnbeld by the Executive or
any Qther head OF do BAR men G. when deemed
necessary by the senate and called for IN
considering the matter.
MIR. MORGAN's OWN VIEWS.
The resolutions offered by Mr.. Morgan
are not the resolutions which the minority
OF tue judiciary Committee will report TO
the Senate. Mr.. Morgan is not a mem Der
Of the judiciary Committee. His col
league, Mr.. Pugh. who ls member OF
that committee, is preparing the resou-
tions and the report which Will be sub
mitied By the minority. Mr.. MOrgan's
resolutions set forth simply his own views.
There 10 no doubt, however, tbat those
views are approved by the other Senators
on the Democratic side. The fact
is there has been some doubt
among the Democrats OF the
Senate as TO whether Mr.. Morgan
would 90 far abandon the high opinion OF
the prerogatiVe Of the senaie which be
entertains as to support the President as
fully as they would. They are encouraged
10 believe that the Edmunds' resolutions
haVe brought Mr. Morgan into line. The
Resolutions submitted by Mr. Morgan