The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-11
THE PRESIDENTS CHAMPION
Mr. Pugh Defends the President Against
the Assault of Mr.. Edmunds,
And Rndeayors to Show that the Papers De-
manded by the Senate Were Private
Letters, and Not Public Documents.
Mr.. Pueh Takes the Floor and Responds TO
the Argument OF Mr.. Edmunds.

WAsHrNGToN March 10.-The Chair laid be-
fore the Senate Mr. Logan's resolution. offered
yesterday, to refer to the committee on rules.
for investigation, the letter of Mr. Eads, denying
that he (Eads) had any representatives on the
floor of the Senate.
In Mr.. Logan's absence, Mr.. Plumb supposed
the matter would go over, and he moved to take
mp the Iowa Immigrant forfeiture.
Mr.. Riddleberger said he hoped the matter
would go over, in view Of what appeared In the
Congressional Record this morning. In the
Record, he said he Mr.. Riddlebergerl was sub
stantally charged with downright falsehood
and he was ready to meet the Senator from
Illinois [Mr. Loganl at any time on this floor in
debate on the proposition made by him Mr.
RiddlebergeE] He thought it due to him Mr.
Riddlepergerl to explain to the Senate show this
matter crept into the Record"
Mr.. Cullom had no desire to cut off Mr. Rid
dleberger's remarks, but thought he ought to
wait till Mr. Logan could be present.
Dir. Riddleberger consented to it going over
Informally for the present
The Iowa land-grant forfeiture bill was then
taken up, and the amendment offered by Mr.: Nc
MILAN Yesterday was rejected after some debate.
The Chair laid before the Senate a letter from
w. p Canady, Sergeant-at-arms of the Senate,
transmitting a list of such OF the private secre-
taries of Senators as had not been reported to
the Senate in accordance with the recent resolu-
ton. The letter was read.
Mfr. Riddleberger called for the reading of the
list, also, and it was read. Mr.. Riddleberger
then called up the Eads matter, and said he
found in the Record a letter from j. b. Eads ad-
dressed to the Senator from Illinois Mr.. Logan.
He would like to know how the Senator got the
letter into the Record.
Mr., Logan said he had nothing to do with get
ting il into the Record.
Mr.. Riddleberger said he could load down the
Record with letters critcising Senators, espec-
tally during presidential campaign, but he had
not done it, Eads could not charge him Mr.
Riddleberger] with falsehood, and put it on the
Congressional Record, but Senator could take
Eads's letter and make it of his own remarks
and as the letter appeared in connection with
Mr.. Logan's remarks he lMr. RiddlebergerJ
meant to answer it as such.
Mr.. Logan was astounded that Mr. Riddle
berger should say that he Mr. Logan charged
him with anything. He had merely presented a
letter of a respectable citizen of the United
States.
Mr.. Riddleberger said it was a personal letter
to the Senator.
in the matter than he would have done for any
respectable citizen of the United States, but he
meant nothing personal to the Senator.
Mr.. Riddleberger said he would always resent
imputations such as contained in that letter The
letter had no business here. He was not 80
great a soldier as the Senator from Illinois, but
he would yet discover and uncover the conspira
cy to make the United States government in
dorse for Eads's ship-canal Company. I'VE all
know" he said, "that ex-Secretary Window was
at the head of that company"
Mr.. Cockrel rose, but gave way to Mr.. Logan.
Mr.. Logan said he had not seen Mr.. Eads,
who, he believed was sick in New York. but had
received the letter from him. and as the letter
"a t;nr Cf aha do
against Mr.. Eads, he [Mr. Logan had presented
it to the Senate That was all, and he would do
that for any respectable man who asked him to
do so. Mr.. Logan, at the suggestion of several
Senators, modified his resolution so as TO provide
for reference of the Eads letter to the commit
tee on commerce.
Mr. Riddleberger said he would decline to ap-
pear before any committee What he had to say
would be said to the Senate, and in open session.
He did not believe in this Senate becoming more
English than the House of Lords.
At 2 o'clock the matter went over without ac-
ton.
The Chair then laid before the Senate the res
buttons from the Judiciary committee concern
dent Mr. Pugh said he had expressed his views
fully upon the subject of this debate in a report
made from the judiciary committee by the mi
nority, and the main object no had now in ad-
dressing the Senate, in reply to the Senator from
Vermont, was to prevent, il it was in his power
10 do so, which he admitted was a difficult I'M
dertaking, that Senator from chang
Ing the character Of the question between the
Senate and the President. The real character of
that controversy could not be misunderstood or
misrepresented, as it had arisen from facts ap-
parent upon the record. and reported
by the majority of the judiciary COM
mittee. When the Senator from Yer
mont was at the wheel, he steered by
his own chart; he never ran on straight lines he
never consulted other sailors, and he lost his
temper when there was any question of the skill
of his seamenship. and when the officer of the
ship undertook to select crew to man it without
his advice and consent, he instantly headed a
mutiny. At the risk of mourning the displeas-
IRE of his honorable and distinguished friend. he
should call a reckoning so that we might under
stand where and whittier we are drifting.
What were the facts by which it is the duty OF
all of us to be guidedg They were few and sim
pie Mr. Pugh related the facts connected with
the Duskn case, and said that the Senate reso-
Esticn did not call for public or official docu-
mants but for private documents and private
papers relating exclusively to an Official act of
the President in the suspension of Duskin as
district-attorney. The inquiry authorized by
the Senate was to be made with knowledge OF
the fact that more than four weeks before the
sesolution was offered to the Senate the term of
Duskin had expired Then what possible use
could be made of the information sought in that
sasef 1t was pure fiction. Why, the report of
che majority declared that the information was
wanted to enable the Senate to discharge the
great Quty lUpOSSo upon III OF MAKING an IN
quiry as to the propriety of official act by the
President. the power to do which expressly
conferred upon him by law, to be exercised with
IN his discretion. If they had decided the re-
noval was improper or unwise. what would have
been the effect of the decision2 Could it have
restored Dusking Was he still suspended Of
ncer, awaiting the adjournment Of the Senate to
be restored to the duties of his ofieeg The SEN
pte was to-day engaged in an inquiry about a
matter from which there could be no possible
ts<x~.xx Alv-
and the Senate was turned into a moot court to
discuss purely abstract proposition. The re-
fusai OF the Attorney general, five weeks after
the expiration of his term of office. in obedience
to the express order OF the President, to send in
Of Duskin, was criticised in the resolution Of the
majority as violation of duty. What was the
relation between the President and his Cabinet
oficersf Mr.. Pugh would let Mr. Eimundss
own words answer that question He then
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