The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-03-12

II - y XWI14W440 49,
- 1s.l -.
ne Conslitution OF the United States
rrogldos that the President shall from
lime a time give 10 Congress informa-
>Ion % The state of the Union. and recon-
mend % their consideration such meas-
oree = be shall Judge necessary and ex-
po1lent
I, can hardly be under this authority
that Mr.. Cleveland sent % the Sensse The
remarkable message which was publish
"a yesterday.
The Senate had asked the Attorney
General for ''copies OF eli doc ments and
Dnpers that have been 6led IN the De-
par1ment ~ Justice since the let day Of
January. l8e5. In relation 20 the man
r9ement aud conduct Of the office Of
Ulsificf Attorney Of the United States Of
ohe Soushern District OF Alabama"
Nr. Garland refused 70 send the pa
pers. on the ground that they had "ex.
closiye reference 10 the suspension BY
oho Pre<ident' OF the late incumbent Of
ne once. The Senate had not acted
upon this refusal except so far - 10 re-
etixe report from = majority Of the
Judiciary Committee on the subject.
when the President prepared this mes
cage, In which he endeavors to show
thai tie Atiorney-G General did perfectly
right IL declining to comply with the re-
quest for the papers. aud, furthermore,
that the Senate is entirely wrong in as
oerting anv control over the power Of
The Executive to suspend persons from
ONCE.
To send such . communication under
such circumstances Is simply IN attempt
90 participate In the discussion BY the
Senate Of the important questions to
" hich Il relates. Mr.. Cleveland would
scarcely venture upon the floor ~ the
Senate % give expression 70 his views
upon these topics. 80 he transmits them
81 writing. In this respect his action 10
MOVE! and Interesting.
He speaks with no uncertain sound.
There Il much more assertion Of the per-
oonality Of the writer than IL usual in
public documents in . free land. In
deed, there Is something Of arrogance In
The whole tone Of the paper. There isl
sarcasm and there IL bitterness. Al the
same time. the earnest purpose Of the
President 10 do right as be understands
Il g evident throughout We have mol
disposition to question his motives. but
Ne seriously doubt the correctness of
some Of the opinions by which be pro-
poses 10 be guided.
The right Of the President to keep or
destroy private or confidential commu-
pications will be disputed by no one.
when. however, be places . paper in 81
public Office. bis own act stamps il IS q
document Of public import and thence
forth its contents should be accessible to
che representatives Of the people or any
one else having . Legitimate interest
80 them. When Mr.. Cleveland says.
II consider them in no proper sense
mon the files of the department, but
q deposited there for my convenience,
remaining still completely under my
control he treats the Attorney Gen.
erals Office a. . sort Of safe deposit
vault for his private papers. Il suppose
IL / 1esire 10 take them into my custody, n
~ goes on TO say, Il might do 90 with
entire propriety. and IL saw fit to de-
otroy them no one could complain
Cpon this theory why could he not GO
% the Department Of Justice and take
The papers away five or ten yesrs after
the expiration OF bic term &c President
iust q well IS now.
While the doctrine OF the message in
regard to suspensions from Office is the
truly Democratic view, which It IL de-
sirable should prevail. its correctness
bas been strennously disputed. Unless
: controversy with the Senate on that
subject Was plainly seen to be inevitable,
d Vas hardly wise to enter into one.
We cannot help thinking that II the
President had frankly given the Senate
III the Information asked for, regardless
Of the motive with which II was sought.
ho would have dissrmed attack. As I'll
IS. be hiss invited further assaults, and
provoked needless political contest
which may prove most injurious to the
interests Of his party.
Let " hope, however, that 1t may
have no such result.