The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-26
FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
SENATOR VOORHERS'S SPEECH ON
THE EDMUNDS RESOLUTIONS.
Discussion Of the POstOfIiee ApprOpri-
alton Bill In the HOuse-ROu-
tine Work.

WASHINGTON, Marcn 25.-In the
Senate to-day Senator Hoar reported
from the Library Committee bill es-
commission, composed OF
the Secretary of State, the Librarian
of Cong,ets and the Secretary of the
Smithsonian Institute, TO examine and
report TO Congress as 10 the character
aud value OF manuscripts belonging to
Congress. Senator Hoar explained
that the work involved no expense.
The government, he said, had the
Franklin papers, the Rochambeau pa
pers aud other manuscripts OF great
value, and the object Of the proposed
commission was that it might exam
inc them and report as 10 whether
they should be published aud the
method Of doirg so. The bill was
pssaed.
Senator Frye reported favorably
from the Committee on Commerce a
bill to provide for the encouragement
Ct American shipping aad to promote
postal and commercial relati DDS with
foreign countries. Senator Frye ex-
planned briefly that the bill appropri-
ated 81, 100000 for carrying the United
States mails in American vessels to
and from foreign countries; makes
it the duty Of the Postmaster General
to advertise for proposals, to accept
the lowest bids, and 70 enter into con-
tracts for carrying the mails. The bill,
Senator Frye added, had received the
unanimous Endorsement OF all the
members Of the Committee on Com
merce who were present ct the meet.
ing at which il was C0usldt 1t was
placed on the calendar.
The Chair laid before the Senate a
letter from the Postmaster General
transmitting, in compliance with re-
cent Senate resolution, tabular state
meIt of fourTh-clsss postmss ers re-
moved since March 4, 1885. Referred.
On request of Senator Edmunds the
army bill was, by unanimous consent,
made the unfinished business of the
morning hour tomorrow, and the
Edmunds resolutions were placed be-
fore the Senate.
Senator Voorhees, took the floor in
opposition to the majority report.
After stating the question at issue
Senator voorhees, asked why the ma
jority resolutions contented them
selves with an attack on the agent
1.-THE Attorney GeneraD and shrank
from a direct blow on the principal
(the Presidency. Did the Senator from
Vermont expect Cabinet officer to
dieObey the PRESIDENT The resolu-
lions were meant for popular effect.
They contemplated no measure OF leg
islation 10 remove any evil or pre-
tended evil. They were merely full
mination Of Senatorial opinion, barren
of results other than cheap partisan
denunciation.
1.-THE Alto ney. General was guilty as
charged, then he should be impesched.
That was matter for the House. The
m SHORTY OF the Senate bad turned
aside from the legii nate business Of
legislation labor all over the country
was overtaxed and scantily paid by
reason Of long.standing and vicious
legislation; human suffering WAS
wringing its hands and weeping in
many pa Is of the country in destitu-
ton for want of employment and
proper remuneration great corpora
tons we're oVershadowing the land
aud abs )rbing the powers OF State and
nation, and grinding the flesh and
blood of men and women into their
huge ard massive boppers; American
commerce no longer had ship on the
high seas; great questions OF taxation
aud finance were pressing for atten
ton, but from all these great and press
ing subjects we must turn aside to dis
cuss the question raised by the Sena-
tor from Vermont (Mr. Edmunds). 1t
was thrust into our councils to OBJ
struet the business of the country in
favor Of a lot of Republican Office.
holders. Senator Voorhees, heartily
Endorsed President Oleveland's action
10 making removals so far as action
had been had, and he would heart
ilv indorpe the Presidents action in
the same direction if IL went thou
sand leagues farther. The civil SER
vice law had never commended itself
to the judgment OF Senator Voorhees,.
Very recently he had voted in com
mitee, aud should vote in the Senate
for its absolute repeal. 1t had proven
itself to be violent and Cdious OBJ
struction to the will OF the people,
and stumbling block in the way OF q
rational and successful. administratio
OF the government. With the excep-
ton of fouIth-clss5 postmasters there
were at the present moment ten Re-
publicans in office to one Democrat.
Senator Voorhees, Lad no hesitation in
declaring that such a state OF things
was not consistent with the true
theory OF popular government, or
with It's safe and honest administra-
ton. The people had ordered a change
in the administration Of the govern
ment, and such change was not prop.
erly limited to changes in few chiei
oficee, History Lad shown that no
political party could administer the
affairs of q government through the
fundamentally Of its enemies. Al
this very hour there was moi
confidential communication oil
transaction of any one OF the
department that was not betrayed
to the leaders OF the Republican party
The very papers demanded by the
Senate were familiar to eager RePub'
lican eyes. Every paper and overy
drawer and every closet in'the depart
ments was daily and hourly under the
espionage Of Republican chief clerks
Republican private secretaries and Re
publican confidential shorthand writ
ers. Those who opened the letters o
the heads Of departments were known
as malignant opponents Of the Demo
cratic party, infiamed with . desir'
for the overthrow Of the administra
ton. Senator Voorhees, said the Pres
ident could net be blamed for movini
slowly. Every act Of his administra
ton was in the right direction, an
the country would understand VIII
greater progress had not been mad
and would place the responsibslit,
where 1t belonged, Senator Voorhee
said that the evils predicted by th