The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-11
PUCH's REPLY TO THE YER.
MONT SENATOR.
An Able Exposition Of the Presi'
DENTS Position In the Pend
ing Controversy.
FULLY SUSTAINED by THE LAW
AND PRECEDRNTS.
TIE Weak Points In the Republican
Argument--The Real Quss'
Ions Involved.


blackburn said: "Mr. President, l
am directed by the Committee on Ma
val Affairs 10 report favorably the
nomination which send to the dc,k"
What is that ?" said Senator Har-
ris, "a nomiu alton y
Senator Sherman's breath seemed TO /
have been taken away. After a mo |
ments hesitation be said, in some-
thing OF IN undertOne, 1T will be
Withheld" i
Senator Blackburn begged pardon Of
the Chair
The Chgirlaid bt FIRE the Serats Sem
ator I.ogan's resolution, offered yester-
day, to refer to the Committee on Rules
for investigation the Letter Of Mr.. Eats
DENYING Lat ne r d') had any rep.e-
seniative on the door Of the Senate.
After q short debate between Sem
ators Riddeberger and Logan, the lat
ter. at the suggestion Of several Sem
ators. modified his resolut on 80 rs TO
provide for reference Of tho Esds
letter 10 the Committee on Commerce.
Senator Riddleberger said that he
would decline to appear before any
committee. What he had to FAY would
be said to the Senate and in open SEES
pion. He did not believe in this Sem
ate becoming more English than the
House OF Lords.
At2 O'Clock the matter went over
without action.
The Chair then laid before the SEN
ate the resolutions from the judiciary
Committee, concerning the relations
of the Senate and the President
Senator Pugh said he had expressed
his views fully upon the snbj act OF this
debate in q report made from the Ju-
da'ary Committee by the minority,
and the main object he had now In
addressing the Senate in reply to the
Senator iiom Vermont was TO prevent,
II Il waI in his power 10 do 80, which
he admitted was difficult under,ak.
ing, that Senator from changing the
character OF the question between the
Senate and the President. The real
character Of that controversy could not
DO misunderstood or misrepresented,
as ii had arisen from facts apparent
upon the record aud reported by ma
jority OF the Judiciary Committee.
When the Senator from Vermont was
at the wheel he steered by his own
chart; lao never ran on straight lines F;
he never consulted other sailors, aud
no Lost his temper when there was any
question OF the skill of his seaman
ship, and when the officer OF the ship
undertook TO select crew TO man 1t
without his advice and consent he in
stantly headed mutiny. At the risk
Of mourning the displeasure Of his hon
orable and distinguished friend he
should call reckoning, 80 that we
might understand where we are and
whittier we are drifting. What were
the facts by which II, is the duty OF all
Of ms to be guidedY They were few
and simple.
Senator Pugh related the facts Goa
nected with the Duskin case, and said
that the Senate resolution did not call
foi public or official documents, but
tor private documents and private pa
perg relating exclusively to an official
act OF the President in the suspension
Of Dustin &c District Attorney. The
inquiry proposed by the Senate was ID
be made with knowledge Of the fact
that more than four weeks before the
resolution was offered TO the Senate,
the term Of Dustin had expired. Then
what possible use could be made OF
the information sought in that case ?
Il was pure fiction why the report
Of the majority declared that the
information was wanted to enable the
Senate 20 discharge the great duty i'm
posed on ii OF making an inquiry as to
the propriety OF an official act by
the President-the power to do which
WAS expressly conferred upon him by
lew, to be exercised within his discre-
ton. II they bad decided the re-
movRl WAS improper or unwise, what
would have heen the effect OF the de-
cision? Could it have restored Dus-
tint Was he still a suspended officer
awaiting the adjournment OF the Sem
ate TO be restored to the duties of his
office?
The Senate was to-day engaged in
an inquiry about mater from which
there could ba no possible practical
result, II was q moot question mere
ly and the Senate was turned into a
meet court TO discuss u purely alb
suaot proposition. TIE refusal OF the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT five weeks after the
expiration OF his tsrm OF office, in
obedience TO the express order OF the
President, to send in the private doc
uments relating ID the suspension OF
DGgtin, was criticised in the resolu-
tioB OF the majority as violation OF
duty, and that violation was denounced
IS being Hubversive OF the principles
Of government aud OF good admins
trEtiOn--an act so characterized as to
make II q sufficient ground for instant
impeachment.
What was the relation between the
President and his Cabinet officers
Mr.. Pugh would let Mr.. Edmunds's
ovr words answer that question.
He then quoted from one OF Senator
Edmunds's speeches on the tenure Of
office act, to show that Senator Ed
mrnds held that a Cabinet officer
should be- gentleman personally
agreeable 10 the President, being one
o. his confidential advisers. Yet the
Senate was asked to pass resolution
cCnSemniug the Att)rney-G eneral foI
obeyHg the President, whose adviser
he was, who Etood in that relation Of
trust and confidence TO him indicated
by the quo alton made from the speech
0! the Senator nom Vermont. The
Attorney.General was asked by this
resolution 0! the Senate 10 disregard
\ tue positive order OF the President
y and thereby make himself liable "a
instant diemissal from the Cabinet
or the terms OF that relation stated by
-, Senator from Vermont himself
President Cleveland could not with
Belf.respsct have held that Attorney.
Genera in his Cabinet 3 single mo.
ment alter obeying the resolution OF
the Senate. Was that the Way for a
coordinate department ci the govern.
ment 10 treat another? Wsf not that
request from this great IL E-makinp
power to the Chief Msgislrbte Of the
country OF his Attornsy-G erlerai, that
would result in breaking ND their re-
lalonH OF confidence aud bust, anC
making the Attorney GeneJi liable (
instant dismissal from the NCabinet
Whst did the President say 4 bout thu
action Of the Senate, asking the AT