The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-03-18
Washington Letter.
WAsH1NepoN. March 12, 1856.


The Senate galleries are crowded this
week, and great interest is felt in the
discussion of the Presidential prerog-
alive For more than two weeks
nearly every Senator on both sides of
the chamber has been at work prepar-
ing for the conflict growing out of the
refusal of the Administration to send
to the Senate papers and information
bearing upon the suspension of officials
and touching the appointment of their
successors.
Probably no such thorough over
hauling and minute examination of
historical documents has ever before
been made with reference to this ques-
ton. Consequently, as one Senator
expressed it, both sides were loaded
to the muzzle with material" for the
performance which is now in progress.
1t was to have begun on Monday. but
the " star" Mr.. Edmunds, plead a sore
throat and the people went away dis
appointed. He kept his engagement
for the following day., however, and
promptly at the appointed hour, arose
with an imposing pile of manuscript
before him This precedents to support
his position,) which he used freely
during his speech of two and a half
hours.
When it was learned in the House
of Representatives that Mr.. Edmunds
was actually discharging his long load.
ed broadside at the White House,
members poured into the Senate
Chamber and filled the space in rear
of the Senator's desks. The only va
cant seat on the floor was heavily
draped with black. 1t was that of the
California Senator, Mr.. Miller, who
had died the day before.
&Mr. Edmunds, in his speech, which
had attracted much attention, and
which will be generally discussed
throughout the country, made, as was
expected, the best of his weak side of
the controversy. He took such prece.
dents as best suited him and handled
them with ingenuity.
He was most specious perhaps in
saying that the Senate does not ask
the Presidents reasons for making re.
movals, but simply for the papers OF
every description relating to suspend
ed officials. In saying this he admits
that should papers which the Senate
wants be forthcoming, they would
show the very confidential reasons
which he disclaims any intention on
the part of the Senate to demand.
Mr.. Edmunds said with sneer,
that the most conspicuous result OF
improved methods of Government un.
der the " reform" Administration was
the suppression of official papers. AT
this point Senator Beck caused a smile
to ripple ever the audience by remark.
ing in an undertone, but loudly enough
to be heard half across the chamber,
that it was "a clear case of fly on a
barn door," You remember the Yer.
mont leader has been accused of seeing
fly on barn door when he could
not see the door.
AS yet only Senator Pugh, of Ala
bama, has replied to Mr.. Edmund's
speech, Mr.. Pugh showed among
other things that the papers called fol
by Senator Thurman when chairman
of the Judiciary Committee, in case
of suspension, related to territorial
court, and that the tenure of Office act
especially exempts Judicial officers
from those to be suspended by the
President. Mr.. Edmunds has been
followed by Senator Wilson of Iowa
and Senators ingalls, and Evarts will
be next to support him. On the Dem.
ocratic side Senators Kenna, Beck
and Jackson will be among the cham.
pions of the Administration.
A prominent Democratic lawyer OF
this city who was talking on this sub.
ject few days since, remarked that
there was nothing in the position oi
the majority of the Senate Judiciary