Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1886-03-27
sEsAToR KENNA's SPEECH.

A week or two ago the Republican OBJ
structionists in the Senate were fairly
electrified by an unlooked-:or and most
powerful speech delivered by Senator
John 4. Kenna, of West Virginia, IN
support Of the Presidents action in re-
fusing to transmit to the Senate certain
papers relating to the suspension from
office OF Duskin of Alabama. In the
course Of his speech, Mr.. Kenna resur.
rected and read with telling effect the
following letter which President Jackson
seat to the Senate in 1888, and this he
held up az a precedent, warrant and
authority for the attitude assumed by
President Cleveland in his present con
troversy with the Senate:
To the Senate OF the United States: l
have atIentively considered the resolution
OF the Senate OF the 18th instant, request
communicate TO the Senate q copy of the
paper which has been published, and which
purports to nave been read By him to the
members Of the Executive Department,
dated the 19sh day OF September last, re-
lsting to the removal of the deposits OF
the public mobev from the Bank of the
United States and its offices. The Execu-
tive is q co ordinate aud independent
branch OF the Government, equally with
the Senate, and / have yet to learn under
what special authority that branch OF the
Legislature has the right to require OF me
an account of any communication, either
verbal or in writing, made to the heads OF
the Departments acting as q Caoinet
council. As we'll might I be required to
detail to the Senate the free and private
o nversstions / held with those officers on
any subject relating to their duties and my
own. Feeling my responsibility to the
American people, / am willing upon all &C.
casions to explain 10 them the grounds OF
my conduct; and ] am willing upon all
proper occasions to give to either branch
OF the Legislature any information in my
possession that can be useful IN the execu-
tion OF the proper duties contided TO them.
Knowing the constitutional rights OF the
Senate. / shall DO the last man under any
circumstances 10 interfere with them.
Knowing those of the Executive. / shall at
all times endesvor to maintain them agree
ably to the provisions OF the Constitution
and my solemn oath to support and defend
1t. / am constrained. therefore. by a
proper sense OF my own self-respect, and
to the rights secured by the Constitution
to the Executive branch Of the Govern
ment. to decline o compliance with your
request. ANDREW JACKSON.
In that controversy sold Hickory
held that the Executive was "a o-ordin.
ate and independent branch of the Gov
eminent equally with the Senate" and
he denied the right of the latter branch
of the National Legislature to compel him
to give it any communication, "either
verbal or written" made to the heads of
Departments. In the controversy which
the Senate has forced upon President
Cleveland, the latter treats as I" counden-
tial" such letters as the Senatorial OBJ
structionists have asked him to transmit
for their inspection, and will not sur
render them.
President Cleveland stands on solid
ground in this fight, remarks the Salt
Lake Democrat, and there is no earthly
reason for surprising that the Senate will
be able to bring him to their terms or
even to effect a compromise. Democrats
everywhere expect to see him emulate
sold Hickory's" example, and in the
end place in Office men drawn from the
ranks of his own party, and who hold
political views in accord with those Of
the Administration.