The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-03-13
SENATOR KGNNA's SPEECH.
HO stiTS up the Galleries by Quoting from
BlAinO'B Book.

Hs stiTS up the Galleries by Quoting from
DlGinO'S Book.
WASHINGTON, March l2-In the Senate
o.day the Chair placed before that body
the resolutions reported from the Judlct-
ary Committee on the relations between
the President and the Senate as to the
right Of the Senate to have papers and in.
trmation relating to suspension from
Office.
Mr.. Kenns, Of West Virginia, took the
door in opposition to the resolution. He
Contended that the Senate was not en-.
titled to call for and TO receive such doCu.
nents and papers as come within the def.
1ition Of public and official paperB as laid
lown by the Senator from Vermont, and
aid: II q paper were addressed to the
President pro tempore in his official
capacity, that fact alone, according To the
Senator from Vermont, made It an official
paper to which every department official
Of the great government was entitled. II
might come from Potawattomie Indian
signed In his native dialect involving
remote contingency OF the sCalplng Of the
officers and members OF the Senate, and
yet according to the definition II was an
official paper.
Tho Senator from Vermont had pro.
Ceeded to demonstrate, assuming his
theory to be correct, that the Senate had
a right TO 20 into every department Of the
government, TO the White House, Treasury,
War and State departments, whether act.
ing In executive or open session, ransack.
ing the archives OF these various depart.
ments and wringing from them papers
coming within the definition he had read,
and yet a very nockery Of this situation
seemed by some providential interpretation
to exhibit itself within q moment after he
had concluded.
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
No sooner had the honorable Senator
taken his seat than, as Is customary in the
Senate, some Senator moved that the Sen.
ate proceed To the consideration Of execu.
tive business, and the bells which were
arranged for the convenience OF members
Of the Senate began TO tingle throughout
the Capitol. A body OF gentlemen com.
posing part oithe coordinate branch Of
the Government having listened 10 the
argument which undertook 10 say that
ali mankind should have no secret
from the Senate, was admonish.
ed by that ringing Of the bells
that the time had come when the Senate
would put on its robes Of royal purple.
Five thousand brave men and fair women
we're expelled from the galleries. The
eyes Of the American press were closed.
l'he doors ratified and sentinels took their
posts and as a fitting testimony at the
conclusion OF the speech Of the Senator
from Vermont the Senate was resolved into
ils ancient secrecy, and as the files march.
ed out and the officers assumed their posts
as guards Of the sacred privileges Of the
Senate and denied everywhere else, the
thought came, how abundantly practices
may engrait themselves upon the human
composition, and how little reflection, per.
haps, members oil the Senate had given 10
the fact that for hundred years or more
the body had been the star chamber Of the
American Republic.
Why, the senatot from Vermont would
deny privacy or confidence TO every paper
In every department ot the Governments
uotN0 on sUrPoSIrioNs.
Suppose some vile man should address
The Presiding officer Of the Senate, or
should have done 30 some weeks ago, a
letter In which he stated that the Pfesi.
dent pro TEN was behind the times, that
the Senator from Vermont was moving In
advance In this matter, that there was q
popular issue among the people promising
TO retain large number Of Republicans
In responsible and lucrative positions
should say "Don't allow him 10 make the
advance look to the approaching National
convention In 1888 look 10 your laurels
take the floor yourself.
"But the question 10 not up."
"Take the floor yourself"
"But the Senator from Vermont has not
yet prepared his report"
"Take the floor yourself This Issue
must be met"
nHut there 10 nothing pending In the