Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-12


/ Senator Puch made an admirable pre-
( sentation OF the Democratic side OF the
/ case in the pending controversy between
the President and the Senate. He an
swered senator Edmunds' speech, which
the republicans thought TO be unan-
swerable. very satisfactorily. Indeed it
IL doubtful if any one, whose mind is un-
biased. can read the two speeches without
reaching the conclusion that Senator
Pugh has much the best Of the argument.
He points out very clearly the position
which The Republicans occupy and then
shows that it is untenable.
The Republicans called for the papers
in case Of removal on the ground that
the Senate has the same right Of revision
in cases OF removal as in cases Of appoint
ment. Senator Pueh makes it very plain
that the Senate has never exercised any
such right, and that the existence Of such
right has never been admitted
He shows that Senator Edmunds
has In past years claimed this right for
the Senate but that ne never succeeded in
getting the claim recognized. In tact, If
Senator Pugh is correct in his statements,
there is no precedent for the position &C.
cupied by the Repu blicans. There is not
wanting excellent Republican authority
for the position occupied by the Demo-
Gratis, Indeed, as far as the debate has
yet developed, Senator Edmunds himself
is about the only Senator on record who
has ever insisted that the Senate has
the same authority TO revise removals as
it has TO revise appointments. 1t seems
rather strange, under the circumst ances,
that be should have succeeded in getting
the Republican Senators to give him such
unanimous support.
The letter Of Mr.. Thurman, which SEN
at0r Edmunds read during his speech,
seemed to support the Republican side Of
the controversy. IL was written when Mr..
Thurman was Chairman of the Senate Ju-
dietary Committee, and it certainly called
for the papers bearing upon the removal
of an official. But Senator Pugh easily
turns that letter against Senator Ed
munds. 1t figures in the case OF Terri
torial Judge, and it has always
been question whether the
President has the power to remove
officials of that class. fine has not, then
the Senate has a right to all papers in
cases where such an official is removed.
The fact that IL does not appear that
Senator Thurman or any other Senator
ever demanded the papers in cases of re-
moval other than where Judges were in
volved, is pretty good evidence that it has
never been considered that the Senate has
the right to such papers.
After all, il is not improbable that the
Republicans never expected to sustain
either by arguments or presidents the
remarkable position in which they have
been placed by Mr.. Edmunds, and that
they have begun this controversy with
the President for the purpose of securing
an opportunity to attack some of his APP
pOintments with the hope of influencing
the fall elections in their favor. There
are few OF the appointments which are
vulnerable, and it would not be surpris-
ing if before the debate has proceeded
much further it should be discovered that
the Republicans have secured a vast
amount OF information relative to these
appointments. Their aim will be to con-
trast them with the Presidents decla-
rations in favor of reform, and his
promise that he would appoint only
good men to Office. However, the Demo-
Gratis have no occasion 10 be anxious.
They will have no difficulty in showing
that in the matter Of good appointments
this administration stands far ahead of
any gifts Republican predecessors.