The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-02

officials. Upon refusal to confirm shall not
assume the right to ask the reasons for the
action OF the Senate, nor question its determine
ton. cannot think that anything more is re-
quired to secure worthy incumbents in public
offices than careful and independent discharge
OF our respective duties within their well defined
limits Though the propriety of suspensions
might De better assured if the action of the
PRESIDENT was subject to review by the Senate,
yet II the Constitution and the laws have placed
this responsibility upon the executive branch of
the government it should not be divided, nor the
discretion which it involved relinquishei.
1t has been claimed that the present execu-
tive. having pledged himself not to remove the
officials except for cause, the fact of their sus-
pension implies such misconduct on the part of
suspended official as Injuries his character and
reputation, and therefore the Senate should re-
view the case for his vindcation. / have said
that certain officials should not in my opinion,
be removed during the continuance of the term
for which they were appointed solely for the pur-
pose OF putting in their place those in political
Animation with the appointing powers, and this
declaration was Immediately followed by de-
scrlptlon OF official partsanship which ought not
to entitle those in whom it was exhibited to con-
sideration. 1t is not apparent how an adherence
to the course thus announced carried with it the
consequences described. If in any degree the
suggestion is worthy of consideration. it is to be
hoped that there may he a defense against un-
just suspension in the justice of the executive.
Every pledge which have made by which l
have placed limitation upon my ex-
ercise OF executive power has been faith
fully redeemed. OF course, the pretense
is not put forth that no mistakes have
been committed; but not suspension has been
made except it appeared to me satisfactory that
the public welfare would be improved thereby
Many Applications for suspensions have been de-
MED, and the adherence to the rule laid down to
govern my action as to such suspensions has
caused much irritation and impatience on the
part of those who have insisted upon more
changes in the offices. The pledges l have made
We're made to the people, and to them [ am
sponsible for the manner in which they have
been redeemed. l am not responsible to the
Senate, and | am unwilling to submit my actions
and official conduct to them for judgment
There are no grounds for allegation that
the fear of being found false to my professions
influences me in declining to submit to the de-
mands of the Senate. have notconstantly re-
FUSED to suspend officials, and thus incurred the
dispeasure of political friends, and yet wilfully
broken faith with the people, for the sake of be-
ing false to them.
Neither the discomfort of party friends nor
the allurements constantly offered of confrma-
tions of appointees conditioned upon the avowal
that suspensions have been made on party
grounds alone, nor the threat proposed in the
resolutions now before the Senate, that no con-
frmations will be made unless the demands of
that body be complied with are sufficient to dis
courage or deter me from following in the way
which am convinced leads to better govern
ment for the people. GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION March l. 1885,"
When the Presidents message had been read
Mr. Edmunds said it reminded him of the COM
munications Of King Charles the First to the
Parliament He also said that the President,
unintentionally, no doubt. had entirely misstat-
ed the question involved between himself and
the Senate. 81 think am safe in saying that it
is the first time in the history of the Republic
dertaken to interfere with the deliberations Of
either house of Congress on questions pending
before them otherwise than by messages on the
state of the Union, which the Constitution COM
mands him to make from time to time This
message is devoted solely to question for the
Senate itself, in regard to itself, that it has un
der consideration That is singular It,
think, will strike rejecting people in this coun-
try as somewhat extraordinary-if in these days
of reform. anything can be thought extraordin-
airy. The Senate of the United States, in its
communications to the heads of departments
not his heads of departments but the heads
of departments created by law-directed
them to transmit certain official papers and
that is all The President of the United States
undertakes TO change the question into consid
Grafton by the Senate of his reasons or motives
for putting civil officer, as it might be called,
under arrest"--with which the Senate has not
undertaken in any way to make any question at
all. By every message he has sent to this body
and they are all public-he has asked the Sem
ate to advise and consent to him, to the removal
of one officer and the appointments of another
That is what he has done, and the Senate, in
calling for those papers-to say nothing of wider
considerations about any deficiencies in the
Department of Justice-is asked to remove these
officers without knowing the condition of the ad-
ministration of their offices.
MIR. Harris remarked that, for reasons to
which he might not refer here he has no desire
to discuss the matter involved and moved that
the message be printed and lie on the table-the
usual course. he said.
After little sparring between Mr.. Edmunds
and Mr. Harris as to the disposition of the mes
sage, motion of Mr.. Edmunds was agreed to-
referring it to the judiciary committee and or
dering it printed.