Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-13

NV yCh pkcpdISQ us report
must be met.'
"'But there is nothing pending in the
senate on which to take the floor, unless
II De the silver resolution OF the Senator
from louisiana
rake 1t, Notwithstanding
suppose some vile man, and he would
De vile 10 write such letter. should have
addressed a communication of that char
aeter 10 the President pro. tempOre in his
ohelal capacity. That paper according
70 Jne definition, would he a paper to
winch the Senate and the House of Rep
resentatives, and the whole government
would be entitled to.
HITTING HIM AGAIN.
suppose some other vile man should
nave addressed letter to the presiding
othcer of this body, in which be declared
that the President of the United States
IN his civil service communications had
declared that men were to be removed
only Tor cause and that the Senator who
LOOK the initiative in framing and matur-
ing Issues with the Executive, which
should bave the practical effect of en-
aDllng the Republican majority on the
moor OF the senate to stand between those
who hold otfice-having got il under a
former administration-and those who
this administration would ad-
vance himself with that vast
army OF political implements.' that let
ter, too, would be an official paper under
the definition laid down by the Senator
from Vermont, TO which the Senate,
House, and Executive and Judicial de-
partments of the government would be
entltled under any circumstances in
which they might ask for them.
EDMUNDs' STANDING.
"The country knew" Mr.. Kenna con-
tnued, "that the Senator from Vermont
was lawyer of ability, and Senator of
ability. The Senator from Vermont him
self knew that. After his long years of
service in this body, and the prominent
positions which be had occupied in it, the
press would give respect TO utterances
from him, which people would have a
right to receive and respect as in the
nature Of judicial declarations. Who
would undertake to say that any citizen
would question a statement of facts made
on the floor by the Senator from Vermont?
Honor which reached that measure in
this life was not to be despised. but it
was an honor that carried with it, or
ought to carry with it, the full measure
of equal responsibility.
COURSE OF OTHER PRESIDENTS.
Mr.. Kenna then quoted from the Ian
guage of the majority report of the COM
mlttee, and from Mr.. Edmunds' recent
speech to the effect that President Andrew
jackson, like all his predecessors, and
like all his successors until to-day, felt
bound to, and did, give to both houses of
Congress- every Information that they
ever called for, except the instance Of
President Washington, who, while a trea-
ty was pending before the Senate. was
called on by the House Tor paPsrs ard IN
formation aboutit, which President Wash
ington had declined on ''obvious grounds''
to furnish.
NO TREATY PENDING.
Mr.. Kenna denied that a treaty was then
pending and read from the proceedings of
Congress and the Presidents message to
show that copy of the treaty had been
sent to Congress on March 1, 1876, with
an announcement of its ratification, while
the House resolution asking for the IN
formation about 1t was aot adopted till
March "a. Besides, he said the House
resolutions especially excepted from the
call any particulars as, under any exist
ing negotiations, it might not be proper
to make public Il matter of practical leg
islatiOn, Mr.. kenna said, was submitted
to the House under that treaty. PresI-
dent Washington was in the Executive
chaiN-a man devoid of partisan preiu-
dice if ever mortal man was-a noble and
disinterested patriot if ever mortal man
was.
wAsHINGToN's REPLY.
What was his reply to the call OF the
House? at does not occur to me that in
spectiOn Of papers asked for can be rele-
want to any purpose under cOgnizance of
the House Of Representatives., except that
of an impeachment. which the resolution
ha 70,
time. a President of the United States, in
sole regard for the maintenance, dignity
and prerOgatives Of his high Office, de-
clined to aid the proposed intermeddling
by the House with something that did not
concern it. Mr.. kenna was surprised that
Mr.. Edmunds should have said that on
the refusal of President jackson TO send
TO the Senate the papers in the Wirtz case
there had been an end Of the matter be-
tween President Jackson and the Senate
as to papers relating 10 appointment.
EDMUNDs' TREACHERoUs MEMORY.
He (Mr. Kenna) presumed Mr.. Ed
munds must have forgotten the bitter
fight between that President and Congress
on this question of papers, in the case of
the removal of the Secretary OF the Treas
ury by President jackson for the purpose
Of effecting the removal of deposits from
the "UnitSd states Bank" Mr.. Clay had |
then offered a resolution requesting the |
President to inform the Senate whether |
a copy of paper then going the rounds
of the press was correct-the paper being |
one "purporting to have been read by |
President Jackson TO the heads Of de- |
partments relating to deposits" etc.. and |
alleged to have been published by his au-
thority, and the President was further |
If the publication was correct, |
to send the Senate a copy of it. There |
had been no secrecy about that |
document. It had already been |
spread broadcast over the country, but |
the attempted Interference OF the Senate /
with matters not its own, was promptly |
met by President Jackson, who, in a mes |
sage informed the Senate that be had yet /
10 learn on what constitutional authority |
that body had the right to require him TO |
account for anything written or said, 20 |
heads OF departments. He declined COM |
pliance. President Tyler also declined |
the request OF the Senate for papers touch |
ing removal Of an officer. OF course, |
Mr.. kenna said no man denied the right |
OF the Senate 20 call on the President for /
a private paper, even private letter in |
bis pocket, but no rational man would !
deny the President equal right to decline |
10 send IL II he chose so 10 do.
ALREADY COVERED.
Mr. Kenna would say, however, that
communications had been made over and |
over again during this session Of the Sen. |
ate by the present Executive Department, /
matters involved in this cOatrO- 1