National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-20

lhcw the facts. And Mr.. Beck thought he
would produce the records from the Attor-
ntN Generals uflice-the Republican Attor-
roy General, Neutrality-suspicious. the fact
stated by him Mr.. Beck. lie hoped also
In executive session to get vote Of the
Senate to compel the senator from Vermont
TO produce evidence which he had be-
fore his own committee to show Duskin's
ubiitness. He hoped to prove that this
effort to make an issue in regard to Duskin
wGs because the senator from Vermont be-
lievCd Duskin's case so bad that the Dem
ocratlc administration would be glad to
prove how bad he was; and then the sena-
tor would claim II as a precedent In good
cases. And / hope to prove,n continued
Mr. Beck, "thnt this move, now made with
such flourish Of trumpets-I will not say
what expect TO prove, for could not do
IT, perhaps, IN parliamentary language"
Mr.. Edmunds said he would have to leave
entirely In silence what the senator from
Kentucky had stated In regard to affairs in
executive session. ~ feel bound in honor"
he said, ''not to make any alluslon TO any
such subjects. The ideas OF senatorial
honor under the rules OF the senator from
Kentucky and my own, are entirely differ
ent. Perhaps mine are wrong; perhaps his
are right. Every senator is sworn to faith.
ful performance of his duty as senator, ac-
cofding to regulations OF the Senate that
are made under the constitution. II the sena-
tor from Kentucky thinks II is honorable TO
garble and misstate the existence OF circum-
stances In closed doors, Of course have no
criticism to make upon his sense Of what is
honorable and right. / cannot make any
reference to what has taken place under
any circumstances, when under the rules
Of the Senate and my oath the doors are
closed. Therefore, ] can make no reply to
what the senator from Kentucky has said
on the subject TO which he has alluded as
IN executive session."
AS to Mr.. Beck's reference to the re-
ports In the Attorney Generals office about
Duskin and what they would show
Mr.. Beck Qnterrupting) said his refer
ence had been to the committee OF the ju-
dietary, Of which the senator from Vermont
was chairman.
Mr.. Edmunds reminded Mr.. Beck that
he bad referred to papers In the Office Of
Attorney General Garland and what they
would show. He (Mr. Edmunds) could
not allude to what the judiciary committee
had or had not done until he should have per.
mission. 81 shall not violate my oath or
my honor,n Mr. Edmunds said, "by doing
II now, whatever other gentlemen may
choose TO do"
II there were reports in the Attorney
Generals office concerning Duskin, they
were precisely what the Senate desired
when 1t passed its resolution calling for the
papers. at appears" Mr.. Edmunds con-
tinued, that the senator from Kentucky
can get at what the Attorney General and
the President of the United States consider
to be confidential and private communion
tons, when the Senate OF the United States
cannot, and that Is the advantage that that
senator has over the body OF which he is a
member; and that is the advantage which
the administration considers to be, as all
the Democratic senators do, presume, an
undoubted advantage. But what the sena-
tor from Kentucky gets, II appears the
Senate cannot get. What the Senate asked
for, and what II only asked for, was a re-
port Of official papers and documents on
file in the Department Of Justice respecting
the conduct and management of an Office
covering period OF time embracing six
months OF q suspended officer and six
months of the officer whom we are asked
to appoint-in order that the Senate might
see how this Office had been managed by its
respective occupants, whether money had
been embez2led, whether false indictments
had been brought, and whether the Office
had, under both or either of them. been
well or honestly administered"
II II were true, Mr.. Edmunds continued,
that Duskin had been bad officer, It was
of the highest importance not only that the
Senate, but the House Of Representatives
should know It, and what his misconduct
had been. How any paper stating miscon-
duct In public Office could be private
and confidential communication which be.
longed to the President alone, Mr.. Ed
| munds was quite unable to understand.
Mr.. Beck said he had not seen any paper
in the Attorney Generals Office relating to
Duskin, nor had he ever asked TO see one,
nor had he ever spoken 20 the President in
regard to Duskin. "And as to my honor
and my OATH" continued Mr.. Beck, 81 hope
II is as sacred as that Of the senator from
Vermont IL II was not at least as good as
his | would not have as much regard for
myself as have now. propose to stand
upon my integrity as man and senator;
and i say that forty-parsOn power would
not do justice to much OF the hypocrisy
| that is now presented to the Senate In pre-
| lenses OF a desire to establish public JUS
tice." Duskin, Mr.. Beck said, was known
| to be an unfit man for the place lie occu-
| pied, and nobody knew 1t better than the
senator from Vermont; and he had selected
| this particular case because he believed
that the executive officers, knowing that
Duskin was unfit, would show the uuftness,
| and that that would give the senator from
| Vermont an excuse in other cases TO seek
| to make trouble by asking for what he aud
| the country knew the Senate had no right
to demand from the Executive In order to
bring scandals before the country. The
senator from Maryland mr. WILSON, had
not been aware, perhaps, OF how cunningly
this Duskin matter was worked up IN the
| hope of catching the executive officers
knowing that they had perfectly good
case against him. The senator from YER
mont 81 oke Of his honor and oath and In
tegrity, and compared them with his Mr..
Beck's), and Mr.. Beck was willing to stand
by the comparison. "Thank God" said he,
"whatever say | say boldly and openly.
! mean what i say. / do not stand on the
corners of the streets and thank
God that / am not as other men
and pray aloud to make men believe that
have all the virtue and all the integrity
and all the goodness extant. When see
great public question meet It'll meet 1t
fairly. / may make blunders and | may
make mistakes, but have more respect for
the man who meets his enemy In the open
field and either knocks him down, or takes
fair knock down himself, than have for
the man who stabs his brother under the
fifth rib while shaking him by the hand and
asking him GLOW is II with thee, my
brOtherP ] do not believe In secret ways;
] do not believe In Pharlsalsm; do not be-
lieve in hypocrisy; do not believe In cir
cumventing anybody. Twill move now, in
order to see whether am telling what is
true or not-and II | cannot move 1t
now will do SO at the first
opportunity-that all the proceedings
In March, 1851, October, 1881, aud Deem
her, 1881, and all the papers filed with the
judiciary committee and all the proceed
ings had before that committee IN the case
Of the nomination Of Duskin shall be made
public, so that the country can Judge
whether what | say Is true or not. II /
have falsiiled anything | will take 1t back;
and II have not want chance to prove
it, since comparisons are made between the
oath and the honor OF the senator from
Vermont and myself. | make that motion
now, and will let II lie over until tomorrow
morning, or will do II In the first execu
tive session, II II Is not In order 10 do II
uOw.n
Thechnir thought the motion was not In
order now, hut the senator could ask unani-
nous consent.
MIR. Beck accordingly asked unanimous
consent,