Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-02
-ILII. CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, March |, 1886.

senate.
The Chair laid before the Senate
letter from the Secretary of the TIea-
sury transmitting in reply to the re-
cent Senate resolution report show
ing the claims, accounts, aud vouchers
suspended in that Department.
In discussing the motion to print the
papers Mr.. Hale said the accounting
officers Of the Treasury had lately
taken what seemed to him the extraor-
binary course of holding up" or sus-
pending the accounts or vouchers Of
officers Of the Government who, ac-
cOrding TO the custom and usual au-
thorization, had paid out moneys which
had been entrusted to them for the
purpose Of being so paid out. The con-
tention OF the accounting officers of the
Treasury, MIR. Hale said, was that the
payments were unauthorized.
The papers, which are voluminouS,
were ordered to be printed.
Mr. Pugh, representing the minority
Of the Committee on Judiciary, sub
United the views Of the minority on the
resolution referred TO that committee
concerning the Office Of district attOr-
ney for the Southern district of Ala
bama. 1t was ordered printed in the
Confessional Record and also in sepa-
rate form. Ii is three or four times as
long as the majority report. 1t embO-
dies no resolution.
Mr.. Pugh's report reviews the Dus-
tin case at length, sustainS the action
Of the AttOrney-General, and dissects
the majority report. 1t quotes both
Edmunds and Sherman against the po-
si,ion assumed by the majority, and
cites at great length from speeches
Of Madison, Sedgwick, and Clymer in
the debate Of 1889, from decisions of
the Supreme Court, aud from other
high authorities in support Of the mi
rority, and expresses surprise at the
msioIity.report resolutions.
In conclusion the report says
Under what action Of the Senate does that
majority claim authority 10 report such
resolution 10 the senate for It's adoption
What pOss bile connection has the SUBJECT
mentioned Ia the resolution with the papers
and documents called FOR In case OF the sus-
pension of Dustin, which is the only mat
Ter referred by the Senate 10 the Judiciary
Committee. Information Of the minority
Of our committee Is that Dustin never was
a Union soldier, but, ON the contrary, was
either a member of the Confederate army or
4 Confederate sympathizer ia his native
stale OF North Carolina. The minority of
NOuT committee fully endorses section
nf
favor It's faithful execution; but their in
formation and belief satisfy them that
under It's operation during the Rdm!nstra
lions OF Republican Presidents partisan ana
political Influences and cons iderati ions have
Governed in great degIee IN the selection OF
Intended benetciaries OF the statute. 50
that no equal or just distribution has been
made by Republican Presidents among
The luerilofious class described In the law.
a. Is doubtless desired alike by Republican
and Democratic soldiers and marines VINO
were comrades in a common cause, Such
unauthorized action Of n majority OF your
committee serves one purpose, anu tuAt ~
10 furnish additional proof OF what was De-
fore manifest-that tne object and Interest
Of This extraordinary proceeding II 10 sc.
cure political and partisan advantage anu
benefit. The inevitable result is 10 afralgh
President Cleveland and try MIN 10y
the Senate with an unfrie0dly pollu-
cal majority for making suspensions
in alleged violation OF his pubhc Pledges
aud promises not 70 maze removals or sus-
pensions except for cause. President C!eve-
lands promises and pledges are part OF
the published history Of the country, ana
Tor their faithful performance he denies ms
responsibility 10 the senate. aud stands
ready for trial by the people He did make
promise that darling the term OF a civll o1i-
cei lac would not suspend OF remove him
Tor The sole reason that he was d Republl-
eau. Merely being Republican, II he had
been and was capable, faithful. and ell
cient officer, the President declared he
would not Iegafcf as sufficient cause butif
such officer while In Office had used It's power
influence. or eTnOluments TO promote
the organization and success OF his party
By attending county, district, state or
national conventions and making himself
active M IA partisan In elections, the Presi-
dent las declared such conduct and action
by any incumbent, however capable, faltn.
fui. and efficient In the discharge OF his
Official duties, as n violation OF the spirit
Of the law declaring that civil office is a
public trust for public uses. and not 10 he
lDployed az an element OF power in party
organizations and elections. aud that sucn
conduct would be treated as sufficient cause
for suspensions The President declines TO
submit voluntarily TO the decision Of
tribunal having no Jurisdiction ever the
question the sufiieiency Of such cause for
snsps Dsonsy especially when his fear Is that
such conduct Ia Office might be regarded by
The ifepuelican majority ~ q reason for the
retention OF tncuInD eDts la Office. Tue Pre-
siceDt VIII never avoid a trial by the peo-
pie fyf the exercise OF any OF mis- powers or
Tue discharge OF any OF hts ofilclsl duties.
a. he VIII have fair tribunal on the whole
truth; bat he declines obe dience 10 any pn.
authority ~ "a unffiendiy Tribunal on