Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1895-08-22
HON. MATT. w. RANSOM
NO LONGER OUR MINISTER TC
MEXICO.
The Attorney General Declares His Ap-
pointment in Violation of the
Constitution.

pointment in Violation of the
Constitution.
Washington, Aug. 16.-Hon.
Matt W. Ransom. of North Car
olina, is no longer Minister from
the United States to Mexico.
The Office was practically de-
clared vacant to-day by decis-
ion rendered by Mr.. Holmes
Conrad, Solicitor General of the
United States, and acting Attor-
ney General. Mr.. Ransom's in
cumbency was declared to be
contrary to the Federal Consti
tuition, and the acting Attorney
General sustained the action of
Mr.. Thomas Holcom, Auditor of
the Treasury for the State De-
partment, in declining to pass
favorably upon Mr.. Ransom's
vouchers for salary and ex
penses.
The decision Of the acting At
torney General was based on d
question raised by Auditor Hol-
comb as to the legality of Mr.,
Ransom's appointment to the
Mexican mission in view of the
existence of Section 2, Article 6,
Of the Constitution. which de-
clares that mo Senator or Rep
resentative. shall, during the
time for which he was elected,
be appointed to any civil Office
under the authority of the Unit
ed States which shall have been
created, or the emoluments
whereof shall have been increas
ed during such time"
This prov ision apparently fit
ted the case Of Mr.. Ransom, for
he was nominated by Mr.. Cleve r
land and confirmed by the Sen
ate before his term of Office as
Senator from North Carolina had
expired, and during that term
the salary of the Mexican mis-
sion had been increased 1000 a
year.
Mr.. Ransom was elected to the
Senate in 1881 and served contin-
ucusly from April oath of that
year until February %, 1895,
when his nomination to the Mex
ican mission was sent to the Sen
ate and Immediately confirmed
by that body, and until March 4,
when his term expired and his
commission as Minister to Mex
leo was signed by the President.
He was a member of the Senate
when the Diplomatic and Con
sular Appropriation bill was
passed which contained provis-
ion raising the post of Minister
to Mexico from a mission Of the
second class to a mission of the
first class, and increasing the
salary Of the Office from $12, OOC
S17. 900 ayear. 1t is due to Mr..
Ransom's occupancy of a seat in
the Senate chamber at that time
that he is to-day without an Of
fee, and that he is technically g
debtor to the Government for the
amount Of salary he has drawn
since assuming his diplomatic
post. Whether or not he votee
in favor of the increase is of nc
consequence; the fact that he was
a member of the Senate when i
passed the Diplomatic and Con
sular bill, as stated, operated
against him in holding in lega
manner any federal civil Office
(which shall have been created
or the emoluments whereof shall
have been increased' during th'
time for which he was elected
Senator.
Soon after Mr. Ransom's ap-
pointment to the Mexican mis-
, sion there was considerable dis
cussion in the newspapers AM
among public men as to whethe
his incumbency of the Office wa
legal. The matter was consid
cred informally by the Presiden
and members of the Cabinet, bu
as no formal question on the sub
: ject was raised by any officer o
the Government, the status O
: Mr.. Ransom's position was no
! impaired.
So far as can he ascertained
7 Mr.. Ransom continued to dra1
r his salary of $17, 500 a year, bu
l it was only recently that Audito
S Holcomb, when he came to pas
r upon the accoun. Us of the Ministe
f found himself unable to decid
e whether he could approve tn
: payment of Mr.. Ransom's S salary
/ in view of the fact that he ha
t been a member of the Senat
!, when it was increased. Th
t matter was accordingly submit
e ted to the Attorney General fc
S an opinion.
a Mr.. Ransom succeeded Hol
It Isaac =. Gray, Ex-Governor {
Il Indiana, who had died shol
S time before. After a visit I
t North Carolina, returning
Ii Washington to receive instrut
/, tions, Mr.. Ransom left here fe
r the City of Mexico on March 8
J. He arrived at his destinatio
W quite i'll. The high latitude
n the Mexican capital had affecte
e his heart and accentuated a trol
;e BILE from which he had been su
II ferinp for many wears. M