Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-28
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. %, 1895.
rur PRESIDENT AND THE SENATE.


Entirely right i'm their position were
those senator's who. in the executive ses-
sion Of the Senate Thursday, criticised
tho President for not furnishing the body
with an the documents and Information
I'm his possession bearing on the treaty
with Spain. Thoroughly vulnerable is the
President 10 such criticism, and for our
part we nope that If there are any means
Of forcing his hand in the matter they
will be restored 20.
Both I'm the name Of the states il rep
resents directly. and to which it is re-
sponslblc. and I'm the name of the people
whom it represents indirectly but 10
whom il is none the less responsible the
Senate has a right to- demand that all the
facts touching the proceedings at Paris
b. laid before il. Nay more. We go fur
Their and say that il is the duty of the
Senate 10 make the demand and enforce
IT, If possible.
There is much connected with the me
eotiations" of oar commissioners that is
sul an absolute mystery. such iniorma-
ton as we have regarding the progress
of the proceedings. taken with subsequent
developments. tends strongly TO faint GER
tain conditions of the treaty with the
suspicion Of having been due 10 un-Amer-
lean influences. There are many circum-
stances connected with the transaction
that would seem to prove that the Ameri-
can commissioners were the representa-
tives Of Mr.. Mckinley and cabal, rather
than the representatives OF the United
States. II there is no groInd for the sus-
picion to which we have referred. and the
apparent personal character of the neso-
tiations. why withhold the information
the Senate has requested?
The Constitution provides that the Pres
idcnt "shan have power, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate, 10 make
treaties. provided two-thrds Of the sem
ators present concur" The Senate, in its
doubly representative capacity as above
defined. is the coordinate treaty making
power The provision of the Constiu-
lion We have quoted assumes confidence
between the President and the Senate in
the matter Of concluding treaties. 1t as
sumes that the Presiden; shall give the
Senate his confidence. To question this
is to say that in contemplation Of the
Constitution the Senate is not expected
10 be guided ia any degree by its own I'M
tcngcnce TO question il is, also, TO say
that the trainers of the Constitution in-
tended that the Senate should be absolved
from AN responsibility in respect of uea-
ties. and should act blndiy.
In this instance the President has not
only not given the Senate his confidence
OF his own motion but has withheld il
after being asked for it. lie has virtually
declared that the details of the proceed
ings al Paris. the inside facts OF the "ne-
EQUATIONS" the influences that We're
brought TO bear upon the American COM
missioners. and his motives in discredit-
ing our assurances as TO our object i'm
going 10 war. were none Of the Senate's
business. And by the same token he has
virtually declared that an th.s was none
Of the business of the people.
\ Washington telegram says that Sen
ator Spooner, in supporting the Pre- s.dent
cited presidents 10 show that the Presi-
dent could" withhold at his pleasure in-
formation Of the character ian question
There are procedents TO show that the
President "has" Withheld information re-
garding treaties. bat whore IS the con
stitutonal warrant, either OF letter OF
spirit. that justihes Mr. Spooner's asser
ton? As "a rule. when the President has
withheld information 1t has been in in
stances whore the general ana essentia
facts were sufficiently known for the Sen
@ate 10 act intelligently. and where tner,
was no vial reason why the Senate Shout,
have made point of the matter
But the fact that Presidents have pursued
this course does not establish the right t,
pursue 81. Besides. this is not a govern
ment of presidents. and there is M
parallel IN our history for the case al
issue.
Not since the foundation Of the govern
ment has the Senate had before It a treat,
involving the momentous possibilities tina
may be involved In the present one UpoI
Us disposition may turn the questions OF
how long the existing burdensomel wal
taxes Will continee, and OF TO wEat\ex
tent We VIII be placed under the yoke, o.
militar.sm. On It's disposition may depend