Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 April 1885 — GRAVE SENATORS. [ARTICLE]

GRAVE SENATORS.

Work in the Extn Session of the United States Senate. The following proceedings were had in the Senate on the Ist inst.: After the reading of the journal the Chair laid before the Senate several communications which he had received m regard to the failing health of Gen. Grant,, and asked if it was the pleasure of the Senate that the Secretary should read them. Several Senators responded in the affirmative,, whereupon the Associated Press bulletins were read from the Secretary’s desk. On motion of Mr. Shermaa, the Chair was authorized to. appoint the committee provided for by the Allison resolution, to sit during the recess and take into consideration the contingent expenses of the Senate. The following Senators are named: Messrs. Allison, Platt, Plumb, Miller of New York, Cockrell, Harrison, and Payne. ThePresident sent in the following nominations: A Leo Knott, of Maryland, to be Second Assistant Postmaster General. To be Postmasters: John A Showalter, at Latrobe, Pa.; Adelbert Sheppcrd, at Waverly, Iowa; Bayard 8. Gray, at Portland, Ind.; Thomas B. French, at Alexandria, La.; Charles E. Cook, at McPherson. Kan.; G. Marion Moore, at Pleasanton, Kan. 'lhe Committee on Postoffices made a. favorable report on the nomination of Henry G. Pearson to be Postmaster of New York. The United States Senate adjourned sine die on Thursday, April 2. The Senate cleared its desk of nearly all the nominations that had been submitted. Among those which were not acted unon were the following: W. W. Lang, of Texas, for Consul at Hamburg; A H. Gross, of Pennsylvania, for Consul at Athens; E. P. Howell, of Georgia, for Consul at Manchester; H. P. Kernochan, tor Naval Officer at New Orleans; Louis McMullen, tor Appraiser at New York;. James 0. Henderson, for Collector of Internal Revenue ot (he Eleventh Indiana District; J. T. Magraw, for Collector of Internal Revenue for West Virginia, and C. T. Russell, for Consul at Liverpool. The Republican Senators had decided to resist the removal of Republican officers whose terms have not expired and who have not resigned, except in cases where cause for removal was assigned, which in their judgment was, sufficient to justify removal of incumbents. Consuls have no fixed term, and may be removed at any time by consent ot ttie Senate, but' not without such consent. It is understood that) he Consuls, at Hamburg,Manchester, Liverpool and Athens, whose successors were nominated, had not resigned. If is anticipated by Democratic Senators that there will be a renewal next winter of the long and tedious debates which occurred some years ago in respect to the tenure of office Jaw. A message was received from the President, withdrawing the nomination of Alexander R. Lawton for the Russian Mission. This withdrawal was the result ot an objection by Senator Edmunds to the confirmation. The Senator held that the appointee’s political disabilities had never been removed. The Georgia Senators responded that he had received a full pardon from President Johnson in 1867. Senator Edmunds insisted that this did not remove the political disabilities. He quoted section 3of tho fourteenth amendment. The Sortions which he held to apply to this case are: o person shall hold any office un ler the United States who, having previously taken an oath as an officer ot the United States to support the Constitution of the United States,shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid and comfort to the enemies thereof: but Congress may, by a vote of twothirds of each house, remove such disability. Then the Georgia Senators contended that Gen. Lawton had never taken an oath to support the Constitution of the United States; and that the oath be took was a mere oath of allegiance. But the Republicans seemed determined to defeat the confirmation, so the nomination was withdrawn. The President and Secretary of State will examine the question of law carefully before acting further in the matter. TheSecretary of State is understood to hold that the pardon granted by Johnson removes the disability. If the President agrees with him. Gen. Lawton will be apnointed Minister to Russia, This now seems probable.