Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1885 — GRAVE SENATORS. [ARTICLE]

GRAVE SENATORS.

Work in 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 in 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 th® Secretary’s desk. On motion of Mr. Sherman, 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, Plpmb, Miller of New York, Cockrell, Harrison, and Payne. The President 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 Shepperd, at Waverly, Iowa; Bayard S. Gray, at Portland, Ind.; Thomas B. French, at Alexandria, La. ;i Charles E. Cook, at McPherson, Kan.; G. Magion Moore, at Pleasanton, Kan. The Committee on Postoffices made a favorable report on the nomination at 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 nominatious that had been submitted. Among those which were not acted upon were the following: W. W. Lang, of Texas, for Consul at Hamburg; A EL Gross, of Pennsylvania, for Consul at Athens; E. P. Howell, of Georgia, for Consul at Manchester; Hi P. Kernochan, for Naval Officer at New Orleans; Louis McMullen, for Appraiser at New York; James O. Henderson, for Collector of Internal Revenue of the Eleventh Indlana.District; J. T. Magraw, foniCollector of Internal Revenue for West Virginia, and C. T. RusseH, 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 whete 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 of the Senate, but not without such consent. It is understood that the Consuls at Hamburg. Manchester, Liverpool and Athens, whose successors were nominated, had not resigned. It 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 law. A message was received from the President withdrawing the nomination of Alexander R. Lawton for the Russian Mission. This withdrawal was the result of an objection by Senator Edmunds to the confirmation. The Senator held that the appointee’s political disabilities had never been, removed. Ths 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 3 of the fourteenth amendment. The portions which he held to apply to this case are* No person shall hold any office-under the United States who; having previously taken an oath as an officer of 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 he took was a mere oath of allegiance. But the Republicans seemed determined to defeat the confirmation, so the nomination wks withdrawn. The President and Secretary of State will examine the Question of law carefully before acting further in the matter. The Secretary of State is understood to hold that the pardon granted by Johnson removes rhe disability. If the President agrees with him, Gen. Lawton will be appointed Minister to Russia. This now seems probable.