Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1886 — THE MESSAGE IN THE SENATE. [ARTICLE]

THE MESSAGE IN THE SENATE.

Edmunds Likens It to One of King Charles t I.—Referred to a Committee. When the message had been read in the Senate, Mr. Edmunds arose and said that it reminded him of the communications of King Charles I. to the British Parliament. The Pri sident, he said, had, unintentionally, no doubt, entirely misstated the question involved between himself and the Senate. Continuing, the Senator said: I think I am safe in spying that it is the first time in the history of the Republic that tiny President of the United States has undertaken to interfere with the deliberations of either House of Congress on questions pending before them otherwise than by messages on the state of the Union, which the Constitution commands him to make from time to time. This message Is devoted solely to a question for the Senate itself, in regard to itself, that it has under consideration. That is its singularity. I think it will strike reflecting people in this country as somewhat extraordinary, if, in these days of reform, anything at all can be thought extraordinary. The Senate of the United States, in its communications to the heads of departments—not his heads of departments, but the heads of departments created by law—directed them to transmit certain official papers, and that is all. The President of the United States undertakes to change the question into a consideration by the Senate of hfs reasons or motiv es for putting a civil officer, as it might be called,“under arrest” —with which the Senate has not undertaken in any way to make any question at all. By every message he has sent to this body—and they are all public—he has asked the Senate to advise and consent to the removal of one officer and tho appointment of another. That is what ho has done, and the Senate iu calling for those papers—to say nothing of wider considerations about any deficiencies in the Department of Justice—is asked to remove these officers, without knowing the condition of the administration of their offices. Mr. Edmunds moved that the President’s message be referred to tho Judici try Committee. Mr. Harris, of Tennessee, remarked that, for reasons to which he could not then refer, he had no desire to discuss the matter involved, and moved that.the message be printed and laid on the table—the usual course, he said. After,a" little parrying between the two Senators the motion Edmunds was agreed to and the message was sent to the Judiciary Committee. •