On December 21,1886, President Cleveland
renominated him, pointing out that he had been in actual
occupation of the office for four months, managing its affairs
with such ability as to remove "much of the opposition to his
appointment which has heretofore existed." In conclusion, the
President confessed "a desire to cooperate in tendering to our
colored fellow-citizens just recognition." This was a shrewd
argument. The Republican majority in the Senate shrank from what
might seem to be drawing the color line, and the appointment was
eventually confirmed; but this did not remove the sense of
grievance in Washington over the use of local offices for
national party purposes. Local sentiment in the District of
Columbia is, however, politically unimportant, as the community
has no means of positive action.*
* It is a singular fact, which contains matter for deep
consideration, that the District of Columbia, the national
capital, is the only populated area in the civilized world
without any sort of suffrage rights.
In the same month in which President Cleveland issued his
memorable special message to the Senate on the Tenure of Office
Act, he began another struggle against congressional practice in
which he was not so fortunate. On March 10, 1886, he sent to
Congress the first of his pension vetoes. Although liberal
provision for granting pensions had been made by general laws,
numerous special applications were made directly to Congress, and
congressmen were solicited to secure favorable consideration for
them.
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