The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-13

column.
The Board of Aldermen did not organize last
| evening, for want of quorum. Among other reso
lutions adopted by the Board of Assistants was one
appropriatpg the third floor Of the new Court Hous'
| to the Marine Court. They also changed the rout'
of the Second Avenue Railroad at its lower terminus
giving the right to lay the rail along South street
instead of Front street as granted heretofore. NJ
| other business transpred Of any importance, ant
| the Board adjourned until the first Monday in
| August.
| Opening OF the Campaign OF the Hard Shells
Against tho Administration.
A letter from the Hon. James Maurice, Mem
| br of Congress for the first congressional dis
trict of this State, to his constituents, will be
found in another part of to-day's HERALD, and
will doubtless attract no little attention. Mr..
Maurice is a hard she'll of the straightest kind,
and i from the same locality as Mr.. Cooley, of
the State Legislature. His letter is written in
explanation of the fact that ne has had no hand
in the appointments made by the President in
| his district, which we are induced to suppose
| Mr. Maurice has no very great opinion Of
| Without entering into discussion as to the
merits or otherwise Of the persons appointed to
| Office in that district. we must express our APP
| probation Of the principle of not per-
| hitting members of Congress to dictate
who shall be the recipients of federal
patronage. The constitution has devolved the
duty of such appointments upon the President
alone subject to the approval of the Senate,
and we hold that it is not in the power Of any
President, faithful to his high position and his
cath Of Office to delegate this duty to members
of Congress OF divide with them the respon-
sibility which attaches to it. So far, then on
principle and looking at Mr.. Maurice case by
itself we can see nothing in the facts to Justify
complaint 4 member Of Congress is elected
for specific duties-his theatre is the floor of
the House Of Representatives and he has
quite as much as he can do if he properly and
faithfully attends TO his duties there. To
give him the control of all the federal
officers in his district, is to invest him with
the whole power Of the government: so far as
his locality is concerned, and to open door to
corruption of the most fragrant character.
But, unfortunately in looking ct the case
presented by Mr. Maurice, we arc afraid we sec
the exception ard not the rule. If our infor-
nation from Washington is correct and it is
based upon the uncontradicted statements every
where made since the 4th of March, the dictum
ofccrtain members of Congress has been para
mount in large majority Of cases. We have
heard Of instances Of members Of Congres from
this State" barnburners" and softsn-publcly
Boosting that only such appointments as they de-
\ l. Al u. -
they INDUCED in no idle talk We have been told
that more than one head of department informed
applicants for Office highly backed mp by their
fcllow-citizens, that was necessary they should
get the endorsement of the member Of Congress
from their district, or their chances of success
would scarcely warrant their remaining in
Washington to await the issue In fact the
impress ion has prevailed throughout the country
that now, more than at any previous period Of
our history, congressional influence prevailed
at the executive departments, and that to be
a member of Congress was to have under lock
ana key oil the patronage Of the district where
the member resided.
We are fully aware that in the distribution
q some forty or City thousand Offices, it would
re perfectly impossible for any President to
rely upon his own acquaintance with the hosts
Of applicants Information as to their charac-
ter and standing must be obtained from the To-
calities where they are known. And il is be-
cause of this difficulty in obtaining always cor
rect and unprejudced Information that we con-
slider great allowances should he made for mis-
takes and improper appointments. In procur-
ing this information the President very natu-
rally doubtless, considers the position Of de-
mooratic member of Congress as an endorse
ment that be is trusted in the district he repre-
| sents, and. therefore, that he i entitled to
credit in any recommendations and representa-
tions he may make as 10 individual applicants
for Office Such advice and recommendations
are perfectly legitimate to acortain extent, and
If confined TO proper and reasonable limits must
be Of great assistance In facilitating the distri
button Of Office The limits, however. should
be simply taking the opinion Of member Of
Congress as that Of a gentleman entitled to Gre
dence and respect but If opposed to the opinions
Of other gentlemen Of undoubted character, then
Of no more weight than that Of one mans opinion
| against that Of another VI other words, we
! DO not consider hat The position Of a member
| Of Cougres. gives him any righ, whatever to
dictate vino shall receive Office but simply
| should be viewed az endorsing his character a.
| a respectable man in The district where he lives
whose opinion should he outited to .ust the
same attention as any other respectable iali-
yidgal and not a jot more.
Has this been tho rule adopted by thc oxgsQ.
tive departments We call upon TIE Wasling
ton Union to speak upon tits point. Lot us
know if recommendations Of msnbor3 of Con
gross have heretofore only boon attended 70, ia
this State for instance, when they were cf That
soft stripe which II il said Mr. Marcy favors
WIZ a n lhaE III. Mnnrinnla rncrr,t.nnl ati.n.