Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-18
THE NEW YORK HERALD AND MR..
REDFIELD,S CONFIRMATION.

THE NEW YORK HERALD AND MIR.
REDFIELD's CONFIRMATION.
Our readers will remember that few days
ago we submitted few remarks touching the
confirmation or Mr. Redfeld as collector of
the port of New York. Much to our sur
prise, we find that the New York Herald has
entirely misconstrued and misrepresented our
views. The Herald of Monday has the follow
ing: "
"GIvISG UP THE SHlp.-The Washington
Sentinel, in very curious, equivocal sort Of an
article, gives up the ship. 1t backs down, and
consents to the policy of confirming Redfeld,
and other obnoxious appointments, on the
ground that it is not the business of the Senate
to look behind the personal fitness of the nomi-
nee for the Office to which he is nominated.
Call you this backing your friends?' Call
you this an independent support of the cabi-
net or is the Sentinel and the House swal-
lowed up with the cabinet, the House, and the
lobby, in the five hundred millions Of the
spoils? Ifthis be the case-if the Sentinel,
as the organ of the Senate, and by their direc-
ton, knocks under and goes over to the spoils
platform-every man of them has yet to an
swer before the people. The weak sisters of
the House and the Senate will see where the
land lies between this time and the year 1856.
Let them put that in their pipe and smoke
it"
We have never consented to the confirmation
Of Mr.. Red6eld's nomination, and we have
never denounced Mr.. Red6eld's confirmation.
We have done neither the one thing nor the
other. We have rebuked those who sought to
force Mr.. Redfeld's confirmation through the
Senate BY threats of party punishment, and we
have given expression to our disapprobation
Of the course of those who have undertaken to
instruct the Senate in the discharge Of its
duties in that behalf. No press in this country
has opposed the removal Of Judge Bronson
with more frmness than the Sentinel has ex-
hibited and in the very article which the
New York Herald undertakes to criticise, we
expressed our willingness to urge the rejection
of Mr.. Redfeld's nomination, if such an act
could cure the fragrant wrongs and grevious
errors which had been committed in New Y ork.
We did not say, as the Herald represents us
to have said, that it is not the business Of the
Senate to look behind the personal fitness Of
the nominee for the Office to which he is nomi-
mated" On the contrary, we stated expressly
that both branches of the appointing power
should look to the dntecedents, in order to de-
termine the merits of any applicant for official
station" In making this statement we thought
that We had clearly and distinctly contended
that the history, the past conduct, the former
services of an applicant for Office should be
looked to in forming a Judgment as to his fit
ness for an official post. But the Herald
seems to have been seized with a caviing spirit;
but vet we do not think that it will undertake to
deny that what we have said is sound and true.
II there is anything in Mr.. Redfelds's ante
cedents which render his nomination one not
fit to be made--if he has, since his appoint
mcnt to the New York custom-h house, exercised
the authority vested in him in an improper
manner--then we say that his head should be
brought under the axe Of the guillotine If he
has been freesoiler, or if he is now acting in
concert with freesoiers, giving them aid and
comfort by the means which his official position
places at his disposal, hedeserves decapitation :;
for no feesoer or freesoil sympathizer should
be permitted TO disgrace the democratic party
by his presence, to say nothing of holding
Office by democratic appointment.
But we never could see or understand the
sense or sagacity which prompts some men tc
run their heads against stone wall. We
never could see or,understand the advantages tt
be derived from violent struggle on false
issue, for nothing can be gained in such {
struggle. When men have real true, sub
stantial basis to stand on, they should be slow
TO shift their position, lest they plant their feet
unawares on slippery ground. When men have
n cause which commands the sympathy Of hon
orabe men, and when they are bearing up thai
cause triumphantly, it seems to our weak vision
as sheer and naked folly to stop short in then
victorious career and strike out into a new patti
which may lead 10 an ambush. Under the in
fuence of such sentiments as these, we deter
mined to leave Mr.. Redfeld's confirmation oil
rejection to the Senate, where it properly be
longs.
Another. consideration operated on US. II
was this. good cause may be damaged By
indiscrect arguments, By false issues, BY impru.
dent indications. The best cause has yulnera-