The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-26
the Was HIN ton Sentinel on the Confirma-
tion or Rcdfcld.

dreadfully about Redfield's confirmation. A
few DAYS ago il determined ito leave Mr.. Red
fields confirmation or rejection to the Senate,
where it properly belongs !" and when called
to account for this astounding abandonment of
its principles it evinces the most woeful igno-
rance # the nature of the contest which that
appointment will involve The only just causes
for the rejection of Mr.. Redfeld would seem to
be, Accord to the Sentinel. free soil antece-
dents of his, or free soil appointments made by
him as Collector. Now, every clear-headed
man must see that the arguments growing out
of Mr.. Redfield's personal antecedents or recent
conduct are the least important considerations
to be taken into account by the Senate True
Mr.. Redfeld was and is tainted with free soil.
to his proclivities but in this respect he is no
worse than half Of the nominees of the present
administration and to advocate his rejection
on these grounds only is to court defeat and to
lose sight of the only principle of abiding i'm
portance involved in his case 1t matters but
little to the country whether or no single
traitor hold office for a time under government;
rights of the States should be maintained, and
the interference of federal officers in local
State politics, as the present Cabinet did
by trying to build up the Van Buren, dy-
nasty on federal patronage should be prompt
ly checked, once and forever. This is
the real point involved in Redfeld's case.
The Senate has not only the antecedents of the
Collector but those of the Collectorship to exam
ine--not only the character of Redfeld but that
u the administration pronounce upon-not so
much the character of the man before he
was appointed to study as the means employed
to make any appointment at all necessary. For
ifRedfeld is confirmed the act will Involve an
approval of Bronson's dismissal, of Guthrie's
letters, and of the great heresy that the federal
Executive may interfere in local State politics
and foster pet faction with its own patronage
All these considerations must be weighed by the
Senate before they are properly fitted to dis
cuss Mr. Redfeld's merits at all. They must
first ask how the Office came to be vacant so
that it became necessary to appoint any one;
and it, in the course of that inquiry, they
should discover that the vacancy which they
are invited to confirm Redfeld in filling was
caused by an arbitrary exercise of federal pow
er, in clear violation of an established though
unwritten principle of our government, and
that thoroughly competent officer was dis
missed because he would not brook interference
by the federal government between him and
his subordinates, them we take it, the Senate
will be entirely absolved from the duty of ask
ing a single question about Mr.. Rediield's
character. They will he bound to declare that
the vacancy into which he stepped was wrong
ly created; and that, whatever be bis merits, he
is an interloper and usurper to confirm whom
would be to sanction the illegal prescription OF
his predecessor. 1t will be their bounden
duty to turn to the Executive and say.
j" You appointed Collector for the port of
New York when you filed the other
Offices; his name was before the country for
some time. and each Of us, in his individual
capacity. formed an opinion respecting that APP
poiDtment: why is not his name here presented
to us for confirmation! What has become of
Collector Bronson9' This question would bring
out the true issue, and we trust it will be put:
until it is. time spent in talking or thinking
about Redield is time wasted. We can only
compare it to the elaborate advocacy of the
merits Of will and the claims of legatee be-
fore it is ascertained that the testator is dead
mere speculative, pointless discussion.
With the course of the Washington Sentinel
we have nothing to do. We understood that
the Senate gave its printing to the proprietor
of that paper because it had assumed to be an
exponent of sound Union doctrine on many oc-
casions, and notably in the case of Judge Bron-
sons removal. The language it held on that
occasion, and the severity with which it replied
to the Unions threats on the subject of Red
fields confirmation, seemed to us its best claim
to the enviable position it occupied at Wash
ington. Now it has changed it's note. 1t
abandons the stronghold and makes sham de-
fence on an untenable point. Are we to infer
from this that the Senate has itself chopped
round before the gentle breeZes of administra-
tive favor and official corruption? Is the Sen
tinel only the instrument of its masters in
sides. The vote for printer and the
vote on Redfield's confirmation will be govern
ed by precisely the same principles. Nothing
will be changed but the names. Those who
voted for Armstrong in plant obedience to the
will Of the Cabinet, will probably give M.
Marcy fresh instance Of their reliable supple
ness by supporting Redfeld. Those who car
ried in Beverley Tucker by triumphant ma
jority will reject Redfeld to man, unless, az
we said the prospect Of place, money, or other
favors, has softened their hearts, and led them
to desert their principle. When Beverley
Tucker was elected shout of JOY rung through
the country at the thought that, spite Of almost
universal corruption a spols-jobbing Executive,
and a miserably weak House Of Representa-
tives, the Senate was true to itself, true to its
and true to the country. Some
weeks have passed since then. The vote on
Redfeld's case will show how the heart of the
Senate stands now.