The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-04-03
roroRED ABovE HIS DESERTS.

HoHoRED ABOVE HIS DESERTS
II il an unpleasant duty. sometimes imposed
on q party journal, to condemn the conouc' u
! nnblic Official who has been shamefully dere-
lict in the discharge Of his official duties ana
especially is it the case when the unworthy Oh
6ciol belongs to the same political party; but
when tho necessity arises. we don't propose 70
sh;rk the responsibility. and the course pur-
sued by our late Delegate in Congress has oeen
such that he justly deserves the censure' as nc
is entitled to the contempts Of every man, woman
and child in Idaho No man ever made more
off small capital, or was moro generously
supported and backed by his friends than our
late Delegate. Col S. A. Merritt. Nominated
in the Spring of 1870, by the Democracy OF
Idaho Territory, for the highest Office within
the Gift of our people, they rallied to his sup
port and elected him by handsome major
ity. The WORLD, ms the party organ, accord
ed HIM a cheerful and hearty support; and
from our past acquaintance with the man. we
had every reason to expect that he would SO
discharge the duties Of his high office as to re-
fleet honor, not only upon himself. but upon the
party which elected him. During the first ses'
sion of Congress after he was elected we are
constrained to believe that he did attempt to
fulfill the expectations OF his party and his
friends: but when he was defeated for Il re-
nomination, last Spring. the whole character
Of the man appeared TO undergo change, and
his course during the late session of Congress
proved him an migrate, unworthy the confidence
or respect of his constituents or OF the Democ-
racy anywhere. The people of Boise county
asked only one favor at his hands, and that
was to secure a charter for the Bedrock Flum-
ing Company in Boise Basin; measure which
was of vital Importance to the material inter.
ests of the peopl,. Of this county, irrespective
of party The bill asked no grant OF lands or
subsidy in any shape, and could easily have
been passed had the matter been properly ut
tended TO- Colonel Merritt openly stated here,
a year ago, that had the maps and surveys
reached him in time the bill would have passed
at the second session of the Forty second Con-
gress, as the Committee on Mines and Mining,
of the House, after examining the maps, IN
formed him there could be no objection 10 the
bill, and it would have been reported fasorab!y
by them had the papers reached them ut an
earlier day. Notwithstanding his promises to
push the measure ut the next session, the bill
has never been heard Of since that time.
A year before the end Of his term our high.
toned, chivalrous. Delegate opened law Office
in Salt Lake City; and. having no further in
terest in Idaho. he undertook to reconstruct
the affairs OF Utah with view to an increase
Of litigation in that Territory, having an eye to
the prospective profits he might realize by for
warding the iniqnitous measures proposed by
Mexican and his carpetbas ring. Like Nast's
Grecley's coat-tai. Merritt clung tcnacio'isly 10
the tail Of Clagett's coat; and. If the Washington
correspondent of the Sacramento Union is 70 be
believed; renogrccd his Democratic principles.
if he ever entertained any, and, joining the
bread and butter brigade. threw his wcighty
influence in favor Of Grant and Wilson. This
doubtless accounts for Grants reelection for
how could he be elected If Merritt hadn't sup.
ported him. Clagett, Of Montana. being n
Radical, dyed in the wool. and man of some
intellect and talent, took the initiative in the
Utah matter, and while he was making his bit.
ter anti Nor non speech in the House. Merritt
was probably engaged in doing the heavy lob
by work. But be that as it may, whether the
odium Of the Utah bill attaches mostly to Cha.
gett or Merritt. we know that Idaho was most
disgracefuly neglected; and that it is the opn-
ion Of the people here that our late Delegate
was political "bilk' in every way. We have
heard that he repeatedly boasted Of what he
would do, to get even, as he called it. on the
people OF Idaho for not re.electing him-for
throwing him off," we believe, is his expires.
sion; and we don't deny but that he has kept
his word; but the immaculate Samuel will
scarcely undertake to show his face again
among hislate constituents, who will take care,
also, that his base treachery and ingratitude
shall be known in whatever new field he may
select as his basis for future political opera.
tons. We have heard, from all quarters, dur
ing the late session Of Congress, that no public
documents, of any character, were forwarded
to his constituents by Mr.. Merritt and we
have learned, recently, what became of those
supplied by the Government to the Idaho Del.
egate for distribution among our people, In.
afss0H ri H.. E.. 4: