New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-01
MR. POBESOY AND TIE HOUSE.

The House of Representatives has, by
party vote, referred 10 the Judiciary Commit
tee the question whether Secretary Robson
can and ought to be impelchcd OF high
crimes and misGcmcanOrs. The Commit
tee which has subjected him for more
than six months to the pangs OF IN
vestigation; which has turned the light
of day in on every public, domestic,
business, and official relation; which has taken
to pieces his bank accounts and traced every
thread back years before he became Secretary;
which has gone over his private transactions
with microscope and put his subordinatcs ON
the rack TO give evidence against themselves
and him-the Committee which has, III short,
scanned his whole official history find pretcXts
for prosecution, reports nearly score OF volumes
of testimony and hopes it has found basis
for Impeachment. Another Committee thought
at one time it had discovered the prize for
winch the first Committee had sought and
laborcd and praycd-an oficnse clearly within
the technical language of the law-but its
report is not yet submitted. The question
whether enough can be proved to disQualify
the Secretary for further ohcc-holding
is to be the subject OF grave deIibcra-
alton by the Judiciary C0mmittee-with III
structions to catch him if they can.
The spectacle of the general Democratic
caoeruess to bring down another Cabinet
minister has, of course, nothing to do with
the question Of his guilt or innocence. If he
has violated tie law, ne must be impeached
bv tbc House if he is shown 10 be guilty of
the charges raised against him, the Senate
cannot escape the duty which will lie before
it of convcting him promptly and turning him
ont to the world, branded as one OF the few
men who can never again serve thor country
in any place of honor, trust or profit. But OF
ore thing the members of the Democratic
House NAV rest assured-that they will find
il a Door political speculation to impeach MIR.
RobcsOn, either in this way or formally,
and then attempt TO postpone his trial
until December. There are some Demo-
crafts. no doubt, to whom it would seem very
shrcwd device to swing Mr.. Robson up on
the gibbet and leave him hanging
there between Heaven and earth, for
the rest of the campaign, to point the
morals of Democratic orators and sym
b0lize the prevalence of Republican cor
rntion. No, gentlemen. If Mr. Robson is to
be accused now, he must be tried now. A
Cabinet Minister resting under charges OBJ
tanned by long months of persistent and hostile
investigation, and refused an opportunity to
defend himself, his good name meanwhile at
the mercy of the winds of a bitter campaign
and q mark for the gibes of every reckless
sheet and loud-mouthed reformer-this would
be a disgrace TO our politics and blot on orr
whole government The Office of Cabinet
Minister has not gained in repute of late, but
il has not yet fallen so low that Secretary is
not to have the privilege demanded by the
meanest offender against the laws Fair
play for all men, and at least fair
play for the men who occupy the highest
places in our gift, who represent us to the
rest of the world, whose places are honorable,
if they sometimes are not. If the House can
find substantial grounds of accusation against
Mr. Robson, and can hold its scattering ranks
long enough to conclude his trial, let it go on.
No one can deny that their right is here their
duty. But the whole decent sentiment of the
country will sustain the Republicans in the