Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1878-07-13
SERIOUS ERROR.

President Hayes did q very impolitie.
II not q very unwise act. In suspendins
Collector Arthur and Naval Officer Cor
nell from their positions In the New
York Custom.houss on Thursday. In
doing so he has violated the spirit, II not
the letter. OF the Tenure Of Office Act.
which he has sworn to execute to the
best Of his ability. That act expressly
provides that no officer to whose tenure
the confirmation Of the Senate Is nsess-
sary. shall be removed. except with the
consent Of the confirming power. 1t
does, indeed, authorize the President to
suspend such officer for cause. when
Congress IL not in session, and IL Is this
clause OF the set which Mr. Hayes
has taken advantage Of in removing
Msssrs. Arthur and Cornell. In doing
Il. however. he has grossly violated the
spirit OF the law. and unless he can
show good cause which has arisen since
the adjournment Of Congress, his action
will tend to solidiiy the opposition
against the Administration In the Senate
Chamber.
Whatever may have been the Presi-
dents motive. the removal Of these Of
ncials Just at this juncturs is unforsu-
nate. 4 most important election Is to
be held in New York in November next,
and IL there ever was . time when the
friends OF the Republican party should
cling closely together and march solidly
on to victory. 1t Is now. The removal
Of these men in the very face Of q sena-
torial prohibition. will place In the
hands Of Senator Conklins and other
opponents Of the Administration . pow
sriul lover which they will not fail to
use to advantage. II casts . cloud.
too, over the fair fame OF the President
as Q Con Institutional officer. II places
him before the country in the same po-
sition occupied BY Andy johnson. OF
dsfying Congress. The tenure OF or
fee Law Was passed to prevent johnson
from abusing his power OF patronage
From his day until now. no President
has disobeysd its provisions, or taken
advantage Of the absence Of Congress
from the capital to violate its spirit.
Last Winter Mr.. Hayes attempted tc
remove these same men from Office. and
after Q long and bitter struggle. the Sen
ate OF the United States refused to allow
him to do 80. conkling was victorious,
and Arthur and Cornell remained II
their positions despite the Prssidsntia
di~spleasurs. Congress adjourned. snt
in less than . month Mr.. Hayes pro
cesds to set asids the decree Of the Sen
a.e. The result will be that neIt De
csmbsr. when Congress rsassembles,
the Senate will take its revenge by rein
stating Arthur and Cornell in the New
York Custom.houss. Mr.. Hayes may
think himself strong enough to try is
sues with the Senate. but rejecting men
In his own party think otherwise. In
the meantime his motives in thusdsfying
the power OF Congress will be misrep-
resented by his enemies. within the par
~ and without. and the inevitable result
will b the weakening Of the Presidents
friends and q corresponding strength
sning Of tho Conkling faction.
This action has created an issue In
New York State which will utterly de-
morslizs the Republican party. and In
the midst Of the confusion Ii Is not al
all unlikely that the Democrats will step
70 the front and elect O Senator to sue
coed Conkling. II is always unpleas-
ant for the Nrws to c~riticiss the acts Of
this Administration. for We believe hal
President Hayes in general does Just
what he thinks is right. But he Ii
liable 10 error. like other men. and We
greatly fear that this suspension OF the
New York Custom-houss officials vii
prove q serious error to the Republican
party throughout the country.