Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-08-16
Fair and Foul Blows.

The President, in strict pursuance
of1aw, has suspended the Collector
,anl Navel Officer of New York, and
the supporters of Senator Conkllng
burst into denunciatlon of the act as q
gross insult to the Senate, and
treachery, q defiance, stab in the
back, a foul blow, an outrage, per-
;secution, and every other kind Of in
famous proceeding toward the Senator,
This is all very foolish. The Presi-
dent does not insult the Senate by do
ing any act for which the law express
ly provides. The law that authorizes
the suspension Of certain officers is
piust as obligatory as that which en-
powers the Senate to advise and con-
sent to appointments. The action of
the Senate does not bind that of the
President. The rejection Of 1 nomi-
snation does not change his opinion
that the public interest requires its
confirmation, and in tie service of
that interest it is his duty to do all
that lawfully lies in his power to pro-
4curo the change. If the Senate be in
session, the only lawful way that he
can fulfil his duty is to make another
nomination. But if he has reason to
know that farther nominations will be
equally abortive, he may honorably
and for obvious reasons decline to
make them. But the moment that the
adjournment Of the Senate gives
him the opportunity to dis
charge his duty, he is bonorably
bound to do it. The intent of the Ten
ure-of-ollice Act plainly is that the
President shall suspend for causes that
he deemed satisfactory, but shall not
remove without consent of the Senate
In the present case his action in law
fully making the change is no more
AN insult to the Senate than the Sen
ate's rejection Of the nomination oil
Mr.. Roosevelt was an insult tc the
President.
This being the truth with regard Ia
the Senate, how is it with the Senator!
What has Mr.. Conkllng rightfully to
do with the New York Custom-house
{or with any other national offices in
the State? 1t is his duty, as Sena-
tor of the United States, to advise up
on the nominations that may be made
to those offices. That is the whole oil
his duty. When he has done that his
relation to the offices is rigAtfully
that Of any other citizen. Interior
,encc with them in any way would be
gross impertlnence upon his part, and
the use Of their patronage III any way
whatever for his personal or political
benefit would be wrong to the pub.
1ic which 1t would be the Pre8idont's
duty peremptorily to remedy. The
Custom-house is abusiness institution
designed for the common benefit. It's
officers are agents of the executive
not Of the legislative, branch Of thu
government. The prostitution of theil
patronage to the service of any MAJ
is elbow" and ga foul blow" "al
insult" "a treachery," and "a def
sues Ga stab in the back, san out
rage" and ca persecution" toward al
the people for whose benefit, the ofIic
exists and the correction Of such al
abuse is not a blow against any man
but the assertion Of q public right
.3'here is 10 more reason that the pat
ronage ofthe New York Custom-hous
should be used for the advantage 0
Mr.. Conkling, than for that Of an
other citizen Of New York, and W
shall not fail to denouncc such a
abuse wherever it may appear an
whatsoever it may be meant to benefit
TO contend that the changes are
blow directed at Mr.. Conkling is {
admit that he is in condition to re
ceive such blow. In other words
is to grant that the Custom-house wa
Hrun,' in the interest Of his reelection
If that be 50, the elbow is precisel
that which is struck in the court
every day at those who have propert
that does not belong to them. N
AopeSt man would say that it is bio
to deprive another Of an illicit adval
tago, If gamester wishes to pla
with loaded dice, it is not Il blow I
require that he shall play fair. l
as is implied by the cutlery, the con
mand Of the Custom-house was essel
tial to NJ. Conkling's reelection, an
the changes, not by pelverting IL
patronage to favor another cRndidat
but by preventing that perversion
his favor, should lead to his defeat,
would certainly be blow to his O
pirations, but one that would lie NJ
only justifable, but one that ought
be struck. For undoubtedly evel
right-minded man will agree that il
candidate cannot be elected to Il
Senate without the aid of the Custor
house and the methods that are know
by that name, he ought not to
elected.
Those who most loudly raise Il
cry OF foul blow forget that they Co
denim themselves. The charge is tn