National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-03-25
FORTY.SlXTH CONGRESS.


history and experience Of the Senate went to ds-
approve the proprety OF tho movement; Inc
msge and proprley o. I'VE 9s,s" 'i In Mil
col rattle and made rewards for party services but
that those who held them should be allowed 10
retain them on their merits.
This was to be reversed. All the people OF the
country were informed that there was TO be tran
scendent reform-a doctrine of vast wholesome
ness and importance in this-nnmcly, that public
officers in general should be allowed to continue
in place and encouraged TO remain, aud should be
upheld In position so long rs personal character
was untarished and the incumbent able TO
discharge the duties Of Office. But in the very
midst OF confirming to the public conscience mere
came FOR the first time pioneer experiment., Apie
and conscientious officers, proficient in AL their
duties. were to be removed at the behest OF party
cnpidity, that the Offices might be subject 10 the
v0rncity and hunger OF those that were supposed
To I've entitled 10 reward. lie expressed his regret
Tint men oflong experience and meritorioos char
hcter should be thus displaced. , a.
Mr. BAYARD said he was impressed with the
speech Of the Senator from Rhode Island (Nlr. An
th0nyl IL contained matters Of historical inter
est. lie regarded rs dangerous and degrading the
rewarding of partisans with Government places.
il had entered the civil service Of the country and
luless u should he in great degree modified IL
would increase, to the dctrment of good govern
inent. The bcslownl Of Oliee should be In consid-
cmtion of the welfare OF tho country, the dignity
nf the Government, and the purity of our insutu-
tons.
The power disappointment TO Offices in this body
had fallen to his party. lie did not understand
that 1t contemplated nry such slaughter Of the IN
noeents as was contemplated by those on the oppo.
site side Observation had shown that instead OF
Federal offices having been bestowed for tie good
Of the country, with capable and honest ncnm-
bents they had been used for many years for the
benefit OF single party. Those here WHO nov
complained never neglected TO fill the Offices Win
their party friends
lie said that many applications for Office came
Rom men of oil parties who had been removed
heretofore, and they simply asked for restoration
70 the Senate. Their removal took place since 1Sol
The majority ofthe Senate recognized full capacity,
Integrity, and intelligence in the filling OF ofhces
OF This body
In conclusion Mr. Bayard said he did not dccry
nartisanshp In the citizen, but public officers must
not use the facilities afforded by their positions to
further personal or party ends.
Mr.. CONRL1NG asked TO have read the resolution
under discussion explaining that he desired 1t, no
as prelude to his own remarks, but as an appen-
dix 10 those Of the Senator from Delaware.
the rend q" Inc ,st @ of Inc S Senate u he wished
10 place Oh record his denial Of every part OF the
assertion OF the gentleman from Delaware regard
Neither that gentleman nor his subordinate officers,
during the sessions of the Senate, had engaged III
Mr. Gorham Ind acted rs secretary of the National
Republican Executive Committee, and as such
Ind aided In distributing campaign documents
DC
His action in this respect interfcred in no way
win his official duties and u he was to be de.
barred on account OF his holding an ofiice from
exercising his political rights and duties as cit
len, every Senator or other public servant would
by the same logic be restrained from working, out
side OF the times and place of his official duty for
the success of the party which he believed in. He
entered his protest against the doctrines that by
entering The employ Of the Government the Sec;
rotary OF the Senate or any officer forfeited
his right TO personal political action. Mr.. Conk'
ling referred 10 the action of the House in choos
chairman Of the Democratic Executive Committee
of Ohio lie did norcondcmn their action in this
regard, but protested against the removal OF Mr.
Gorham for doing precisely what Mr.. Thompson
had been rewarded for doing.
continuing, he said he came here in 1861, at tht
call OF Abraham Lincoln, in great emergency
N son M
The employees but seats of Senator'S who did no
care 10 claim them They We're absent not lik'
those hidden 10 the wedding. described In Scrip
lure whose varied engagements excused them, bu
nll detained by one public engagement The Sen
ate at That time only made q change In one Office
that of Sergeant-at.Arms. Now II appears that thu
men who in 1861 disappeared from the scene o
their former usefulness are back, demanding to ID
put in the Language OF court OF equity In Statl quo
Mr.. Conkling exhibited list which he said con
lnined the names OF many Democratic employee
who Ind been returned all along by the Republican
Senate; but now the behests of party spirit dc
manded sweeping change according to politica
lines. This course would naturally lead to repr
tnls when the tables should again be turned an
lhe party at present IN the majority be again, re
manded TO the minority. Unless he WAS mistakes
the real annus OF this proposed acton could nc
be hidden from the people behind any thin veil 9
Mr. BiyARD expressed his surprise that the Ser
Nor from New York tNr. Conklng) should fail I
hee tie difference between the right ofan officer c
the Government 10 participate In action ut I'll
hustings and the right of any Senator or Repre-
ence to elective officers, who represented the eb
and flow of the public VIII, but in regard to mini
teIial officers, men who should be selected for III
efficiency with which they performed thel dutic
Though the Senator from New York had ende0N
ored to draw distinction between the officer al
the man, yet the fact could not be escaped that NJ
GOrhnm's hand signed the circular calling for col
Tibutons 10 support himself and his party
power. II would not do TO class Senators and Rel
resentaiives. responsible TO the people who ele
them for their political acts, in the same eatego
nsregafds duty with merely mnisirative officer
Explaining his reference to applications made
him by former officials TO be restored, Mr.. Bnyni
said they were not persons who had rebellt
against the Government, but who had always bee
loyal; and. moreover, two of the gentlemen we
residents of the District, and were thus unable
Influence votes for either party. Therefore II W
an unjust inference to suppose he had referred
Lost Cause lie was sorry that he had lna(lve
tcnty given an opportunity To bring into this boz
memories so uni happy, and which he had HOP,
were no more TO be made matters Of discussion
tween parties here.
He recognized the efforts of the present Admin
tratiOn toward civil service reform and knew he
little approval they lad met with from the Senat
from New York fNir. Conkling) who constant
here and elsewhere, gave evidence of his dlsbel
in the doctrines and rules of such reform set for
IN the famous circular of tic President lie cit
the case of the Western postmaster whose name
had forgotten, who, resisting The demand for q co
iIibullom for party purposes, insisted upon folio
ing ont the spirit of the Presidents order. that 81
scIptons, If made, should be voluntary, and sa
this case was IN his mind when the Hon. senat
from Rhode Island tMr. Anthony rose to make
very elaborate speech; and II was because the
We're reasons arising from The action OF the prese
Secretary which were not applicable TO his pret
ccssoTs whose retention through various admin
iInti9ns Ind been referred TO by the Senator fro
Rhode Island, that lie (Mr. Bayard) made the 81
pcmCnt he did, for the truth OF history.
Iheldea was perniclous that merely administ
tive officers, who form the machinery of the q,
eTnmcnt. should 10 encouraged 10 aspire 10
same degree OF political control enjoyed By o1lc
rGpGFfsSnnng the Pe9pe by ELECTION ct, In the wo
try to control the elections Of O country cuts up