The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-05-20

That the late Secretary of the Treasury and the
late administration to its expiration, less than ten
weeks ago. approved OF Gen. Merritt as an offieer
is well known, and it is nowhe suggested that any
citizen had petiHoned for his removal or that ofcia
dstn9uepsy OH his part Is tbs Tessan Of it. II tbs
place of Sn ex1eTercsd eiHcer in ths midst OF his
term fixed by law, i is proposed suddenly to put
man in who has had training for the POSITION ana
who cannot bs said to have any special ness for the
official duties.
In the inaugural Of President Garfield, delivered
on the 4th of March, stand these words:
"The civil service can never be placed on s
satisfactory basis until it is regulated by law
For the good Of the service Itself, for the pre-
teetion of those WHO ars intrstea with the sppr3
priation power. against waste OF Inns ana clstruc
ton OF pubic business, caused by inordinate pres
for place and for the protection of incumbeEts
against intrigue and wrong, shall at the proper
time ask Congress ~ hx the tenure Of the nlinor
Offices in the several executive departments ard
prescribe grounds upon which removals eilsH be
made during the terms for which the ineumhents
have been appointed"
How good that distinction is which would make
major offices prey to intrigue and wrong, and
shis.s iftinct ofces from like havoc, and whe'he
the Co6ctorships ST ths FeHhtty sltoull BE ong to
the exposed or to the protected Class; hecd Got be
decided here Assuming Gen. Merritt TO re an
officer of average fitness and honesty, it
might be reasonably argued that all Sena-
tors should with aiaerty advise his ds-
placement for man of Obvious superiority:
possibly 1t might be said that all should advise the
selection in Geh Metfit's pace of who, with
out sup ror fitness; had rendered. his country, or
even his party, conspicuous ana exa t5d aeFYies.
The case in hand does not belong to either these
classes. The vocation Of Mr.. Robertson, and his
Legislative and professional experience and sur
roUndings do not denote superiority in The qualities,
the knowledge business habits and familiarity with
revenue, the zSs ana sSSts7n ef the United States
which might mako him inors cothpetent tn: n
Gen. Merritt to collect the vast reSenucs,
and administer the vast butiness Iey-
tanning to the port of New York Ger
tanly ne caLnot in this respect he held exception
to the rule Of right and consistency, on which the
constitution and the laws have placed the public
service. We know of personal or political service
9s o Ne% y so saEa m
in the midst Of the terra and given him as recon-
pehss
M. Robertson is reported b. the New York Trio.
ulle to declare that his nomination was reward
a"reward for his action as delegate to the Natloha
| Convention.
If Mr.. Robertson, in his action, was influenced by
sense of duty, if he voted and acted his honest
convictions 1t is difficult to see what claim he has
for any reward not to speak of such great reward.
The action OF which an estimate is thus invited IL
| understood to be this
! Mr.. Robertson and sixty-nine other men accepted
! from the State Convention certain trust They
sought and accepted the position Of agents or dele
gates to The National Convention to administer this
trust. The State Convention declared plainly the Stat
ed judgment and policy to be observed and supported
by those it commissioned To this declaration ali tho
/ selected as delegates gsve an implied consent. But
several of them, in additions made most specific per-
sona p edges and engagement to exert themselves
in good faith throughout to secure the nomination
i of Gen Grant
! They made this pledge as means of obtaining
| Their own appointment delegates, and they did,
as both personally know, claim their seats in the Ma
| tiona Convention upon the faith of their personal
| statements of their earnestness and fidelity. The
| obligation thus assumed understood to involve
the integrity much as the obligation of one who
receives proxy of a stockholder il a corporation
upon the pledge and promise to vote as his principal
won d vote.
Whether Mr.. Robertson was, or not, himself
| bound, not only by honor and implication, but by
expressly giving his word, becomes quite imaterial
in view of the reclaim made for him. 1t is insisted
that he organized the bolt this is to sag that he
! invited, persuaded and induced others whom he
! knew had given their word and had obtained their
seats by doing So to violate their word and betray,
not only the Republicans assembled in State Conven-
ton, but the Republicans of their districts well,
who had trusted in their honor. Whoever counses
and procures another to do dishonest or dshonor-
able act must share with that other the guilt, and
should share also the cdium Justly attaching to it.
We are therefore; all wholly Unable. upon what
ever ground we put it, TO geo any justification for
| ourselves should we become parties to using the
public trusts which belong to the people to fequite
/ such service in such NODES
But the appliances employed to effect the results
get new standards of responsibility and invade, as
we believe, the truths and principles on which the
separate and coordinate branches of the Govern
nent stand. Senator has his responsibility.
He is amenable to his State and to the body of which
he is a member He is bound by his oath to advise
and consent" on his conscience and Judgment be-
| fore God. Whatever or whoever else may constrain
! him, heis to be exempt from executive menace oi
disfayor on the one hand and executive inducement
on the other.
A long-standing order Of the House of Commons
has been the dec afati6n that member shall suffer
expulsion who reports the wishes Of the execu-
| tive head of the Government to influence votes Of
members. The British constitution is not more
! jealous than ours in this regard. To give advice,
! and honest, independent advice, to appointments
proposed is as much the right and duty of Senator
it is the right and duty Of the President to pro
pose names Be his advice way other, it is no
act Of dsrespect or treason to the nominal
lag power than the verdict Of Juror the decision
| Of a Judge.
! The idea that the Senate 10 simply to find out
VIII is wanted and then it cannot believe safe
| or admissible. And thus far party has dared or
descended to set up such test of party fidelity
| allegiance.
! to the object, and such disgust been expressed Of
he correctness of positions that we think it right
| and dutful to submit the matter to the power to
| wi ich o. one we are bound and ever ready to bow.
The Legislature is In session. 1t is Republican in
/ majority, and New York abounds in ms quite
! able as we to bear her message and commission il
| the Senate Of the United States.
With profound sense of the obligation owe
with devotion to the Republican party and its creed
Liberty an hight " with reyerent attachment
10 the great State whose int rests and honor dea
| to u.s. we hold it respectful and becoming to make
DOM for those who N correct all errors we have
made, and interpret Alright all duties we have mis-
| conceived. We therefore mclcse our designations.
nut hold fast the privilege as citizens and Repub-
leans to stand for the constitutional rights Of al
men and Of all representatives, whether Of the States
! The nation or the people.
We have the honor to be, very respectfully, your
obedient servants,
| ROSCOE CoNKLING,
4 TuTnNE N Or ANN