Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-17
LITTER OF SENATOR'S coSEi.ING AND rLa


signed, and presented by Mr.. James TO the
President, who was subsequently Informed that
you had authorized your name 10 be added also.
70 me fnsStd.,n: -, we peg ieave- 70 remon-
or New York, by the removal OF Mr.. Merritt
and the appointment or Mr.. Robertson. The
proposal was wholly surprise. We heard or
lt Only when the several nominations involved
IN the plan were announced 10 the senate We
had only two days before this been Informed
from you that change In the customs olicers
81 New York was not contemplated, and quite
ignorant OF purpose 10 take aay action now,
we bad no opportunity untN after the nomina.
lions lions 10 MAKE the SUI gestion We now present.
We do net believe that the interest OF the pupltc
service Will pe promoted by removing the
present collector ara putting Mr.. Robertson In
his stead. our opinion Is quite the reverse and
we believe no political advantage can be gained
Tor either the republican party or its principles
Believing that no individual mas claims or opll-
cations that should be liquioated In such a
mode, we earnestly and respectfully ask that
the nomination OF Mr.. Robertson De withdrawn.
(S'gned) CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
THOMAS l. JAMES
THOMAS Z. PLATE.
RoSCoK goSKLISG
Presented 10 the President by Postmaster
General James, Monday morling, March p,
The letter OF the two Senator's next cl,ims
that the appointment was ore OF ''psrsoaaI
reward" and speaks OF the withdrawal OF
THE OTHER NEw YORK NoNIsATIoSs.
on this subject they say:
''Some days ago the President abruptly with
drew, IN one and the same act. the names OF
Gen. Woodford and Mr.. Tenney and OF the two
marshals. This unprecedelted proceeding.
whetf er permissible by la@ or not, was grayeiy
significant The President had nominated
these officers after they had been weighed IN
the balance. Their Official records were before
him, and had been fully scrl1niZed and ap-
proved. IL must be presumed he thought the
nominations III TO be made. and that II was his
duty TO make them. There Is no allegation that
he discovered unfltness ia them after ward:
II could hardly be that he had discovered
un1tnesS Ia all OF them alike. What
then, was the meaning and purpose OF
this peremptory step? IL was Immediately
stated, as If 10y authority, and seems to be ai-
mitted that tie purpose was 30 coerce the Sem
ate or senator's TO vote as they would
not vote II left free from executive interfer-
eDce. The design was TO control the action
OF Senators touching matters committed
by the Constitution TO the Senate and 10 the
SeLaie exclusiveiy. it has been suggested, In
addition. that by recalling these nominations
and holding them In his own hand, the Presi-
dent might, in the event or failure or another
nominauon. use them TO compensate that fan
uIe. IL 1t can be supposed that all these public
trusts are TO be. or would In any event be made
personal perquisftes. 10 be handled and dis
posed OF not only TO punish independence OF
senatorial votes and action but 10 liquidate the
personal obligations OF any individual, how
ever high In station the conditions are utterly
vicious and DEGRADING, and their acceptance
Nouid compei the representatives OF states 20
fling down their oaths ana representative duty
ct The footstool OF Executive 20 yer. Following
this sweeping and startling executive act came
omlnous aVoWal5 that dissent or failure 10 ad-
wise and consent would be held an act OF
offense, exposing all Senators from whatever
state TO Executive dlspleasure.'
COMMENTS on Mr. ROBERTSON.
THE avocations of Mr.. Robertson. aud his
legislative and professional experience and sur
rouuolngs, DO not Cenote superiority IN the
quslltles the knowledge, business habits ana
familiarity with the revenue laws ana system
OF the nited States, which might make him
more competent than General Merritt TO collect
the vast revenues and administer the vast busI-
ness pertaining TO the port OF New York. Ger
talnly he cannot, fn this respect, be held an ex-
ception 10 rules OF right aud consistency on
Will b the Constitution and laws Eave placed
The public service. We know OF no per
sonal or political service rendered by Mr. Rob-
ertson SO trapscendent that the collectorship
OF New York should be taken In the midst or a
term and given to him as recompense Mr.
70 have declared that his nomination was n
"reward"-a " reward" for action as a delegate
10 the national convention. IL Mr.. Robertson
Ia his action was Influenced Dy a sense OF duty
II he voted and acted his honest convictions
IL Is difficult TO see what claim he has for any
reward, not to speak OF such great reward.
vited, is understood to be this Mr. Robertson
and sixty nine other men accepted from state
convention certain trust. They sought and
accepted the position OF agentsor delegates 10 a
national convention. The state convention
declared plainly stated judgment and pol
ICY 10 oe observed and suppm ted by those it
selected as delegates gave implied consent
But several or them, in addition made most
SPECIFIC personal pledges and engagements to
exert themselves In good faith throughout 10
secure the nomination or General Grant. They
nade this pledge as the means OF obtaining
their own appointments as delegates. and they
seats In the national convention upon the
faith OF their personal statements of their
freshness and fidelity. The obligation thus
assumed, we understand 10 involve Integrity,
as much as the obligation OF one who
receives th9 proxy OF stockholder In
corporaten upon the pledge ana
Whether MT. Robertson was or was not himself
bound, not only by honor and Implication, but
by expressly giving his word becomes quite
ID Inmaterlal 10 10 view OF the claim made Tor MIN.
1t has been sometimes stated. he was the leader
OF the bolt This is TO say that he incited per-
given their word and had Obtained their their ssats
oy doing so, TO violate their word and betray
not only republicans assembled ia state con-
ventlons put the repu6lcans OF their districts
ever counsels and procures another TO do dis
honest or dishonorable act must share with
that other the guilt, and should share also the
odium justly attaching TO It,
AsKNATORs RIGBrs AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
In conclusion the letter says: "a Senator has
his own responsibility. BE is amenable TO his
state and to the body OF which he is q member
he rs bound by his oath TO advise and consent
on his conscience and judgment before God.
Whatever or whoever else nay constrain him.
he Is to be exempt from executive menace or
disfavor on the one hand, and executive induce
meDt on the other. Long standing on the or
ders OF the house OF commons. is declaration
that member shall sufler expulsion who even
reports the wishes OF the executive head OF the
government to influence the votes OF members
The British constitution Is not more Jealous
than ours In this regard To give advice and
honest, independent advice as TO an appoint
ment proposed, Is as much the right and duty OF
Senator as IL is The right or duty OF the Presi-
dent 10 propose the name. Be his advice one way
or the other, 1t is no more an act OF dlsrespect
or treason TO the nominating power than the
verdict OF juror or the dectsion OF judge.
The toea that the Senate Is simply TO ind out
what Is wanted, and then DO t. we cannot
believe safe or admissible; and thus far no
party has dared or descended to set up such q
test OF party fidelity or allegiance. In this in.
stance, such prominence has been given 20 the
subjecf, and such distrust has been expressed
OF the correctness OF our position, that we
think ft right and dutlful to submit the mat
ter to the power 10 which alone we are bound
and ever ready TO bow. The legislature "a IN
session; IL is republican In majority; and New
York abounds Ia sons quite as able as we TO
bear her message and commission In the Sem
ate Of the United States. With q profound
sense OF the obligations we owe, with devotion
70 the republican party and its creed OF liberty
and right with reverent attachment ia fhe
great state whose interests and honor are dear
to US, we hold lC respectful and hceontnv -,