The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-05-19

| in the ConRulship at New York by the removal OF
Mr., Merritt and appointment OF Mr. Robertson.
| The proposal was wholly surprise. we heard OF
| II only when the several nominations involved In
| the plan was announced In the Senate
We had only two days before this been inform
| ed from you that change In the customs ohces
| at New York was not contemplated and quite ig
norapt OF the purpose to take any action now, we
| had no opportunity until after the nominations 10
| make the suggestions we now present we 40
not believe that the interests OF tho pubic service
will be promoted by removing the present collecl
or, and putting Mr. Robertson In his stead. Our
| opinion is quite the reverse, and we believe no
| political advantage can be gained for either the
Republican party or is principles Belleylng
| that no individual has claims OF ODngatlOus
which should be liquidated in such mode, we
| earnestly and respectfully ask that the nomin0.
| ton Of Mr.. Robertson be Withdrawn.
TSignedi CHESTER A ARTHUR,
7 G PIATT,
THoMAs L JAMES,
ROSCOE CONKLING.
This paper was presented to the President by
| MI James on Monday, the 28th day Of March.
Knowing the frequency with which every one OF
the twenty Presidents OF the kepuDlc, ana marx
edly the present incumbent had withdrawn
nominations on less serious representations, we
did not apprehend that such suggestion would be
treaten as an intrusion or invasion OF any prer0g
ative OF nominating poWe', Immediately the
public press especially In articles and dispatches
written by those in close and constant association
with the President and with influential members
of his Cabinet, teemed with violent denuncia'
tions Of the Senators from New York for "Oppos-
ing the Administration" and dictating TO the
President" Persons who visited the Executive
Mansion represented the President as resenIul
and impatient Of hesitation Of "advice and con-
sent" 10 what he proposed We had made no as.
sault upon anybody, we have at all times refused
to answer questions by representatives Of the
press, or to make complaint or comment, or even
denial of many tTuthless charges published
against US by ofiCious champions OF the Admin
istratiOn." Indeed, beyond confidential consul
tationB with brother Senators and officials, we
have said nothing until now on the subject Nor
have we, or either Of us, promoted the deadlock
In the Senate" In order to prevent or influence
action on any nomination. Nor have we ever so
stated. Immediately after the letters were pub
lished, letters and telegrams In great numbers
came from every part OF the State, from Its lead.
ing citizens, protesting against the proposed
changes and Condenming them on many grounuB.
Several thousands Of leading mercantile firms OF
New York, constituting, we are informed, NAL
ority Of every branch Of trade, sent us remon'
strances. Sixty Of eighty,one Republican men,
bers of the Assembly, made objection, Represen'
tatives in Congress, State othcials, business men,
professional men, commercial, Industrial and
political organizations are among the remon.
strsnts and they speak from every section OF
the State.
Besides the nominations already referred to,
there awaiting action Of the Senate several citi.
liens of New York, named for offices connected
These were all reappointments. Most OF them
had been originally commissioned by Mr. Hayes.
They were certified by judges OF the courts and
many other eminent persons, VINO attesled the
fsithfullness and merit Of their service and rec.
commended their continuance. They were not
nresented by u.s. We have not attempted to die.
tate nor have we asked nomination OF one person
TO any ofice In the State. Indeed, with the sole
exception of the written request set forth above
we have never even expressed an opinion to the
President, in any case, unless questioned III re-
gard to IT, Some days ago the President abruptly
withdrew In one and the same act, The names OF
Gen Woodiord and Mr. Tenny, and OF two marsh
ais This unprecedented proceeding, whether
permissible by law or not, was gERvey signiH'
cant, The President had nominated these officers
after they had been weighed In the balance.
Their official records were before him and had
been fully scIutiniZed and approved II must be
presumed he thought the nominations ht to be
made and that 1t was his duty tU make them.
t. ere Is no allegation that he discovered any un
6tness in them afterward, II could hardly be
that he discovered unftness In I'll Of them alike.
What, then, was the meaning Of this peremptory
step1 It was Immediately stated, as II by author
ity aud seems to be admitted that the purpose
was to cOerCe the Senate or Senators to vote as
they would not vote II left free from executive in
reference The design was 10 control the action
Of Senators touching matters committed by the
Constitution to the Senate and TO the Senate ex'
clusively. 1t has been suggested, in addition,
that by recalling these nominations and holding
tlem In DIS OWL QHuub LuS ulBub III
the event Of the failure Of another nomination,
uae them TO compensate that failure, II 1t can be
supposed that all tb ese public trusts are to be- or
would In any event be made personal peTquisites
TO be handled and disposed Of not only 10 punish
the independence Of Senatorial votes and action,
but to liquidate the personal obligations Of any
individual, however high In station, the cOndit'
ions are utterly vicious nd degrading; and their
acceptance would compel the Representatives Of
the State TO fling down their oath ano representa-
ktryad dntu al tho fnnfgtOOl nj nVaautiVn
Following this sweeping and startling execu'
tive act, came OminouB aVOWals that dissent or
failure to ''advise and consent would be held IS
an act Of Ofense, exposing all Senators, from
whatever State, to executive displeasure, Thus
we find ourselves confronted by the question,
whether we shall surrender the plain right and
sworn duty Of Senators, BY consenting to what
we bel eve TO be vicious and huTtfui or be assign
ed TO position Of disloyalty to the AdministrR
ton which we helped to bring In, and the sun
cess Of which we earnestly wish for every reason
and motive which can enter into the case We
know no theory aroused BY any party which re-
quiTes Hch submission as is now exacted. Al
though party service may be fairly considered In
making selections Of public officers 1t can hardly
be maintained that the Senate is bound TO remove
without cause incumbenB merely 10 make places
for those whom any individual, even the Presi-
dent or member Of his Cabinet wishes to repay
for being recrean to others or serviceabe 10 him.
Only about two years ago the Senate advised that
General Merritt be appointed Collector at New
York. II is understood that among the Senators
who was thus advised was Mr. Window, now Sec
retary Of the Treasury and the head Of this de.
partment whose subordinate General Merritt is.
Another Senator known to have given this ad.
vice, was Mr. RirkwoOd now the Secretary Of the
Interior It is raid that, like the Postmaster Gen
eral from our own State, these Cabinet Officers
were not taken into consultation touching the re-
moVsl OF Gen Merritt but their sworn and otieia
action as Senators is none the less instructive.
That the late Secretary Of the Treasury and the
late Administration up to its expiration less than
ten weeks ago, approved Gen Merritt as an officer
is well known, and It is now here suggested that
no citizen he d petitl0ned for his removal, or
that official deliI quency on his part is the reason
OF IT,
In the place Of an experienced officer, In the
midst Of his term fixed by law, 1t Is proposed sud
denly to put man In who has had no training
for the position, and who cannot be said TO have
any special fitness for Its official duties. In the
Inaugural OF President Garfield, delivered on the
4th OF March, stand these words: THE civil Berv-
ice can never be placed on satisfactory basis
until II is regulated by law. For the good OF the
service ITSELF for the protection OF those who are
entrusted with the appointing power against
waste Of time and obstruction to public Business
caused by inordinate pressure for place, and for
the projection Of inCumbentB RVainHt intrigue
and wrong, l shall at the proper time ask Con-
gresl to hx the tenure Of minor officers In the
several executive departments, and prescribe the
grounds upon which removals shall be made
during the term for which incumbents have been
appointed" How good the distinction is, which
would make major offices prey to intrigue and
wrong, an shield minor Offices from like havoc,
and whether cOllectonhips Of the country should
belong to the exposed or 10 the protected class
need not be decided b re, Assuming General
Merritt to be an officer Of average hlness and
honesty, 1t might be ref oDably argued that All
Senators should, with alacrity, advise his dis
placement by man OF obvious superiority pos
sib!y il might be said that all should advise the
selection in General Merrlts place Of a man who,
without superior fitness, had rendered his coun'
try or even his party conspicuous and exalted
service. The case in hand does not belong to
either of these classes. The vocation Of Mr. Rob
eitson and his legislative and professional exper.
fence and surroundings, do not denots superiority
In the know ledge qualities, business habits, aud
familiarity with revenue laws system Of the Unit
ed States, which might make him more compe'
tent than General Merritt TO collect the vast rev
enues and administer the vast business pertain
ing to the Port of New York. Certainly he can
moi In this respect, be held an exception to the
rules OF right and consistency on which the lawt
and Constitution have placed the public
| service.
We know Of no personal or political service
rendered by Mr. Robertson so transcendant tina
I IT, -. Il