The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-05-11
THE CONTEST
Between COnkIing and Gar.
field.
some Democratic Opinions.

SO"C DCAAoOE akAO VpAuIOnB.
Washington, 9.-It ID the prevalent
belief. tonight, that the Yepu blican eau
Gus will tomorrow decide that ths Rob-
ertton case must be brought before the
senate for final action dsrirR the present
session, and in this expectation the po-
litical RoSsipS are sgAin actively engaged
in estimating the strength Of the opposing
forces and fOrecasting the probable issue
OF the csnhict. Democratic senators, IS
we'll ~ republicans. are united g to what
course they will pursue Some demo-
cratI ssy they are in doubt whether the
Presidents recent withdrawal Of the un-
contested New York nominations il to
be accepted simply Rs Q personal warfare
on Senator ConklinR, or whether by this
act he has threatened the Senate and ar
rogatsd 70 hiuIslf the right to coerce
that body VI influence the use of federal
patronage. Some Of the senators. aside
from political affiliations, hold that the
question 1t issue il not whether the
President or ConklinR shall triumph.
but whether by the implied threat she
President has made he is 70 assume that
the executive power is to dominate an
oil 81 bra Ieh Of government. The mat
ter, hence, il settling itself down TO
question Of the rights OF the
Senate in contrs-distinction to the rights
Of the President under the Constitution.
Tbs Presidents friends say exultinRly,
that Garfield has made up his mind 20
be president. This is all right, undoubt-
eddy, say these senators, but in asserting
such claim, he must not forget that The
Senate has rights delegated TO it by the
Constitution. One Of these rights is that
of consepting to the Presidents appoint
nents; that iI; il it sees fit, and it has
clearly tbs right TO refuse TO consent. aud
fer the President to say: You mnst con-
firm this OF that man under penalty of
executive diSpleasure, il you do not, is
threat which il yielded to will destroy the
Coordinate branches of government
Several other democratic senators hsve
expressed themselves Gverss 10 helping
the President 10 bis 1Rht with ConklinR
unless they can be sstiIfed that he does
not Intend to follow up bis victory by
helping the Malone movement against
the democratic party in Virginia. The
view Of this subject, however, which
appears 10 be more generally taken BY
democratic senators, and which will un-
aoubtedly prevail in the Senate.
is set forth IS fellows by Seus-
tor VOORHEES,, in an interview
printed in this evenings Star: ihs
President has the right undor the Con-
Sti.ution TO appoint such persons as he
sees Ct tor pubic Offices, snd send their
names to the Senate II, in doing so.
factions arise in his own party, that is
not my affair. am not the arbitrator
Of republican differences. They must
settle them among themselves. / can
only look to the person nominated TO the
Senate. Khe fills the Jefferson require
ment, on what grounds can vote to re-
ject him. II be is capable aud honest and
his record good?-ths old-fashioned test,
and IT il the true one. We hear much
about senatorial courtesy," IN conuec-
ton with appointments and confrms-
lions. That is all we'll cough in proper
bounds. try to be as courteous as shy
other senator, and as far rs my duty will
permit gladly obl.ge my associate, but
like many other good qualities, courtesy
may be invoked out of place. The New
York custom house is a. national in its
proper functions IS are the depart.
ments Of government, and the col
lector Of customs at New York
is IS much . national official As
9 member Of the cabinet. A great COM
mefciai port, collecting revenue from
seyen-tenths perhaps OF all the comDerce
Of America, cannot be regarded as q
mare sppendsee to the local politics of q
single ftate. The appointment of COL
leetor Of such port cannot be claimed
as q local psrq0isite fer senator, or .
l1ember o. Congress. like the appoint.
ment Of q postmaster. The people o.
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and other Rrea
western states are IS much interested II
the administration ofthe legitimate bust
mesa Of the custom house Is the psople o
New York themselves. While rsEre
that the appointment Of Judge RobertsoI
Is net acceptable to the senator's from
New York, yet believing him capable
and An honest man. and recognizing tn
| right Of the President to make the So
lection, ! feel it my duty TO vote for hi
confirmation
These views from democratic senator
OF the prominence and influences OF Mr.
| VOORHEES,, have especial weight at thi
time, especially as another leadinl
senator OF the same party Mr.. BayaTd
has expressed himself recently 70 th
same effect.