Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-05-14
TlIR AUGMENTATION VS..
CONKLING.

80
First his Cromwell, and Cpnkling
and his INSCRIPTIONS band of
stall wart hackers hive, at last,
found their match i'm the person OF
Jas. A. Garfield. For months past
the whole country has stood by,
with eager eye and bated breath,
impatiently awaiting the result of
the struggle for mastery, which has
been going on between the presi-
dent and this arrogant leader of the
''Stalwarts." The issuei is drawing to
a close, and the great question of
whether the president is to be the
chief executive of this country or is
TO hunbly and timidly submit to
the unwarranted dictatiOn and u
PerciliOus authority of this man
COnkling and his henchmen, in the
rightful exercise of his constitution
al prerOgatives, has, we are glad to
see, been decided in favor of the
president and of the people. The
subject was one of great inter-
est, not only to the republicans but
also to the democratic party. The
machinery Of the entire Govern
ment was stopped to witness this
disgraceful quarrel. The unwilling
ness of COnkling and his supporters
to have one Of the presidents NOM
nations confirmed WAS the chief
cause OF the deadlock in the senate.
They feared an executive session
and RObertson's confirmation. 1t
had finally just reduced itself down
to n mere personal contest between
the president and this braggart and
bully, who had personal grievances
against this nominee of the presi-
dent. He determined he would
exercise his power and throw every
obstacle in the way Of the eonfirma-
tiOn of Robertson, ven to the eX-
tent of clOgging the legislation OF
the entire country. And why :?
Because the president saw fit in the
simple exercise OF his absolute pre-
rOgative, coming direct from the
constitution of the United States, to
appoint Judge Robertson to the
Office of collector of the port Of New
York. Robertson "a not in ac-
cord with Conkling's exact political
views. Hence this savage OppOsi-
ton. He had the brazen affrOntry
to stand up in the republican ucu
the other day, and say he had pro-
NOTED the deadlock for the special
purpose OF forcing the president to
Withdraw the name Of Robertson.
He gave no valid reason why he
wanted his name withdrawn. He
could urge nothing against his hon
esty Or his capability. 1t was suf1i-
cient to his majesty that Robertson
was not IA republican after his
heart /; that he was guilty of the
crime OF not being his (COnkling's)
henchman and slave. He would
not bend down and worship him.
This was his offense. This was why
COnkling did not want him con
firmed. To the delight of the peO-
pie of the country, the president
has shown the courage and manli-
ness to assert his rights, and to cast
aside the yoke this political auto
crat was seeking to place about his
neck. lie refused to withdraw the
nomination. The whole country
applauds his action. 1t was a bold,
manly, selfasserting step, and one
which he hOnored himself in TAX
ing. 1t is high time COnkling's
autOcracy in New York and the
councils of the Government should
be brought to an end. Let those
who are elected by the people TO eX-
ercise certain functions and prerOg-
atives, be untrammeled by political
dictatOrs, who demand as the price
of their support and homage the
privilege of saying who shall oc-
cupy the Federal offices.
Let the democrats in the senate,
when considering this nomination,
pay heed to the frank and clear adj
vice of Senator Bayard when he
says
We should not forget that Mr..
Garfield is the president of the
United States, and that to his office
are attached functions and respOn-
sibilities, duties and prerogatives,
that we are bound to see are pro-
tected from invasion or embarrass-
ment, so far as our of public
duty shall dictate. l am not dis
posed to permit the chief magistra-
CIV of the nation to be kicked and
buffeted out of a fair and reasonable
exercise Of its just prerOgatives. No
American should be willing to see
this done. 1t is the admitted DEM
Ocratic rule that the powers dele
gated to the several departments OF
the Government should be by them
mutually respected, and that one
and all should be executed in a
spirit of comfy, which is just as
essential to good government as the
letter of the Constitution itself.