New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-07

Does Senator COnklIng constitute " the
Senaten9 Or does the Con ,tltutIon declare
tina. the President 8 iall I'LL offices with " the
advice and consent of single Senator, in
stead of "the Scnat-"i The latest claims set
NJ. under cover OF the phrase " Senatorial
courtesy" amount to this that any appoint
ment should he rejected as virtually uncon-
stitutional, unless one particular Senator adj
vises aud consents. All the rest Of the Senate,
according to tins theory, must abdlcatc It's
constitutional power. aud help To strp the
President of his constitution II power To
what end That "A single Senator may Ice
sole dispenser OF patronage for state. aud
may thereby dictate his own reelection and,
the election of lis associate. The theory Is
that Senator can keep himself alive, and
can crush oppUsl ton. # he ran have the con-
troll of The patronage from his State that he
therefore has night to that control; that he
cannot keep hin SILT alive IN any other way I;
ard that hr has reason t0 regard II as blow
at his Senatorial life If his control Of
the offices Is in any WAY abridged
or threatened. This rs not the cOnst utIOnal
theory The Constitution does not suppose
that the principal function of a Senator is TO
serve out PIP. It does not contemplate that
the people shall be controlled by patronage in
their choice OF Senators. But, under cover of
"Senatorial courtesy" il Is claimed that the
Senator who has become the Boss IN his
State shall have entire control OF patronage
for that State, in order that he may choose
his associate or subordinate and secure his
own reelection.
TIE people are not quite ready to set up an
oliearchy instead of republic. They want
to elect IA Precedent, and not a mere chief
clerk of the APP ointing bureau. They prefer
TO elect two Senators from State, and not a
Senator and the shadow whom he may desig-
nate. They wish to have Senator feel that
he must deserve his position by fidelity and
ability in the work OF legislation. 1t does not
seem good to them that he should feel that
the control of patronage will lift him above
legislative toll or responsibility to his con-
stituents. Hence the gentlemen who wish to
establish an oligarchy do not call it by that
name. They call it Senatorial courtesy"
The disposition of Senator'S to defer 10 each
others wishes is very well In things not essen
tiaI To the public welfare. But a Senator has
no right. for The sake of Obliging another. to
consume against the constitutions right of the
President 10 select for the executive Offices
men in whom he has confidence. A Senator
has no night. merely for the sake of obliginR
another, to refuse his assent to the appoint
meDt of an upright, able and Trustworthy man
who has been selected by the Cabinet officer
charged with responsibility for a branch of
the public service. A Senator has DO right.
merely to obIige another, to assist him in
forcing himself upon the people of q State.
whether they wish to reflect him or not. In
short, II Senators are asked TO set up 90
oiigarchy. they may as we'll consider that the
Constitution does not establish that form of
government, and that the people will not toll
crate it. Let Il once be made clear that GER
tain Senators desire to set themselves above
the President and the people who elect him.