Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-05-13

The President W. Senator COnkIiBE.
In a news item last week, we briefly an
nounced the fact that President Garfield had
withdrawn from the Senate all the New York
nominations except that Of Mr.. Robertson to
be collector at New York. The action was a
bold, decisive and unexpected one, but II has
met with the unqualified approval of the great
mass of Republicans of the country. The
issue had come TO be distinct aud well-de-
fined one between the prerogative Of the Ex-
ecutive on the one hand and the false and OBJ
noxious principle of senatorial courtesy"
embodied in the person of Senator ConklinR,
ON the other Through the action Of the SON
atoriRl caucus, explained by us last week, IL
had been made possible for Senator Conkling
10 have action on Mr.. Robertson's nomination
indefinitely postponed Moreover, II became
apparent TO the president that IL was Mr..
Conkling's purpose to have all the New York
nominations, except that of Mr.. Robertson,
confirmed, and then adjourn leaving the one
essential nomination Of all hung up until next
December. Under these circumstances, the
president very properly, according to our
view, saw fit to raise distinct issue at the
outset He withdrew all the New York nom
nations except Mr.. Robertson's, and left it
for the Senate 10 decide unequivocally wheth-
err modern senatorial bossism should rule in
the councils of the nation, or whether the
executive right of nomination should be shown
proper respect and have fair treatment. The
question is not simply one as to whether Mr..
Robertson shall be confirmed as collector of
New York. If the Senate gives his nomina-
ton proper consideration, and then, for good
and sufficient reasons, rejects it, the Execu-
tive must rest satisfied, and there will be no
occasion for raising an issue. The real ques-
ton is whether, under plea of senatorial
courtesy" one senator in seventy-six shall
usurp the full power which the constitution
gives to the whole seventy-six. In squarely
raising this issue, the president has indicated
his own manhood and the dignity of his high
Office, and has given to the people one OF the
most encouraging signs of the times in Am
erican politics
In thus plainly indicating our sympathy
with the president in this fight, we do not lose
sight of the fact that the subject is a many
sided one. 1t is urged, not without force,
that it was not in accordance with civil SER
vice reform principles for the president to at
tempt the removal of Collector Merritt an
efficient and meritorious officer, in the midst
of his term, and that the New York nomina-
tions which were withdrawn were ct. to re-
main for confirmation il in the beginning
they were fit to be made. All such objections
seem to US, however, to simply operate to OBJ
scure the main and plain issue, which is sim
ply whether the president shall consult his own
judgment in making appointments, or shall
obey the dictates of senators and representa-
tives. What the reasons and motives were
which led the president to send in Mr.. Rob-
ertson's nomination have not been fully ex-
planned by him nor is he bound to make such
explanation. That his motives were pure and
defensibls, there is no good reason to doubt !;
and, until there is such reason, the people
owe it to themselves to give him their sympa-
thy and moral support That this fight has
been forced on the Executive is to be greatly
regretted but the challenge having been
thrown down, he owed it to himself his party
and the people to vindicate his official prerog-
alive. When President Garfield entered upon
his administration, he enjoyed the complete
confidence of his party. Until he performs
some act to destroy that confidence, let his
party stand by him.
What the outcome of this contest will be
cannot now be said. During the week there
have been several caucuses of Republican SEN
ators, and there have been limitations of va
rious plans for compromise. All overtures
for compromise, however, it is said that the
president indignantly rejects. Experienced
observers at Washington predict Mr.. Robert
sons confirmation within a week, and that
not more than ten Republican senators will
vote against it.