Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-23
THE paEslD2ur AND THE senate.

Though President Garfield has not yet
been two months in office, there is already
a movement or foot to write down his ad-
lninistration. Attacks upon Republican
President are to be expected from Demo-
Gratis, but it is not altogether from Demo-
cratic sources that the current rumors
about General Garfield and his Cabinet and
his relations with the Senate originate. 1t
is very easy thing for few adroit news
paper writers at Washington to produce an
impression through the country to the eff
feet that the President is somehow proving
weak brother, or that he is controlled by
Blaine or somebody else, or that he is
looked upon as having wrecked his admin.
istratiop. All that is necessary for such a
purpose is 10 set up and maintain 2 steady
stream of irresponsible rumors, all tending
one way, and if the press agents can be
persuaded to give due circulation to these
rumors through the telegraph, the press of
toe country will be biased and leavened in
spite OF itself, and be made to act its part
in breaking down the Administration.
But in the meantime the actual circum-
stances may not have justified any one of
the derogatory statements thus sent broad
cast over the land, and in fact the situation
may be altogether different from the mag
mary one SO artfully constructed by Wash.
ingsn correspondents. So far as positive
facts are concerned. indeed, the people
know very little. 1t is clear enough that
the Senate has got itself into deadlock
through the folly of the Republican mem
bers in making a vicious compact with
Malone. That however is mainly strug-
gle between the two parties, and the only
connection the President is alleged to have
with it consists in an unfortunate indorse-
ment of the Republican-Mahone pro-
gramme. As to the assumed conflict be-
tween General Garfield and Senator Conk-
ling over the nomination of Judge Robert
son, the country really knows nothing more
than the idle hearsay talk of the lobbies
There is in fact no positive proof thai any
such conflict exists that is to say, that
Senator Conkling has not up to this time
put himself on record publicly as being op
posed to the nomination.
But suppose that the common report on
this matter is substantially true, and that
Senator Conkling is determined to prevent,
if he can, the confirmation of Robertson.
What bearing has this state of things upon
the many injurious reports which are being
circulated in regard to the President
There has been good deal of talk about
what is called tire courtesy of the
"Senate, which, being interpreted, means
the practice among Senators OF invariably
voting for the appointments made by their
colleagues, and as invariably voting against
appointments which are obnoxious to their
colleagues. New, it must be evident upon
reflection that the real meaning of this
practice is determination on the part of
those who maintain it to usurp for the
Senate power which the Constitution
never invested that chamber with. For if
the President cannot nominate any person
to Office who is obnoxious to the Senator
from his State, it follows that the power of
appointment is transferred from the Presi-
dent to the Senate, and that the right of
nomination with which the Executive is
vested becomes mere empty show.
Such a combination among the Senators
to support one another is consequently
distinct invasion of constitutional pro.
visions, and no Executive ought to submit
to it. H. further, such practice is re-
sorted to for the special purpose of protect
ing and fortifying the machine the
attitude of the Senate becomes one of an
tagonism, not merely to the Executive,
but to the best interests of the whole