The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-05-17

9Th of March, stand, these words:
"The civil service can never bel
placed on a satisfactory basis until
1T is regulated by law. For good
of the service itself, for the pro-
lection of these who are entrusted
with the appointing power, against
waste of time and obstruction of
public business caused by inordinate
pressure for place, and for protection
of incumbents against intrigue and
wrong, l shall at the proper time
ask Congress to fix the tenure of
minor offices of the several executive
departments, and prescribe grounds
upon which removals shall be made
during the terms for which incum-
bentS have been appointed"
How good distinction IS, which
would make the major offices a
prey to intrigue and wrong, and
shield the minor offices from like
havoc, and whether the collector
ships of the country should belong
to the exposed or to the protected
class, need only be decided here.
Assuming General Merritt to be an
officer of average fitness and honesty
it might be reasonably argued that
all senators shOnld with alacrity
advise his displacement by man of
obvious superiority. Possibly it
might be said that all should advise
the selection in General Merritt's
place of a man who, without supe-
rior fitness, had rendered his country
or even his party conspicuous and
exalted services.
The case in hand does not belong
to either of these classes. The vOca-
ton of Mr.. Robertson and his legis-
latiye and professional experience,
and his surroundings, do not show
superiority in the qualities, the
knowledge of business habits and
familiarity with the revenue laws
and system of the United States,
which might N axe him more COM
petent than Gen. Merritt to collect
state revenues and administer the
vast business pertaining to the port
of New York. Certainly he cannot
in this respect be held an exception
to the rules of right and cOnsis-
tency ON which the Constitution and
laws have placed the public service.
We know of no congressional or pO-
litical service rendered by Mr.. Rob
ertSon so transcendant that the
relationship OF New York should
be taken in the middle of a term
and given him as a recompense.
Mr.. Robertson is reported by the
New York Tribune, to declare that
his nomination was a reward" a
a reward" for action as a delegate
in the national convention. If Mr..
Robertson in his action was influ-
enced by a sense of duty, or if he
voted according to his honest con-
victiOns, it is difficult to see what
claim he has for any reward, not to
speak of such great reward. The
action, of which an estimate is thus
invited, is understood to be this:
Mr.. Robertson and sixty-niue other
men accepted from the Staie con-
yentiOn a certain trust; they sought
out and accepted the position of
agents of the delegates to the ma
tiOnal convention; the state conven-
ton declared its plainly stated judg-
ment and policy was to be observed
and supported by those it commits
stoned; to this declaration all
selected as delegates gave or i'm
piled consent. But several of
them, in addition, made the most
specific personal pledges of engage
ments to exert themselves in good
faith throughout to secure the NOM
inatiOn of General Grant. They
made this pledge as means of OBJ
tanning their own appointments as
and they did, as both per-
sOnally know, claim their seats in
the national convention upon the
faith Of their personal statements
their earnestneSs and fidelity to the
obligation then assumed, We under
stood to involve integrity, as much |
as an obligation of one who receives
the proxy of stockholders of an in
upon pledge and prom
Use to vote as his principal would
vote. Whether Mr.. Robertson was
)r was not himself bound, not only
Dy honor and implication, but by eX-
Dressly giving his word, becomes
quite immaterial in view of
.he claims made for him. 1t
IS insisted that he organ
zed the bolt" or as it has
Oeen sometimes stated, he was the
eader of the bolt. This is to
say he invited, persuaded, induced
others whom he knew had given
heir words, had obtained their seats
n doing so, to violate their word,
md betray not only republicans as
,embled in the state convention, but
he republicans Of their districts as
well, who had trusted in their honor
Whoever counselS and procures an
other to a dishonest and dishonor-
lble act, must share with that other
he guilt, and should share also the
1dium justly attaching to it. We
ire therefore wholly unable, upon
whichever ground we put it, to see
Justification for ourselves, should we
become parties to using public trusts
which belong to the people, to re-
Iuire such service in such modes
Jut the appliances employed to effect
his result sets up new standards
IL bSpOllSlDlllOJ ttllu lnNdOSS We DG-
ieve the truths and principles on
which separate and coordinate
branches of the government stand.
senator has his own responsibility.
lie is amenable to his state
nd to the body of which [
Le is a member. Whatever and !
whoever else may constrain him, he
S to be exempt from executive men
ce or disfavor on one hand, and
inducement on the other.
.Ong standing orders of the House
f Commons have been the declara-
ion that member shall suffer ex-
ulsiOn who even reports the
7ishes of the executive head of the
overnment to influence the votes
f members. The British constitu- <
ion is not more jealous
han ours in this regard. To
i've advice, and honest independent
dvice as to the appoint
lent proposed, is as mnch a right
nd duty of a senator as it is the
ght or duty of the President to pro-
0se names. Be this advice one way y,
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