Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-05-13
The P.wer and the Courtesy" OF tn,
Sanate.

the President of the United States What
is the secret of Mr.. Conklins's power? The
Senator is very able man, in many ways
but so is Mr.. Garfield The Senator is Il
great orator. But MIR. Garfield is also a very
fine orator. lie followed Mr.. Conkling IN
the presentation of candidates, at the Chica-
90 Convention, and was perhaps the "hly
sneaker in that vast assemblage who could
have followed him, without suffering sefi-
ously by the contrast. But Gen. "afhein
iii moi suffcr by contrast with MIR. Conk-
ling MIR. Conklins is an experienced legis-
ator but so is Mr.. GaIfield-and the latter
name is connected with much more IN Inc
WAY of valuable legislation than MI Cohh-
lines Mr.. Conkliug has not the quaii'ieS
that strongly attach men to hun, personally
Mr.. Garfield has more personal magnetism
and more personal friends than the Ne"
York Senator. Mr. Conkling has, through
the wauderinrs of Senator Fcnton into inc
Greeley fold, and the subsequent eiec'ioh vi
a Democratic colleague, stood at The heau vi
the Federal patronage in the EMPIRE o'a'e'
I, hos hacn n nosition of immense power,
and it has given Mr.. Conkling prcstisc anu
a following that can hardly be exaggerated
Dut the President of the United States Is inc
fountain head of the appointing power mol
only for the great State of New York but ior
all The States. Without his permission anu
favor. one would say, Mr.. Conkling's power
TO control federal patronage is gone. HOW
happens it, then, that the President cahno'
have the collector of the port OF New lorR
tbat he desires-and that men are asking
who IS really President, James a. Garneid OF
Roscoe Conkling
The answer lies in the fact that the Con
stitution makes the consent oil the SENATE
necessary to the permanent appointment o'
,he bigbcr officers of the Government; and
in the fact that by an unwritten rule caiieo
the courtesy of the Senate" power never
contemplated by the Constitution has peer
secured by the Senators over the iederai up
poiutments in their respective STATES.
The courtesy of the Senate is simply al
agreement among the men OF the same part.
IN stand by each other in regard 10 the con
frmation Of appointments IN Their OWL
| States The Senator from New York say
TO the Senators from each Of the other lie
nuhlican States You wish to be consulted
with regard to Federal appointments in you
own State, and to say what appointments shai
he and what shall not be confirmed, IN you
State Very well, wish the same privileg
and power in my State. Vote with me to re
iect the appointments wish rejected in m.
State and will vote with YOU to reject In
.ppointments You wish rejected in you
State. This is the agreement virtually mad
betweeu the Senators of each and all TIN
States it gives an enormous power
the office of United States Senator.
OF course, not all the Republican Senator
agree to be bound in all cases by this rounc
robin agreement. They reserve the right U
exercise to some extent, independent 1uds
meut of their own, in reference to impertan
appointments. Yet the courtesy OF Ill
Senate" appeals to almost all OF them with
force which they find 1t difficult to resist
And it is this unwritten rule which enspie
Roscoe Conkling TO fight the President wit
fair prospect Of success, on New ior
nomination which requires the confirmation
of the Senate. Not dozen Republican Sen
ators. perhaps, care much, individually
whether Gen. Merritt or Judge Robertson
Collector of New York. Most of them, othe
things being equal, would prefer to pleas
the President in the matter; but when
comes to saying that there shall be hencefort
no more courtesy of the Senate" regardln
aproin,menls and that each Senator sha
have only his own vote upon the coniirma
,on of federal officers in his own State
they weaken-and the Senator from Ne'
York insisting that he shall be consulted O.
New \ ork appointments, finds 1t not impos
sible TO secure vote TO postpone Or reJcc
the appointment of Mr. Robertson iron
everv Senator who desires and intends TO b
consulted with reference 10 appointments i
his own State.
The power thus arrogatcd by the Senate
may well be viewed with some apprehenslo
bv III. ncnple. As for the President, wheti
or or no he has acted wisely in allowing him
self to be placed, thus carly in his admins
tra,ion, in the unfortunate position he nov
occupies, is question We are not discussin
TODAY. But the issue having been SQUARED
made, We should like to have him insist o
being Presidcnt-insist that an appoint
ment il rejected shall be rejected +
some better reason than that the ser
ior Senator from New York does not like 1t
and We should find no fault if he should ust
if nect ssary, the whole appointing power, t
sustain him in his position. 1t Woul
probably make some difference with the alt
Jude of some Senators, were they given I
understand that il they permitted the Tres
dent to be Inundated in the house OF hi
friends. henceforth no recommendations {
theirs for any Office should be regarded )
thu. their friends should step down and ou
from the departments and the postoices an
the cnstom houses, snd that SINCE they Ina
sided with his opponent in this war,
should be open war for them also, an
waced against them with all the resources
the command of the executive. or cours
such a purpose pluck lily carried out, woul
make hurrying times in the republican part
fpr Il time but the President would CON
gu, of the row with the increased respect c
OF both friends and foes. II he allows u
able and wilfnl and imperious Senator irol
New York To beat him in tins mailer, ne
gone President.