The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-06-02
,hc co,kI.ug Cou.piracy.

After Senator Coaklins's resigning complaint has
bsen read through and through still its only reason
for his resi- .nirs the Office of United States Senator
is that the President nominated be the Collector
of Customs of the port of New York. man whom
Mr. Conklins did not approve Can mortal man dis
in the Constitution. or IN reason or mors, any
connection between these two things tell what
bearing his resignation can have on the President
nomination of Robertsoni
Mr. Conkling makes faint attempt TO link his un-
Senatorial act TO his Senatorial Office, by quoting the
words of the Constitution. -by aud with the advice
and consent of the Senate. if IT required the Pres
ident 20 take the advice of each Senator individually,
of the Senators Of State with regard to his
nations, or his nominations of officers in State.
But this is reading of the Constitution childish
and original as to be entitled to be called Conk-
lingism. The Constitution has the exceptional quail
ity among political documents OF our time OF using
with accuracy and precision words which eompre-
hend all that if means and no more woris than are
required TO express what il means.
fhe words are ..He shall nominate, and by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall ap
point" Why this precise provision as to nominating
and then appointing 1t was to provide absolutely
against dietatiOn from the Senate in the nominations
'-He shall nominate Not until he has nominated
can the Senate have any say in the matter Then. if
the Senate advise and consent ..he shall appoint.
The acts arc twO-to nominate, and TO appoint Not
even the whole Senate has any right to advise be-
fore nomination has been made; is the Presi-
dent Obliged 10 appoint after such advice and
sent. Yet Mr. Conklins tries TO put upon this the
construction that the President must consult the
Senators Of State before making nominations to
national Offices in that State.
Besides the childishness of this invention. it pre-
sents new and more cOntemptible claim of State
Rights in asserting that the national Offices in the
State of New York belclg TO the Senators Of that
State. The United States Collector ut New York
collects duties which paid by the people Of all
the United States The office no Izorr belongs to
New York, or to New York Senators, than does the
office of Secretary of the Treasury United States
Treasurer. Any other Senator has has much r,a-
son for resigning because of the nomination OF Rob
ertson Senator COnklins The Republican Scua-
tor of Ohio would have become ridiculous if he had
flsfp afs.tlR
yet there would he as much pcrinency in that in
Mr.. COnklng's resignation
When Mr. Conkling's complaint comes to specify
his objection to Robertson, lac puts his resignation
still further away from reason. Ii is not that Rob
ertson is not capable. 1t is not that he holds the
entOn of Merritt essential TO the public service
for he tried, all through the term of Mr. Hayes To
destroy his administration because he appointed
Merritt. Ii is because he alleges, Robertson 'or
ganized the bolt in the New York Republcaa dele
CATION against Grant and third term. In wiae part
OF the Constitution il set down that the free action
OF citizen or delegate with regard to the nomina-
tlon oil candidate for President shall lie disqual
ieation for Office
Mr.. Conklng's complaint admits of no other con-
struetion than that he has resigned his Senatorshp
because the President did not recognize him boss
IN all national appointments in New York. He asks
Legislature which he believes already packed with
his serrile followers TO inorse him such boss by
swift reelection. But that will not make him the
Presidents boss. The Presidents constitutional of
flee will still remain; and still Senator Conklingis
office will be no more than to act with the Senate in
officers as the President shall nominate.
But 1t Is plain that Senator Conkling eonspires
something beyond this. Expressions in his
plaint make it general declaration of war on the
President His conversation gives this still
plainly. He means to make this sham appeal to q
packed jury pretense of n warrant to make war on
the Republican administration. He is seeking q
mask for treachery to the Republican party. lie
thinks that this shallow artiee will pass for the
warrant Of the Republican people of the of New
York for his deserving the Republican party, and
taking up in the Senate the attitude of a nominal in
dependent but in reality that of Democratic ally
The Republicans of the nation may as well look
this matter squarey i'll the face. This is not merely
childish pet, in which Mr.. COnkling is to come
back pretending the approval of his State salts
faction of his dignity; il is design to break up the
Republican party by such act of treachery that
of Benedict Arnold. This is what has come of the
style of stalwartism which is exemplied by Mr.
Conklina-('iuriuHnH Ea-rus