The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-05-17

quite ignorant Of the purpose to take any
action now We had no opportunity until
alter the nominations 10 make the Hugges
tons we now present, We do not believe
the interests Of the public service will bs
promoted by the removing Of the present
Collector and putting Mr.. Robert
son in his place. Our opinion Ii
quite the reverse, and We believe nc
political advantage can be gained for eth
or the Republican party or its principles
Believing that no individual has claims OF
obligations which should be liquldated in
such mode, We earnestly and respect
fully ask that the nomination OF Mr., Rob'
srtson be Withdrawn,
[SiRnedl CHESTER A. ARTHUR,
Roscoe CoNELIEo,
7. y, PLATT,
THcs. L, JAMES,
This paper was presented 10 the Presi'
dent by Mr., James on Monday, the 2Sth
day OF March. Knowing the frequency
with which every one Of the twenty Pres
idents oil the Republic, and markedly the
present incumbent, had Withdrawn nom
lnalions on less serious representations,
we did not spprshend that such suggestion
would be treated as an intrusion or an In
vasion Of any OF the prerogauves OF the
nominating power. We were disappointed.
Immediately the public press, especially y
in the articles and dispatches written by
those In close and constant association
with the President, and an influential
member OF his cabinet, teemed with
violent denunClations OF Senators from
New York for Opposing the Administra.
tion," and "diCtating TO the President" !"
Persons who viSited the Executive Man.
sion reported the President as Tesentful
and impatient Of hesitation TO "adVise and
consent" TO what be proposed, We had
made no assault upon anybody. We have
at all times refused to ansWer questions by
representatives Of the press, or to make
complaint or comment or even denial oil
many truthless charges published against
Us by ofiGious champions 0t"the Admin
istration."
Iudeed beyond confidential Consulta.
tons with brother Senators aud officials
we have said nothing till now on the spb.
iect, nor have we or either OF US "promot.
cd the dead lock in the Senate" in order
10 prevent or influence the action Of any
nomination, nor lave we ever 80 stated.
Immediately after the nominations were
published letters and kilograms In great
numbers came from every part Q ofthe State,
from its leading citizens, protesting
against the proposed changes and con.
demning them on many grounds. Several
thousands ol leading mercantile firms Of
New York, constituting, we are informed,
q msjority Of every branch Of trade, sent
us remonstranCeB. Sixty of eighty.one
Republican members oil the Assembly by
letter or memorial made objections
Representatives In Congress, State officials,
business men, professional men, CONNER
Cial, industrial and political organizations
are among the remonHtrants, and they
speaking from every section Of the State
Besides the nominations already referred
to, there were awaiting the action Of the
Senate, several citizens Of New York
named for offices connected with the
courts, district attorneys and marshals.
These we're oil reappointments. Most Of
them had been originally commissioned
by Mr.. Hayes. They were certified by
Judges Of the courts and many other emf.
nent persons, who attested 10 the faithful.
ness aud merit OF their service, and recon-.
mended their continuance. They were not
presented by us. We have not attempted 10
dictate, nor have we asked the nomination
OF one person.
Indeed, with the sole exception Of the
written request set forth above, we
have never expressed our opinion to the
resident in any other csse, unless Ques.
toned in regard to II. Some days ago the
President abruptly withdrew, In one and
| the same act, the names Of General Wood.
ford and Mr.. Tenney, and Of two marshals
This unprecedented proceeding, whether
permissible by law or not, wal .Rravely
signihCant. The Presid ent had nomi.
mated these officers after they had
been weighed In the balance
Their official records were before
him and had been fully scrutinissd and
approved II must be presumed he
| thought the nominations 6t 10 be made
and Il was his duty to make them. There
10 no allegation that he discovered any
upfitnt,s Ia them afterwards. It could
hardly be that he had discovered unfit
ness 10 oil OF them alike. What then was
the meaning aud purpose oil this peremp
tory step2 II was Immediately stated %
| Il BY authority, and seems 10 be admitted
that the purpose was TO uoerCe the Senate
or Senators to vote ss they would not
vote II left free from executive lnterier.
ance. The design ws9 10 control the
action Of The Senators touching the mat.
ters committed by the Constitution to
the Senate, and 10 the Senate exclusively.
| II hes been suggested 10 addition that by
recalling these nominations, and holding
them ia his own hands, the President
might In the event Of the failure OF an.
other nomination, use them to compen.
safe that failure. II Il can be supposed
that all these public trusts are 10 be, or
would In any event, be made personal
peruuisltCs 10 be handled and disposed Of
not only 10 punish independence. oi Sena.
torial votes and action, but liquidate per.
soual obligations Of any individual,
however high In station, the conditions
are utterly vicious and degrading, and
their acceptance would compel the Repub.
licans Of the States 10 fling down their
oath and representative duty Rt the foot.
stool Of the executive power. Following
this
SWEEPING AND STARTLING B1RcuTtyE ACT
came ominous avowals that die.
sent or failure TO "adviue and con.
sent" would be held an act Of oi
iense, exposibg all Senators from what.
ever State 10 executive ditpleasure. Thus
we And ourselves confronted by the ques.
iiofi, whether we shall surrender the
plain fight and sworn duty Of Senators by
consenIlng 10 what we belieye TO be
vicious and hurtful, or be assigned The
position ot
DtsLoYALrY TO THE ADMINISTRATION
which we helped 10 bring in and the suc
cess Of which we earnestly wish, for every
reason and motive which can enter int
the Gaze. We know no theory avowed bl
any party which requires such submission
as iS now exacted. Although party service
may be fairly considered 10 making seleC
tions Of public officers, II can hardly b
maintained that the Senate is bound 10 re
nnva. wiihnnL rAtise, inCumbentg niefelI