Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-25
The Reasons.

step respectful and necessary" We max
the following extracts:
Some weeks ago the president sent to the sen
ate, IN group, the nominations OF several per
sons for public Offices already filled. One o
these offices Is the coectorship OF the port o
New York. now held by General Merritt; anothe
is the consul generalshp ut London, now held b.
General Badeau; another is charge d affares b
Denmark, held by Mr.. Cramer; another Is tn
mission TO Switzerland, held by Mr. Fish, sol
Of the former distinguished secretary Of state
Mr.. Fish had. In Difference to an ancient practice
placed his position at the disposal Of the new ad
ministration, but, like the other persons named
he was ready to remain at his post II permitted t.
do 80. All OF these officers, save only Mr.. era
mer, are citizens OF New York It was proposed
TO dispace them all, not for any alleged faults o.
for any alleged need or advantage OF the public
service, but In order to give the great office o
collector of the port Of New York to Mr.. William
II. Robertson rs reward " for certain acts o
his said to have aided in making the nomina
ton OF General Garfield possible" The chain o
removals thus proposed was broken by Genera
Badeau's promptly declining to accept the new
place to which he was TO be sent. These nom
nations summoned every member Of the sen
ate to say whether he advised such a transaction
Inc movement was more than surprise. w,
had been told only few hours before that no re
movals In the New York offices we're soon 10 bt
made OF even considered, and had been requested
to withhold the papers and suggestions bearing
on the subject which had been sent to us for pres
entation should occasion arise until we hat
notice from the president Of his readiness to re-
ceive them. Learning that the vice-presdent wa'
equally surprised, and had been equally mised
we went TO Mr.. James, the cabinet officer from
our state, and learned that though he had spent
some time with the president on the morning Of
the day the nominations we're sent In, no disclos
ure OF an intention TO send them had been made
to him, and that he first knew Of the matter by
hearsay following the event. After earnest re-
Election and consultation we believed the proceed
ing unwise and wrong, whether considered
wholly in relation to the preservation and integ'
rity OF the public service and the public example
to be set In relation also to the integrity Of the
republican party. No public utterance or com
ment or cepsure was made by either Of us, In the
senate or elsewhere, on the contrary, we thought
that the president would reconsider action 80 sud
den and hasty, and would at least adopt less
hurtfu and Objectionable modes of requiting per.
sonal or individual service. In this hope the fol-
lowing paper was prepared and signed and pre-
scented by Mr.. James to the president, who was
subsequently informed that you had authorized
your name to be added also
the change in the collectoshp in New York BY the removal
when the several nominations Involved in the plan were
s eeen G from you that change in The customs
after The nominations TO make the suggestion now pre-
vice will be promoted by removing the present collector and
putting Robertson in his stead Our opinion quite the
gained for either the republican party its principles
should b quidaed 10 such mode we earnestly and re-
specially ask that the nomination Of Mr.
Withdrawn. tsgned) CHESTER A. ARTHUR,
THOMAS l. JAMES,
ROSCOE CoNKLING.
This paper was presented to the president by
Mr.. James on Monday the 2Sth day of March
knowing the frequency with which every one Of
the twenty presidents of the republic, and mark
eddy the present incumbent had withdrawn NOM
nations ton less serious representations, we did
not apprehend that such suggestion would be
treated as an intention OF an evasion OF any pre-
rogative OF the nominating power. We were dis
appointed. Immediately the public press, espe-
caly in articles and dispatches written by those in
close and constant association with the president
and with an influential member of his cabinet,
teemed with violent denunciations of the senators
from New York for opposing the administra-
ton and debating" to the president. Per-
sons who visited the executive mansion reported
the president as resentful and impatient OF hesita
ton to '' advise and consent !" to what he pro-
posed. We had made, we have made, no assault
upon anybody. We have at all times refused to
answer questions by representatives Of the press
,r to make complaint or comment or even denial
If the many truthless charges published against
Is by the officious champions of " the admins
ration" Indeed beyond confidential consulta-
ions with brother senators and officials, we have
'aid nothing until now on the subject. Nor have
We or either OF us promoted the deadlock In
he senate " In order 20 prevent or influence ac-
ion on any nomination, nor have we ever so
tated.
Only about two years ago the senate advised
hat General Merritt be appointed collector at
Sew York. 1t is understood that among the
enators who so advised was Mr.. Window, now
ecretary of the treasury, and head OF the depart
nent whose subordinate General Merritt IT,
mother senator, known to have given this ad-
ice, was Mr.. kirkwood, now secretary Of the
Interior 1t is said that like the postmaster-gen-
raj from our own state, those cabinet officers
we're not taken into consultation touching the re-
noval OF General Merritt. But their sworn and
cial action as senators Is none the less instinc-
i've: That the late secretary OF the treasury and
he late administration up to its expiration less
nan ten weeks ago, approved General Merritt, az
N officer, Is well known, nor is 1t now suggested
hat any citizen had petitoned for his removal,
y that official delinquency on his part is the rea-
on , Oh It, In the place Of an experienced officer
proposed suddenly to put man in who
las had no training for the position, and who
annot be said TO have any special fitness for its
ficial duties. In the inaugural of President
fairfield, delivered on the 4th OF March, stand
hese words:
The civil service can never be placed on
satisfactory basis until it is regulated by law
Tor the good OF the service itself, for the protec
ion OF those who are intrusted with the appoint
ng power against the waste of time and obstruc-
ion to the public business caused by the inordi-
ate pressure for place and for the protection OF
ncumbents against intrigue and wrong | shall
! the proper time ask congress to fix the tenure
Il the minor offices OF the several executive de-
artments, and prescribe the grounds upon which
emovals shall be made during the terms for
which incumbents have been appointed
The legislature Is in session, it Is republican in
majority, and New York abounds in sons quite as
BILE as we to bear her message and commission
the senate OF the United States. With pro-
ound sense of the obligation we owe, with devo.
ION to the republican party and its creed Of lib
rty and right" with reverent attachment to the
reat state whose interests and honor are dear TO
$, we hold it respectful and becoming to make
Dom for whatsoever may correct all errors we have
,ade and interpret Alright all duties we mlscon-
eived. We, therefore, enclose our designations,
ut hold fast the privilege as citizens and repub-
cans to stand for the constitutional rights OF all
len and all representatives, whether Of the
tates, the nation or the people,
The letter maintains that the nomina-
ions were stoutly protested against by great
umbers of the leading citizens of the state
nd by several thousand Of the leading mer-
hant firms of New York representing
majority Of every branch of trade. The
withdrawal of all the New York nomina-
ions except Robertson's is sharply criticised
s an attempt to coerce the senate TO vote
s it would not vote if left free from execu-
i've interference. 1t says:
It has been suggested, in addition, that by re-
alling these nominations and holding them In
rs own hands, the president might In the event
4 the failure OF another nomination use them 10
compensate that failure. IL 1t can be supposed
hat all these public trusts are to be- or would in
ny event be made personal perquisites to be
andled and disposed OF, not only TO punish in
dependence of senatorial votes and action, but
Iqnidate the personal obligations OF any indyid-
hl, however high In station, the conditions are
Utterly vicious and degrading, and their accept
nee would compel the representatives of states
0 ming down their oath and representative duty
i the footstool OF executive power.
The appointment Of Robertson is treated
s reward for his action as delegate to
he Chicago convention, and that individ-
lal's course as partisan of Mr.. Blaine is
eviewed with Mr.. Conkling's well known
'iquancy. Very naturally, in this case, he
leclines to become party to the misuse of
'ublic trusts involved in the bestowal of
his reward for partisan services.
TO make the "rebuke" more binding,
he republican members of the New York
legislature should all resign and give the
'eople Of the state chance TO elect new
men for the express purpose of meeting the