The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-05-21

eStly wish, Tor every reason anu hollNc'mhlSh
can enter into the case. We know no theory
avowed by any party which requires s 81 suo'
mission as is now exacted. Although the party
service may be fairly considered IN making
selections Of public officers, 1t can hardly be
maintained that the Senate is bound 10 remove,
without cause. incumbents, merely to make
places for those whom any individual, even
the President or a member of his cabinet,
wishes to repay for being recreant to others or
serviceable to him.
Only about two years ago the Senate ad-
vised that Gen. Merritt be appointed collect
or at New York 1t is understood that among
the Senator'S who 50 advised was Mr.. Win
dom, now Secretary of the Treasury and head
of the department whose subordinate Gen.
Merritt is Another Senator known to have
given this advice was Mr.. Kirkwoed, now
Secretary of the Interior. 1t is sad that,
like the Postmaster General from our own
State, these cabinet officers were not taken
into consultation touching the removal OF
Gen. Merritt, but their sworn and othclal ac-
ton as Senators is none the less instructive
That the Secretary of the Treasury and the
late administration, up to its expiration less
than ten weeks ago, approved Gen. Merritt as
an officer, is well known, and 1t IS nowhere
suggested that any citizen had petitioned for
his removal, or that any official delinquency
on his part is the reason of it. In the place
of an experienced officer, in the midst OF his
term fixed by law, it is proposed to put man
who has had no training for the position, and
who cannot be said to have any special fitness
for his official duties.
In the inaugural of President Garfield, de-
livered on the 4th of March, stand these
words 1.-The civil service can never be placed
on a satisfactory basis until it is regulated by
law-lor the good of the service itself, for the
E H., d ha
appointing power, against the waste of time
and obstruction to the public business, caused
by the inOrdinate pressure for place, and Tor
protection of incumbents against intrigue and
wrong. | shall, at the proper time ask Con
gress to fix the tenure Of the minor Offices OF
the several executive departments, and pre-
scribe the grounds upon which removals shall
be made during the terms for which iucum
bents have been appointed. How good the
distinction IN which would make major Offices
prey 10 intrigue and wrong, and shield
minor offices from ike havoc, aad whether
the collectorships of the country should be
long to the exposed or TO the protected class
need net be decided here. Assuming Gen.
Merritt TO be an officer Of average fitness aRd
honesty, 1t might be reasonably argued that
all Senators should with alacrity advise his
displacement By man Of obvious superiority.
Possibly il might be said that all sh0ald ad
wise the selection IN Gen. Merritt place Of
maH who, without superior fitness. had rem
dered his country or even his party consPiea
Gus and exalted service. The case 10 hand
does not belong to either Of these two classes.
The vocation OF Mr.. Robertson and his legs
lsiiye and professional experiences and sar-
roundiBgs do not denote superiority ia the
qualities, the kuowlcdge, business habits and
familiarity with the revenue laws and system
ot the Hited States which might make him
more compeien. than Gen. Merritt TO collect
the vast revenues and administer the vast
business pertaining 20 the psrg Of New ork-
Certainly he eaanot in this respect be held an
exception 20 the rules Of ight asd consistency
on which the constitution and lass have
placed the pablo service. We kaow Of no
personal or political service rendered by Nj.
Robertson 50 trausccndani that the collector
saip Of Ne~ York shoaid be gaSsn ia the
mids, Of term and gwen 20 hIm 81 recoa-
psnse Mr.. Robertson is reported by the
New York Tribune 20 have declared that his
nomination was ''reward, reward for
clec;ioa as a delegate 20 the aaiiossl coaTea-
ton. Ii Mr. Robertson N hts action Vas 80
agenced by a sense 81 daiy. u be Veicd and
acted has honest conviction, Il IS difiicuit to
seS wiias claim be has for aay reward. not %
speak 81 such great rrERy1. Tho action 81
which an estimate q thas invited "a under-
stood 10 be this Mr.. Robertson sad Sky
nInc other men accepted from STATE con
sentisR a ecriAin iruSt- They sought and
accepted he pOss'ioa of agents Or delegates
10 the naiieual conFentiua. The State con
yension declared plainly stated Judgment
and policy g be observed and supported BY
those It commissioned. To thss declaration
all selected delegates gave Implied eoaseni
Bat several q them IN in Ndiition male mess
specific personal pledges sad engagements 20
exert themselves in good faiih throughout TO
sccare the nomination 81 Gsn. GrsEt They
made thls pledge - the means of obtasgsHg
their oHa spPolnlmsHt a. delegates. and they
did. ~ &c bgsh personally ksow. ohiaia iheir
seats Ia the uAlioaal cansenlion aPon the
saigh % shrlr reEsoEal ssafe-asais Of shelr
earnestaexs and sdeligy. Tbs eblieatioa tAas
assumed nc understand q iavolvc iatsErisy
a. mach A. iac obiiEaion Of enc Who receives
The PROXY of a s;oekho,der 10 q corporation
upon she p,ssise and prouise 20 vote a. his
principal uoaii vote Whether Mr.. Robert.
son aAs or vas not kiras-If boaad. nos oaiy
By hoAar au& implication, but By expressly
giving his woFd, becomes qsige immassgtal IL
yjeW Of the claim made for han, Il Is iussst
Cd that he ORGANIZED the bolt, or a. i has
becn sometimes stated, lie vas The leader
81 iAs bolt THIS Is To Say that he invited.
persuaded. Induced others skam be ku~ ~ had
gwen their word aud bad obtained their seats
dOjns so, 10 violate skcir Uord and brtFsy nos
Only republicans assembled 10 State ceHver
tion, bat The republicans Of their districts rs
sell, uho bad gfesie1 IN their houo5. Who
ever cognsels aad Procurss another - DO
dlshon0Fable act must share wiih ghas othaF
the Enill, and s6nEld share the 0diam justly
attaching ta H. We are, therefore, wholly
unable. up0u whatever gruand sc pat il. 20
come parties 10 asing lbe ysblie trusts witch
belong 10 The people 70 require such service
ia such nodes Bot The appliances employed
20 effect results set up ues standards Of re-
sponsibsIity, and invade, We believe the
tTgths nnd principles on which the separate
and co ursiiaAie branches Of the goyernsae11
stand A Senator has bis oun responsibility.
He IS aneuable 90 h's STATE sad 20 the body
Of which be IS a member. lie = bound by
his oath to advise and eonsea,n On his GOA
science and judgment before Gsi, Whatever
or whoever else aay enastEain him. lie Is 20
be exempt from excessive menace OF disiaYor
on the sne haad aad executive iadueemeu.
on the other Long standing on the orders
Of the Hoase Of Commons has been a decla.
raIioa tha, member shalt suffer expulsion
who even reports the wishes Of ihe excessive
head OF the government 10 influence the votes
Of the members. The British consultations Is
not mere jsaloas than ours ia this regard,
To give advice, and honest, independent al.
vice as 70 an appointment proposed IS as much
the right aRd duty Of Senator as il the right
OF duty OF the President to propose the same.
Be his advice one way or the other, il IS no
more an act Of disresPeot or treason to lAe
nominating power than the verdict Il juror
or the decision OF judge. The idea that the
Senate is simply 70 find out what IS wanted
aud then do il We cannot believe safe or al
missible, and thus far no party has dared or
descended 10 set up such test Of party fdel
hy or allegiance. la this instance such
prominence has been given to the subject
and such distrust has beea expressed OF the
correctness of our position, that We lhinA Il
right and duiiful tC submit the matter to the
power to which alone we are bound. and ever