Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-05-17
tient of 'advice and consent to what he proposed
We ma lie no assault upon anybody. We have at all
times
REFUSED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS


By Representatives Of the press, or make complaint
or comment, even denial OF the truthiess
charges published against US by oicious champions
OF "the Administration" Indeed, beyond conf
dental consultations with brother Senators and Off
GERS we have said nothing until now on the subject,
nor have We, or either OF US, promoted the dead
lock in the Senate in order to prevent or influence
action any nomination; nor havewe ever stated.
Immediately after the nominations were published,
letters and kilograms IN great Plumbers came from
every part Of the State from its leading citizens,
protesting against the proposed changes and con-
demuing them on many grounds. Several thou
/ sands OF the leading mercantile firms OF New
York. constituting, are informed, majority of
| every branch Of trade, sent in remonstrances
Sixty of the eighty one Republican members Of the
Assembly, by letter memorial, representatives in
Congress- State officials, business men, professional
men, commercial, industrial and political organiza
tions, among the remonstrants, and they speak
from every section OF the State.
OTHER NOMINATIONS.
| Besides the nominations already referred to,
there awaiting the action Of the Senate several
citizens of New York named for offices connected
with the Courts-District Attorneys and Marshals
These were all rsappomted. Most Of them had been
originally commissioned by Mr.. Hayes. They were
certified to by Judges Of Courts and many other
prominent persons, who attested the faithfulness
and merit OF their service. and recommended their
continuance. They were not presented by us. We
have not attempted to dictate have asked the
nomination of one person to any office in the State.
Indeed with the single exception Of the written
/ assad
an opinion to the President, in any case, unless
| questioned in regard to it. Some days ago the
President abruptly withdrew the names OF General
Woodford and Mr.. Tenny, and Of two Marshals
This unprecedented proceeding, whether admissible
! by law not, grayely significant. The Presi-
dent had nominated these officers after they had
been weighed in the balance. Their official records
were before him, and had been fully scrutinzed and
approved. 1t must be presumed that the nomina-
| tions sho Id be made, and that it was his duty
| to make them. There is no intimation
that he discovered any unftness in them
afterwards. 1t could not be possible that he had
discovered unfitness in all OF them alike. What,
| then, was the meaning and purpose Of this per
emptory step? 1t was Immediately stated, as if by
authority and seems to be admitted, that the pur-
| pose was to
CoERCE THE SENATE Oh SENATORS
To vote as they would not vote if left free from
Executive interference. The design was to control
the action of Senators touching matters committed
by the Constitution to the Senate aid the Senate
| exclusively 1t has been suggested, in addi.
tion, that by recalling these nominations
| and holding them in his own hands, the
President might, in the event Of the failure Of an
other nomination, use them to compensate that
failure If it can be supposed that all these public
trusts are to be, or would in any event be made
personal perqusites, or thus handled and disposed
Of not only to punish the Independence of Sena-
toral votes and action but to quidate the personal
obligations OF any individual, however high in sta
tion, the combinations are utterly vicious and de-
| grading and their acceptance would compel repre-
sentatives Of States to fling down their oath and
representative duty at the footstool of execu i've
power. Following this sweeping and startling ex-
ecutive act came
AN oMINoUs AvolTAL
That dissent or failure to advise and consent ''
would be held an act of offonse, exposing all Sen
gtors from whatever State, to executive displeas.
ure Thus we found ourselves coniro' ted by the
question whether sh II surrender the plain right
and sworn duty of Senators by consenting to what
we believe to be vicious and hurtful or be assigned
position of disoyaty to the Administration which
we helped to bring in, and the success Of which
we earnestly wish for We know no theory
| avowed by any party which requires such
submission as is now exacted. Although party SER
vice may be fairy considered in makifg selections
of public officers it hardly be maintained that
the Senate is bound to relieve, without cause, in
| cumbents, merely to make places for those whom
from individual reasons even the President or men,
hers Of his Cabinet wishes to repay Tor being
recreant to others or seryiceable to him.
GENERAL MERRITT's APPOINTMENT.
| Only about two years ago the Senate advised that
General Merritt be appointed Collector at New
York 1t is und, rstood that among the Senators
| who 40 advised was Mr.. Window, now Secretlry of
| the Treasury and head of the Department whose
subordinate Cen Merritt is. Another Senator known
| to have given this advice was Mr.. kirkwood, now
Secretary of the Interior Itjs said, likewise, the
| Postmaster. General from our own State. These
Cabinet officers not taken into consultation
touching the removal OF General Merritt but their
sworn and official action as Senators is none the
less instructive That the late Secretary of the
Treasury and late Administration, up to its expira
| ton. less than ten weeks ago, approved General
| Merritt as an officer, is well known, and it is
nowhere suggested that any citizen had petitioned
for his reno, al or that official deli quency on his
part is the reason OF it. In place of experienced
officer. in the midst OF his term fixed by law, it is
proposed suddenly to put man who has had
no TRAINING FOR THE POSITION,
And who Garnet be said to have any special fitness
1 Al. .,a,, ~ Drao
dent Garfield, delivered the 4th Of March, stand
these words: "The civil service can rever be
placed on satisfactory basis Until it is regulated
BYLAW. For the good Of the service itself, for the
protection OF those who intrusted with the ap-
pointing power against waste OF time and the OBJ
struction of public business caused by the norli-
nate pressure for place. and for the protection OF in
cumbents against intrigue and wrong, shall at the
proper time ask Congress to fix the ten
ture of minor officers Of the several
executive departments, and prescribe the grounds
upon which removals shall be made during the
terms for which the incumtents have been appoint
cd" How good the distinction is which would make
majority of the offices prey to intrigue and
wrong and SHE'D the minor offices from like havoc
and whether the Col!ectorships Of the country
should belong to the exposed to the protected
class, need not be decided here. Assuming General
Merritt to be an officer OF average fitness and hon.
esty might be reasonably argued that all Senators
should with alacrty advise his displacement by a
man Of obvious superiority. Possibly it might be
said that all should advise the selection in General
Merritt's place Of a man who without superior fit
ness bad rendered his country even his party, con-
spicuous and exalted service. The case in hand
DOES NOT BELONG TO EITHER Or THESE
CLASSES.
The vocation of Mr. Robertson, lis professional and
legislative experience and his surroundings do not
show superiority in the qualities in the knowledge
of business habits and familiarity with the revenue
laws and system of the United States which might
make him more competent than General Merit. to
collect the State revenue and administer the vas,
business pertaining to the Port Of New York. Ger
tsinly he cannot in this respect be held excep
ton to the rules Of right consistency which
the Constitution and laws have placed the pull lie
service. We know Of no Congressional or political
service rendered by Mr.. Robertson so transcendcn'
that the Collectorshp OF New York should be taken
in the middle sf term and given to him as .
recompense. Mr.. Robertson is reported by the
New York Tribune to declare that his nomination
was "reward" for his action as delegate to the