New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-27
THE SENATE AND THE PRESIDENT

II seems to some that President Garfield
should be anxious to break the Senatorial
deadlock so-called. But we cannot see any
reason why he should worry himself about 1t.
If the Senate sees fit to spend time unneces-
sarily, the President is not responsible. AS
THE TRIBUNE has said, the duty of the Presi-
dent is to make worthy nominations. That
duty he has been performing. If the Senate
chooses to spend a whole year in other bust
ness, or in no business, leaving these nOmlna-
tons unconfrmed, the President cannot be
blamed in the least degree. Perhaps the Sena-
tors may be, but that is their responsibility.
Then it is said that the President can termi-
nate this delay at pleasure, and therefore
should do so, by Withdrawing all nominations
now before the Senate. When he has done this,
il is said, the Senate will be left without any
business before it, and will necessarily adjourn,
and the President can then fill offices by tenn
pOrary appointment. Is there adequate reason
for any such stepi Is the public business
suffering to such an extent, by reason OF Sena-
torial neglect Of pending nominations, that the
President should depart from the digniied at
itude he has thus far held 1t would be Of
questionable propricty, to say the least, to with
draw nominations already made. in order to get
the Senate out of the way, and with intent to APP
point the same persons after that body had adj
iourned. But there is another objection. 1t
does not yet appear that withdrawal of noml-
nations would cause the adjournment of the
Senate.
The fact seems to be overlooked that the
Senate has before it important executive bust
ness besides the nominations for office. Urea
ties of great Importance, which cannot he
treated with indifference without affecting the
honor of the Nation, are now in possession OF
the Senate, and await its action. If the Demo
cratic party had not seen fit, for purely partisan
ends, to prevent organization of the Senate by
IFS majority, these treaties would doubtless
have been acted upon long ago. In many re-
spects, action upon them is more important
than the confirmation of any appointments
now pending. Ii is not suggested that the
President could properly withdraw treaties
which have once been formally submitted TO
the Senate for its consideration. If he could
not. the Senate would still have exceedingly
important executive business before it, after all
pending nominations had been withdrawn. 1t
might see fit to continue i'll session, endeavoring
IN organize so that this business could be safely
and properly transacted. In that Gaze, the
withdrawal of nominations would have served
no useful purpose
In short, the President has no occasion to be
concerned because the Senate refuses to per-
form its duty. The people know where the
responsibility belongs. There need be no fear
that they will forget to hold Senators to n strict
account The refusal to attend to public bust
less of pressing importance is disgraceful, it is
true. But it does not disgrace the President
The shame falls upon those Senators who for
partisan reasons, prevent the proper organiza-
ton of the Senate by it's majority. The Demo
cratic party has that load to bear. We are not
anxious to see it lightened at the cost of any
step of questionable propriety or dignity by the
President. If Democratic Senator's, by sticking
TO their present course, are playing into the
hands of Republican malcOntents, who do not
venture to bring pending appointments to a
direct vote, they are wasting their reputation
very cheaply. The Republicans who gain time
nv their revolutionary behavior will never give
them thanks for it, but will be among the fore
most in the next campaign to fasten upon the
Democratic party the responsibility for revo-
lutionary blockade of the public business. In
the end, the people will put the blame upon
the Democrats who cause the delay The
Democrats court, and TO them belongs, the full
responsibility for the blockade of executive
business, and il does not seem necessary for the
President to lift any part Of it from their
! shoulders.