New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-04

HE TRE1SUhY ND TIE COLLLCIORSHIF.
Ire Secretary of the Treasury l. above all
persous entitled to exercise commanding IN
flnrnce IN the appointment Of Collector oil
Customs at the Port OF New-York. It's there
lore the mani est duty Of the President to pay
the most respectful heed TO :he Judgment and
thr vi he's If the Secretary.
There Is no place IN the world under any
roveln meut waere so immense revenue Il
p,id a AT the Custom House in this city. \
million If dollars ~ gold coin is not IN
.r,qu,nty received IN nEgie day. and
tbr average or two-tlrds OF tie secular
d.vs of the wear exceeds half million
-. do.lar,. Thee enormous duties are Land
nm mported articles that are consumed
b, ftty millions OF American people. New
York ~ as mucn the Cu>tOmhOUse for Mlrnc-
sot,-Secreiary Windon'' own Staie-as 1t l.
for the great umpire State, on whose SOL the
lmld.ng rests. 1t Is also the custom
house for Iowa end Kansas for Kentucky and
Tennessee, aud IN very direct sense for
every ATE and Territory Of the Union. 1t
j. preennnently IA National Office. The people
of Nrw-YOtk pay but fraction of the duties
collected.
To deprive tie Secretary OF the Treasury OF
his free choice under the PresidenD OF the
oeicer vino collects three fOnfths of the customs
revenue of the country Is fatal stat
at the independence and ut the proper re-
spopsihllty of his great oftre. Mr. COnGling
WAS able by certain combinations In the
Senate 10 force upon Mr.. sherman for more
than year II Collector whom lac did not want.
That instance was. We believe, the only one
in our history where similar interference
WAS ATTEMPTED with the undoubted night of
tie Secretary.
We do not lose sight Of the fact that the
Senate Is wisely clothed with the right to ex-
anime closely into the character If any nomi-
nee whom the President may send to their
chamber for confirmation. But that Is the
senate A a whole, as an independent, CO.
ordinate, CONSTITUTE nal body. II, however, be-
fore the Senate shall consider the nomination,
one single member OF their body is
IN dictate. to the President whose name
shall lie sent or whose name shall
he withheld, then not only is the constitu-
tional power of the Pres dent destroyed, but
the Senate Itself experiences the confusion of
embodying within its own membership both
the mower to appoint and the power to con-
| 6rm.
| The nomination of Judge Robertson brings
all these questions to the front The Judge ia
| An eminent citizen OF New-YOrk. lie Is nom
| mated by the President for an Office
which Is broadly National. lie is the choice
and desre of the Secretary of the Treasury.
! The sennte is asked to consent to his ap-
polntmept. or, IL they find him unworthy and
| incompetent, to reject him. That is the
whole case. Ose eminent Senator. however
says, "No. The New-York Custom House
lis part OF my local patronage, and Judge
:" Rober SOD ia not personally agreeable to
"me, and l demand that the Senate reject
"him." We submit that to the great
American people whose Office the Col
lec.or Of Customs must be, the per-
soual likes and dishkes of any man
are of small moment. Perhaps Senator
| Conkling is not agreeable to Judge Robert
son. but that Is no reason why the Senator
should resign the seat he has 10 long and 30
ably filed. II is just US much reason. how
| ever. aa IL would be 10 reject Judge Robert