The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-17

be assigned position of disloyalty to the adj
ministration which we helped bring in and the
success of which we earnestly wish for every
reason and motive which CAN enter into the
case. We know no theory ayowed by any par
ty which requires such submission as is BOW
exacted. Although the service may be fairly
considered in making selections of public Off
GERS it can hardly be mentioned that the Sem
ate is bound to remove without cause incum-
bents merely to make places for those whom
any individual, even the President or member
of his cabinet, wishes TO repay for being recre-
ant to others or serviceable to him. Only about
two years ago the Senate advised that Merritt
be appointed collector of New York. It is
understood that among the Senators who so
advised was Mr.. Window, now Secretary of
the Treasury and head of the department
whose subordinate Merritt is. Another Sena-
tor known to have given this advice was Mr..
KirkwOod, now Secretary of the Interior. 1t
is said that like the Postmaster-General from
our own State, these cabinet officers were not
taken into Consultation touching the removal
OF Merritt, but their sworn and official action
as Senators is none the less instructive.
That the late Secretary, and late adminstra-
ton up to its expiration less than ten weeks
ago approved Merritt as an officer is well
known,nor is it now suggested that any citizen
had petitioned for his removal or thatotficial
delinquency on his part is the reason of it In
place of an experienced officers in the midst
of his term fixed by law it is proposed sudden
ly to put man in who has had no training for
the position and who cannot be said to have
any special fitness for its official duties In the
inaugural of President Garfield, delivered on
the 4th of March, stand these words:
The civil service can never be placed on salts
factory basis until it is regulated by law fol the good
OF the service ITSELF for the protection of those who
are entrusted with the appointing power against the
waste of time and obstruction to public business
caused blythe inordinate pressure for pea and for
the protection of incumbents against intrigue and
fix the tenure of minor offices of the several execu-
tive departments and prescribe grounds upon which
removals may be made during terms for which the
incumbent has been appointed
How good the distinction is which would
make major offices a prey to "intrigue' and
wrong and ''shield'' minor offices from like
havoc, and whether the collectorships Of the
country should belong to the exposed or to the
protected class need not be decided here. As
Stunning Merritt to be an officer of average fit
ness and honesty, it might be reasonably ar
gued that oil society should with alacrity adj
wise his displacement by man of obvious SUI
perioriIy. Possibly it might be said ali should
advise the selection for Merritts place Of a
man who, without superior fitness; had rem
dered the country or even his party coaspicu-
GUS and exalted service. The case in hand
does not belong to either of these classes The
position of Robertson and his legislative and
professional experience and surroundings do
not denote superiority in qualities of knowl-
edge, business habits ana familiarity with the
revenue laws aud the system of the United
States which might make him more
competent than Merritt to collect the
vast revenues and administer the vast
business pertaining to the port of NeU York.
Certainly he cannot in this respect he held an
exception to the rules of right and consistency
on which the constitution and the laws have
placed the public service. We know no per-
sonal or political service rendered by Robert
son so transoendent that the colectorship of
New York should be taken in the midst of q
term a I'd given him as recompense. Robert
son is reported by the New York Tribune to
have declared his nomination was ''reward, y
a reward" for his action as delegate to the
National Convention. If Robertson in his
action was influenced by sense of duty if he
voted and acted from honest conviction it
is difficult to see what claim he has for any re-
ward, not to speak of such great reward. The
action of which an estimate is thus invited is
understood to be this: Robertson and 50
other men accept from the State convention a
certain trust. They sought and accepted the
position OF agents or delegates to the National
Convention. The State convention declared a
plainly stated judgment and policy to be OBJ
served and supported by those it commissioned
To this declaration all selected as delegates
gave implied consent. But several of them in
addition made most specific personal pledges
and engagements to exert themselves in good
faith throughout to secure the nomination of
Gen. Grant They made this pledge as
means of obtaining their own appointment as
delegates and they did as we both person lily
know, OBTAIN seats in the National Convention
upon the faith of their personal statements of
their earnestness and fidelity. The obligation
thus assumed we understood TO involve integ-
rity as much as the obligation of oEe who re-
ceives the proxy of stakeholder in a corpora
ton upon pledge and promise to vote as his
principal would vote. Whether Robertson was
or was not himself bound not only by honor
and implication, but by expressly giving his
word, becomes quite immateral in view OF the
claim made for him. 1t is insisted he "organ-
lied the bolt" or as sometimes stated che was
leader of the bolt" This is to say he invited
persuaded and induced others whom he knew
had'given their word and had obtained a seat
by doing so to violate their word and betray
not only the Republicans assembled in state
convention, but those Republicans of their dis
tricts as well who had trusted in their honor
Who ever counsels and prOcures another to do
dishonest or dishonorable act must share
with that other the guilt and should share
also the odium justly attaching to it. We are
therefore wholly unable upon whatever ground
we put it to see Justification for ourselves
should we become parties to using the public
trusts which belong to the people to requite
such services in such modes.
But the appliances employed to effect these
results set up new standard of responsibility
and invade as we believe truths and principles
on which the separate and coordinate branch
es of the government stand. A Senator has
his own responsibility He is amenable to his
State and to the body of which he is a Nom
Der. He is bound by oath to ''advise and con-
sent" ON his conscience and judgment before
God. Whatever or whoever else may con-
strain him he is to be exempt from executive
menace of disfavor on the Que hand and exec
utive inducements on the other. Long stand
ing on the orders of the House of Commons
has been the declaration that a member shall
suffer expulsion who even reports the wishes
of the executive head of the government to in
huence votes OF members. The British consti
tuition is not more jealous than ours in this re-
gard. To give advice and honest, independent
advice as to an appointment proposed is as much
the right and duty of the Senator as it is the
right or duty of The President to propose a
name. Be his advice one way or the other it
is no more an act of disrespect or treason to the
nominating power, than the verdict
Of juror or decision OF a Judge
The idea that the Senate is simply
to find out what is wanted and then 40 it we
cannot believe is safe or admissible, and thus
far no party has dared or descended to set up
such a test of party fidelity or allegiance.
In this instance such prominence has been
given to the subject, and such distrust been
expressed of the correctness of our positions
we think it right and dutiful to submit the
matter to the power to which alone we are
bound and ever ready to bow. The Legislature
10 ia oOocioH' II 10 1sOpuuiiCdu III majority,
and New York abounds in sons quite as able
as we to bear her message and commission to
the Senate of the United States. With pro-
found sense of the obligation we owe, with de-
votion to the Republican party and its creed
of liberty and right, with reverent attach
ment to the great state whose interest and
honor are dear to us, we hold it respectful and
becoming to make room for whosoever NAV
correct all the errors we have made and inter.
pref Alright all the duties we have miscon-
ceived. We therefore enclose our designations
but hold fast the privilege as citizens and Re,
publicans to stand for the constitutional rights
of all men and all representatives, whether of
states, nation or people. We have the honor
to be
Very respectfully, your obedient servants.
ROSCOE CoNKLING,
THOMAS G. PLATr
To His Excellency,
Gov. CORNELL.