Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-05-19

is which would make major offices prey to
''intrigue" and wrong and shield" minor
offices from like havoc. And whether the
Collectorship OF the country should belong to
the exposed or to the protected class need
not be decided here. Assuming General
Merritt to be an officer of average fitness and
honesty it might be reasonably argued that
all Senators should with alacrity advise his
displacement by a man OF obvious superiority;
possibly it might DO said that all should
advise the selection IN General Merritts place
of man who, without superior fitness, had
rendered his country or even his party CON
spicuous and exalted service.
BopERTsoN's CLAIMS.
The case in hand does not belong to either
of these two classes. The vocation OF Mr..
Robertson and his Legislative and professional
experiences and surroundings do not denote
superiority in the qualities, knowledge, busi-
ness habits and familiarity with the revenue
laws and system of the United States which
might make him more competent than
General Merritt to collect the vast revenues
and administer the vast business pertaining to
the port of New York. Certainly he cannot
i'll this respect be held an exception to the
rules of right and consistency on which the
legislation aud laws have placed the public
service. We know OF no personal or political
service rendered by Mr.. Robertson 10 trans
ccndent that the collectorship of New York
should be taken in the midst Of
term anu given W nlfii Hb TecOhlpeiht.
MIR. Robertson il reported by tine
New York Tribune to have declared that his
nomination Was a reward" reward" for
action M delegate TO the late convention.
IL MIR. Robertson in his action was influenced
by a sense of duty, If he voted and acted his
honest convictions, IL is difficult to see what
claim he has for any reward, not to speak OF
such great reward. The action OF which an
estimate il thus invited liz understood TO be
this MI. Robertson and 60 other men
accepted from a State Convention II certain
trust They sought and accepted the position
of agents or delegates to the National Con
vention. The State Convention declared n
plainly stated Judgment and policy to be
observed and supported by those it commits
stoned. To this declaration all selected dele
gates implied consent. But several Of them,
III addition, made most specific personal
pledges and engagements TO exert
themselves III good faith throughout to secure
the nomination of General Grant. They made
this pledge al the means of obtaining their
own appointment IN delegates and they did,
n We both personally know. obtain their seats
in tho National Convention upon the faith OF
their earnestness and fidelity. The obligation
thus assumed We understand to involve in
tegrity as much as the obligations of one who
receive the proxy of stakeholder in a cor
puraLion upon the pledge and promise To vote AZ
his principal would vote. Whether Mr.. Robert
son was or was not himself bound not only by
giving his word, becomes quite immaterlal III
| view of the claim made for him. 1t il insisted
| that he ,''organ2ed the bolt" or, as 1t has
| been sometimes stated, ''he was the leader of
| the bolt
| This il to say that he invited. persuaded,
induced others, whom he knew had given
their word and had obtained their seat by
| doing no. to violate their word and betray not
| only Republicans assembled in state conven-
ton. but Republicans of their districts as
we'll, who had trusted in their honor. Who
| ever counsels aud procures another to do IL
| dishonest or dlshonorabo act must share
with that other the guilt and should share
the odum justly attaching to 1t. We are,
| therefore, wholly unable, upon whatever
grounds we put it, to sec justification for
ourselves should we become parties to using
the public trusts which belong to the peo-
pie to requite such services i'll such modes.
AsENAToR's RESPONSIBILITY.
But the appliances employed to effect
results set up new standards of responsibility
| and invade, ar We believe, the truths and
principles on which the separate and CO.
ordinate branches of the government stand.
A Senator has his own responsibility. lie If
| ameuable to his state and to the body OF
which he il member. He il bound by lls
oath to ''adyiso and consent gu his CON
| science and Judgment before God, whatever
or whoever else may restrain them. llo is Il
ne exempt from Executive menace or dlsiavoi
on the one hand and Executive lnduccment
on the other. Long standing On the order,
of the House OF Commons has been declar-
alton that member shall sniler expulsion
who even reports the wishes OF thu
executive head of the government to lntin
ence the votes of members. The British Con
stitution is not more jealous than ours il
this regard. To give advice, and honest
independent advice as to an appointments
proposed il as much the right and duty Of 4
senator NJ 1t IL the right or duty of the
President to propose the namc Be hi'
aivice one way or the other, it is no more al
act of dsrespect or treason IT, the nominating
| power than the verdict OF II juror or the de-
I cisiou of II judge. The idea that the Senate
| ~ simply to find ont what il wanted and thel
do it We cannot believe safe or admissible
and thus far no party has dared or descended
to set up such test OF party fidelity or allie
gil1ce.
III this instance such prominence has beer
given to tho subject and such dlstrtlst ha,
bean expressed of the correctness of our posi-
| tons, that we think it right and dutlful Il
submit the matter to the power to whicl
alone We are bound and ever ready TO bow
The Legislature IL in session; it is Republican
in majority. and New York abounds i'll SON
quite ar able US we to bear her message ant
commission in the Senate of the Unite,
: STATES. With II profound sense of the obliga
ton we owe. with devotion to the Republican
; party and its creed of liberty and right witt
reyGrent attachment to the great state who's
interests and honor are dear to the Inltet
States, we hold it respectful and becoming t,
! make room for those who may correct al
: errors We have made, interpret Alright al
E duties We have misconceivud. We, therefore
enclose our designations, but hold fast tn
: privileges, AZ citizens and Republicans l.
! stand for the constitutional rights of lll me
! and of ali representatives. whether of til
states, the nation Or the people, We hay
the honor to be,
> Very respectfully your obedent servants,
! Roscoe CoNKLING,
| THOMAS q. lLArT.
1 To His Exceilency Governor Cornell.