Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-17
no training for the position, and who
cannot be said to have

civil service can never be placed on
satisfactory basis until it is regulated by
law. For the good OF the service itself,
for the protection OF those who are in
trusted with the appointing power
against waste OF time and obstruction
10 public business caused by the inor'
dinate pressure for place and for the
protection OF incumbents against in
trigue and wrong, l shall at the proper
time ask Congress TO fix the ten
ure of the minor offices OF the
several executive departments, and
prescribe the grounds upon which
removals shall be made during the terms
for which incumbents are appointed.
How good a distinction is that which
would make the major Offices
A Prey to Intrigue and Wrong
and shield the minor offices from like
havoc, and whether the collectorships ol
the country should belong to the ex-
posed or protected class, need not be de
cided here. Assuming General Merritt
TO be an officer of average fitness aud
honesty, it might be reasonably agreed
that eli the Senators should with alscri-
Nv advise his displacement by man OF
obvious superiority. 1t might he said
that all should advise the selection In
General Merritt's place Of man who
Without Superior Fitness,
has rendered his country, or even his
party, conspicuous and exalted service
The case in hand does not belong to
either OF these classes. The vocation OF
Mr.. Robertson and his legislative and
professional experience and surround
ings do not denote superiority i'll the
qualities, the knowledge, business hab-
it's and familiarity which the revenue
laws and system OF the United States
which might make him more competent
than General Merritt 10 collect the vast
revenues, and administer the vast busi'
ness pertaining to the port OF New York.
Certainly, he cannot i'll this respect be
held an exception to the rules OF right
and con sistency on which the censtitu-
ton and laws have placed the
public service. We know OF no
personal or political service rendered
by Mr.. Robertson SO transcendant that
the collectorshlp OF New York should be
taken in the midst OF term and given
him as a recon pense. Mr.. Robertson
is exported by the New York Tribune to
have declared that his nomination was
"A Reward"
A reward" for acting as delegate to a
National convention, II Mr.. Robertson
in his action was influenced by sense
of duty-if he voted and acted his
honest cOnvictlons-it is difficult to see
what claim he has for any rewaId, not
to speak OF such great reward.
The action of which al estimate is thus
invited is understood 10 be this: Mr..
Robertson and sixty-nine other men ac'
copied from the State Convention certain
trusts. They sought and accepted the
position OF agents or delegates to the
National Convention. The State Con-
vention declared that its plainly stated
judgment and policy was to he observed
and supported by those it commissioned
TO this declaration. But several OF them
in addition made the 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 personally know,
obtain their seats in the National Con-
vention upon the faith OF their personal
statement OF their earnestness and fl.
deity. The obligation thus assumed
we understood to involve the integrity
as much as the obligation OF one
who receives the proxy of the stockhold.
er in corporation upon a pledge and
promise to vote as his principal would
vote. Whether Mr.. Robertson was or
was not himself bound, not only by
honor and implication, but by
Expressly Giving His Word.
becomes quite immaterial in view OF the
claim made for him. 1t is insisted that
he Originated the bolt" or, as it has
been sometimes stated, "he was the lead
er of the bolt This is to say that he in
vited, persuaded and induced others
whom he knew had given their word
and had obtained their seats by
doing so, 10 violate their word
and betray not only the Republicans as
sembled in State convention, but the
Republicans of the city districts rs well
who had trusted in their honor. Who
ever counsels and procures another to
| do a dishonest or dishOnorabIe act,
must share with that other the guilt
and should share also the odium
Justly attaching to it. We are there
lore wholly unable, upon whatever
ground we view il, to See the justitiCa.
ton for ourselves should We become
parties to using the public trusts which
belong to the people to require such ser
vice in such modes, but the appliances
employed to effect the results set up
new standards OF responsibility and in
wade, as We believe, the truth and prin'
ciples on which the separate and CO.
ordinate branches of the government
| stand.
A Senator Has His Own Responsibility
He is amendable to his State and to the
body of which he is member. He is
hound by his oath to "advise and con-
sent" az his conscience and judgment
dictate before God, whatever or who
ever else may constrain him. He is ex'
empt from executive menace or dlsia'
yor on the one hand, and executive in.
ducement on the other. The long stand
ing order of the House OF Commons has
been declaration that member shall
suffer expulsion who even reports the
wishes OF the executive head OF the gov
ernment to influence the votes oi
members. The British constitution
is not more jealous than ours in this re-
gard. To give advice, and honest, inde'
pendent advice, as to the appointment
proposed is as much the right and duty
OF a Senator as il is the right or duty o.
the President to propose a name. BS
his advice one way OF another, 1t ls nc
more an act of disrespect or treason tC
the nominating power than the verdic
of juror or the decision OF judge
The idea that the Senate is simply tC
find out what is wanted and then do it
We cannot believe safe or admissible
and thus far no party has dared ol
descended 10 set up such test OF party
fidelity or allegiance. In this instanc,
such prominence has been given th'
subject, and such distrust has beer
expressed OF the correctness OF our posi-
tons, that We think it right and dutifu
to submit the matter 10 the power 4
which alone We are bound and eve
ready to bow. The Legislature is IL
session, it is Republican in majority
and New York abounds in sons quite a
able as We, 10 bear her message an,
commission in the Senate OF the Unite,