Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-05
ssnatoua, Courtesy.


The Staunton indicator says:
uSome of our Democratic contem-
poraries seem to misapprehend the
zen. torial courtesy which tits alleged
viii induce the President to retain the
possmastors At Woodstock and Peters
burg, the homes Of the two Virginia
senators. The courtesy is not ex-
tended by the President, but by the
Senate. That is TO say, If President
Cleveland were TO remove these post.
masters the Republican senators would
be solidified by senatorial courtesy
into refusing confirmation TO their sac,
cesso,s. however willingly they had
voted 20 confirm Democratic spPointees
n other localities. This, we take IT, Is
about the size of it."
The Vindieator states the case Is IL
Is. and in doing so furnishes good rea-
sons Why every voter, Democratic and
Republican, should denounce that sort
Of !" courtesy" which has enabled On
encrosching Senate, following the ex-
ample set by the impeachers Of An
DREW JOHNSON, to rob the President
Of one of the powers vested in him by
the Constitution Of the United States.
II is wrong that all parties ought to
seek to right. 1t is but the first step,
il is true. in the downward road to
anarchy and confusion, but it is step,
and " II is the first step that COSTS"
" Withstand the beginnings" COSTA
prineipiis.
We do not look at the matter from a
partisan point Of view. We take it
upon its merits. We freely admit that
Z Republican senator has the same right
as q Democratic senator to extort from
the President the sort Of courtesy"
VIC are considering. Wesay" extort
because though the word courtesy"
is employed, there is nothing but COM
pulsion in the case, as is abundantly
evidenced by the remarks Of our Staua-
ton contemporary. The senators are
banded together as conspirators against
the constitutional right Of the President
10 select the officers the Constitu-
ton empowers him to select. THAT
is to say, If President CLEvE-
LAND were to remove the post
masters at Petersburg and Wood
stock, the places Of residence Of General
MALONE and Mr.. RIDDLEBERGER,
the Republican senator's, encouraged by
the Democratic senator's, would refuse
to advise and consent to the nomina-
tons which might be made by the Pres
ident to I'LL the vacancies occasioned by
the removal Of those postmasters.
Now, it is a clear case that the sena-
tors have no more right to demand the
control Of one post-ofiice than to de-
mand the control Of any other post
Office. If each senator has the right to
compel the appointment Of a man of
his choice to be postmaster Of the town
or city Of his residence, he has exactly
the same right to compel Che appoint
nent of men Of his choice to be post
masters throughout the State of his
residence. He has exactly the same
right in the one case as the
other to take the President by the
throat and say that he will not
relinquish his grip until his wishes are
complied with. Thus the President
would be deprived entirely Of the power
entrusted to him by the fathers of the
republic. Thus would he become a
mere tool in the hands of senatorial
conspirators. Thus would the Office Of
President Of the United States become
by-word and scorn.
The President ought To assert his
rights. Under the law, the Senate would
BE- compelled to yield. They may re-
fuse 10 confirm his first sppointee il
each case but this would be matter
Of no consequence, since he would, n
We have said, maintain the Constitu
ton and vindicate his right to exercise
ths powers conferred upon him by tina
instrument. Their favorites would no
~ rsstorsd to Office by their refusal Il
conHrm the new appointments. AM
- The President could send in q hun
dred nominations in the time that
would take them to pass upon enc, tn
victory would be his in the end. Tn
Senate really hasn't the time to spar
which would be needed in such q tria
OF strength with the President
II isphysically impossible for that body
10 devote even one hour to the con
alteration Of each nomination made by
The President. And seeing that sftel
al their rsfusals the President woult
still have the right to nominate another
nan Il the Senate was in session, sns
70 1ll The Office again with . friend o
Ais own II the Senate was not in ses
sion, the lordly senator's would 500,
become tired Of the unequal contest
md yield ~ grscsfally IS they coult
q ~ sway Of the Constitution.
4. ~ -------r-------------------
Il 4 now but . short time until the
(tnvention viii meet that is to nomi
nafs candidates for State officers, the