Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-28
Members Of Congress and Executive
Appointments.

IL il be true. as stated in the news
papers, that the members-elect to Con-
gress from Virginia propose to hold
meeting in Washington to indicate to the
Executive their wishes as to the persons
to be nominated to fill the various Fede-
raj offices in Virginia, they are about to
make a grave mistake.
In the first place, such action would
involve palpable usurpation OF powers
not delegated to them. They were elect
cd to fulfil legislative duties, and when
they 90 outside of their proper functions
as legislators, and claim the right to
control the action of the Executive, they
are assuming authority for which no
warrant can be found in the Constitu-
ton.
Second. Such an assumption tends to
destroy the mutual independence of two
coordinate departments which is essen
tial to an honest and efficient admins
tratiOn Of the Government. 1t is easy
to see how readily practice of this kind
may lead to the most dangerous abuses.
One of the most important duties Of
Congress is to keep constant watch upon
the action Of the Executive. and thus
check extravaganza and mal-administra-
ton in every form. But if members Of
Congress become applicants for Execu-
tive favors to themselves or their friends,
this safeguard of the rights Of the peo-
pie must become seriously impaired.
Favors granted by one party will soon
be regarded as constituting considera-
ton for favors by the other, until final
" the whole matter will degenerate into
a complete system of barter.
Members of Congress should main
tain position of manly independence.
They should seek no favors at the hands
of the Executive. Their hands should
be kept unfettered by obligations for
patronage bestowed or expected. 1t is
only by maintaining position of this
kind that they will be able to discharge
their true representative duties fear
lessly and faithfully.
We have had a most humiliating
illustration Of the demoralizing effects
of this kind of relation between legis-
lators and the Executive in the case of
Malone and the late Republican Ad-
ministration. For Heavens sake, let us
have nothing more of the kind.
THIRD. Members will find that il
they expect to strengthen themselves
with the people by seeking to become
the channels through which executive
patronage is to flow they are greatly in
error. The masses will look upon this
pretension with jealousy. Public Of
flee should be open to free competition.
Character, capacity, and fidelity should
be the tests Of eligibility. The people
will never tolerate the substitution for
these Of other tests, such as relation
ship to members of Congress or deyo-
ton to their political interests.
Moreover, members should not for
get that for every appointment made
one or more disappointmenfs are ere
ated, and the disappointed will proba-
bly, be more active in their opposition
than the appointee in support Of the
man who caused the disappointment.
Finally, the effect of this new sys-
TEN will be to lower the standard in
the selection Of congressman. Ability,
knowledge of the public interests, in
tegrity, and fidelity to the Constitution
will no longer be the tests in the selec-
ton Of candidates. The inquiry will
be, Who by intrigue and maneuvre and
slavish sycophancy to the Executive
can worm out Of him the largest mess
Of official pottage?
1t is to be hoped that that the news.
papers have done injustice to our mem
bers of Congress by imputing to then
any purpose Of the kind above indi
Gated. But il they have entertained it
they will probably find that it vii
meet with a stern rebuke from tn,
President. He may say to them
Public offices are public trusts, no
rewards to be bestowed on favorites
The Constitution lodges the appointin,
power with me. | am to exercise i
for the public interests, and from nj
personal or private considerations.
will gladly hear you as witnesses as t,
the character and fitness Of any candi
date for Office. I will weigh your evi
dence like that Of any other respectable
gentlemen, but must make my selec
ton solely with reference to the publ
interests
If any propose to dictate to the Elk
ecusive--for, disguise it as you may, i
is in substance dictation-it is to b
hoped twill be promptly abandoned.
| OBSERVER.
We regret that the distinguishes
| statesmen who wrote the foregoing dix