The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-12-17
Look to the Senate.

Acaucus Of Republican Senators TO con-
slider the manner in Whichthe appointments
Of the President should be treated was held
last week. There was no general rule de-
termined on, except that no captions or
factious opposition would be made to the
appointments. Where appointments were
made to fill vacancies by reason of expira-
ton of commissions, death or resigna
ton. confirmation would follow. Where
appointments were made to succeed sus-
pended officers, each would be inquired
into ard judged upon its merits. Where
charges have been preferred, and suspen-
sions based on that, the suspended officer
will be offered the opportunity to state his
case. and If the charges are not such as to
justify suspension then his successor will
not be confirmed. In States where there
are Republican Senators, and where faith
full Republicans have been suspended,
simply because they were Republicans.
and Democrats appointed, because they
were Democrats. the Senators themselves
will be allowed to determine the policy to
be adopted. In this State wholesale sus-
pensions were made, ostensibly predicated
upon wholesale SANDERS of Republican
officers. Members and ex-memberS of
Congress assailed all Republicans as un-
fit for official position, and these ISLANDERS
were endorsed by the President and the
Postmaster General, upon the ipse dirit
of malignant partizans, without any facts
to sustain them. The administration
was governed entirely by partizan spoils-
men, who hesitated at nothing to carry
their point. All that was necessary was
that an officer should be proven to have
intelligence and independence enough, to
have an opinion of his own, and to express
that opinion in favor of the Republican
party, for him to come under the ~ OF
Mr.. Villas offensive partizanism, and be
summarily bounced. In every instance
where suspension was ordered, an ex-
IRENE democratic partizan was appointed
to succeed the suspended officer. All that
was needed to call down the vengeance OF
| the administration was that Gen. Malone
should have been friendly to the officer.
| The tenure of office act and the civil ser
vice law amounted to nothing. Bourbon
malignity and Bourbon greed forspoils con-
stituted the determining cause. 1t was
the policy to outlaw Virginia Republic
cans. It was openly proclaimed that they
were to be made an exception, and the
guillotine applied without respect to law
or persons in order to wreak vengeance
upon Gen. Malone. 1t was mean, ma
lignant and mendacious warfare upon the
official character of men, against whom
no charges of official misconduct could be
| truthfully made. In no State OF the
| Union were the affairs of the government
more faithfully and efficiently admin
/ istered. In this respect no complaint
could be lodged. All that could be saic
was that the officers were Republicans and
had the courage of their, convictions
/ They believed when in office and believe
/ now when out Of Office, that this modern
Democratic party has been and is posi-
tive menace to the business and peace Of
the country--that its success is the result
of the most fragrant violation OF the laws
and constitution of the country and frauds
upon the ballot box, and that the onl.
power now between the people and gen
eral paralysis to all the great interests o
the Nation, is the Republican Senate. X
that body they look for fair treatment
for vindication not only Of the laws bu
of the dignity and constitutional preroga
tiyes Of the Senate itself. Appointment
by the President and confirmation by TIL,
Senate must he concurrent actions to con
stitute an officer. The one is as essentia
as the other and where this Requirement
of law has been given. there ought to b.
good reason for suspension. Certainly i
was contemplated in the conditions ne
cessary for the appointment Of an Officer
that the Senate should be a positive
and independent factor in the act
i not pliable body subject to the vii
of the President, influenced alone by par
titan considerations. A Republican Sen
ate should carry with it as much dignit,
ttuu 0elI-tSSpcCb do A/CLiOS&ceAS - S1A
dent and should be as jealous of its con
stitutional prerogatlyes as the Executive
It is a palpahle invasion of the rights o.
the Senate for the President to violate The
tenure of Office act. at the behest of party
in the suspension of an officer, and The
designation of his successor, simply be
cause the one has political convictions diff
ferent from the other and the country
looks to the Senate to defnean defend its
own powers and prerogatiyes that here
after limit may be prescribed to Presi
Dental action in the suspension OF public
officers who have been confirmed by the
Senate and faithfully discharged the du
ties imposed upon them in their appoint
ment
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