New-York tribune., 1871-08-25
SENATOR FENTON'S RECORD.
A LETTER FROM GEO. W. PALMER.
From The Euening Post

Erentng
The letter signed " Republican" published
in your Journal Friday, Aug IL, in regard TO which
YOU say that although 1t contains good many asser
means convinced" republshed to-day in The Times,
apparently the sentiments OF your paper without the
explanatory remarks by which you introduced it. am
informed upon the most Trustworthy authority that
large numbers Of this issue Of The Times have been sent
TO all the prominent and Republican newspapers OF
the State from the headquarters Of some OF the depart
mens of the House, with the evident intent i
properly to influence the public mind In regard to the
real condition OF tho Republican party In the sate o
Your ANONYMOUS correspondent starts out with an
attempt 10 give tine political history Of each OF the Sena
tors-Messrs Conkling and FentOn. In regard TO the
statements relative the political consideration TO
which senator COnklng Ia entitled have nothing 70
say He can bear away all the honor W1cn - cue MN
from hs controversy respecting Provost MaTshai-Gen
eral Fry IL il asserted that during the first two years
OF his service with Mr. Morgan as his colleague New
York Republicans in both Houses OF Congress were
practically unit on all political questions. NO com
plaint was ever made OF DIVISION or uisSeli'i1I
among New-York republicans at Washington; IL
was the most perplexng and difficult period IN an
the history OF the RepnDcan pa na served %
by their representatives in Congress toT an tis tntt
are indebted TO one man more than 10 Roscoe oohh
ling. No who knows MIN ever suPeCIeu a. nun rI W.
wieding political patronage for his own beneht lie
was never known pace-seekeror an ONCE hucaster
Those Republicans who, during the two years peceuhE
the election of Gen Grant fought the battles Of the Re
publican party, Will remember he hlsJOry Vi tat
Andrew johnson was PTesdeht ehoea'oIHs W "i"No "
Il is claimed by your correspondent that the Repub.
cans in both Houses Of Congress were pTaoteaiiya nlt
on ali political questions at that time. The real RePuD
cans of the State Of NewIork were also practlcaiy
unit and opposed TO the pOlcy ana appointments vi %
Johnson. The Federal patronage In TINS clty ana ote
was, during that time, controlled by Thomas Murphy
and his associates. Mr.. Murphy was CHAIRMAN O we we
Twenty-thir,l-st Committee which, In 1866, ignored the
Republican State Convention and sent Delegates 10 the
"Tweddle Hal" Democratic COnYenuOn' Whch houl
mated Hoffman and PrIyn for Governor ana LeutenahJ-
Governor His Committee Endorsed the nomlnatons IONS
OF the Democratic Convention ana ne niuiseM pre-
sided at the Democratic ntiicat1on ueelhg IN @ Ono
He and the 6 men sf,S ac' In bS % @ Hall Re-
publicans" As before stated from tlat tlue lney con-
troed the patronage of JOhns0n5 ADMINISTRATOR so
that when President Grant came INTO poWei ana 1oy,
Fant0n took his seat as Senator, all the Oce,hOues
were understood 10 be the friends OF Andrew Johnson
and necessarily Of Mr. Murphy and his followers. III
Senators Morgan ana COnkling were acting III accord
with these they must be held dor n ts
state of things. II they were not then u "onid se Nh
strange that Mr.. Murphy should De uken up Dy Dll'
COnkng, and through ms lnnueo ~ e o IN tha state
ceyo the most powerful ana lucrative oiuce III the 0I'c
General Government. a., -. , .,,oo
were differences in the Republican party OF the stae
unless the detection Of the sOcalled RepuDneans VINO
supported the Philadelphia Convention ana the I"eude
Hall Democratic nominations may DC ca5Ieu s1cn: m
Therefore, credit il due to either senator Conklhg OF
Mr. Morgan for the harmony which existed In the party
In reference to the assertions made by your CORE
spOndent Ar FentOns career as Governor VIZ Inat
be manipulated executive patronage 10 Duu UP a PR PGr
sonal party; that the wellknown anu .edfnesuy,
expressed desires OF Leading DoreS 70 enable
him place men in official position VINO Would ueIote
rosatye of approving or vetong of the Legislature
was used in the dsgTaceful manner that erltor
tation by parties Interested; that bad measures were
approyed after certain persons known 70 be familiar with
s ths Erie schemes and Se@York tax ieve fostering
with corruption were approved In spite OF protests Dy
eminent ctzens WOuId say InaO 'ncy aIo do i'0 40
II may he well to call attention to few Of his appoint
ments which recOlleCt Gen. George ,. Batchener,
soninlaw OF Gen. Cook Of Saratoga was made by HIM
on his military saa Gen A. eN W.
James r. Swaync, now weigher at the custom House.
" Was 3 pe on anrg II DngSnne
now prominent member OF the CustomIIouse General
Committee thayng been its temporary chairman at lts
organzationD, and understood TO hold position
in the Custom-House at the present time was
appointed by Gov. Fenton on his military sta George
W Schuyler appointed Bank superintendent upon
the accommodation of Mr.. \. b. Cornell now surveyor
OF Customs at tins port WIN. Barnes was appoihteu
Bank superintendent; Nathaniel .. Burton wac ap-
pointed Canal Auditor; VIM Wasson OF the same fac
lion was made Canal Appraiser Lockwood l.. DOty for
mery private secretary to GOv Morgan and now United
States Pension Agent, was appointed Cef OF the bureau
Of Military Statistics jackson schultz VINO now acts
with Mr. OrtOn in the pretended reorganization in this
city, was appointed by Gov. Fenton Chairman Of the
Health Board and Drs Parker and Stone were made his
associates James W. Booth at present one Of the Vice
Presidents OF the CustOmHOuse organizaton was APP
pointed by Gov. FentOn on the Fire Commission. The
Harbor Masters and Port Wardens In the City Of New
York about equally divided between the then exist
ing factions In the Republican party. And many others
OF the men whom Gov. Hoffman appointed were then
identified with and to-day working in the traces OF
the old Conservative men.
It is true that Gov Fenton, prior TO his election as
Senator bad been ton years lIepTesentitlVe IN Con-
gress aud four years Governor of the state. He had
been elected Governor in 1864, after the defeat Of Gen.
5000 more majority than at his former election against
the combined efforts of the Democratic party Andrew
Johnson and his sO-Caed Republican followers 1t may
not have been unreasonable 10 expect that his advice
would have consideration in the cOunsels OF the Adj
minstration Il is true that he was clothed with authority
by the people later than his colleague. But II Is not true
stated by your correspondent that the men named
appointed TO Federal offices upon the recommends
tion OF Gov. FentOn. venture the assertion that he
made recommendation TO the President or any
OF the heads OF departments OF any man Tor the sole
reason that he friend OF his In regard 20 the per-
mentioned as having been appointed through his
influence, would respectfully say that
appointment the reason for which apprehend may be
Wasbburne now Minister France to this city TO
enlist the efforts of the Republicans in the canvass then
meeting Pennsylvania had been failure. Mr. Wash
bune desired that should be raised for the pur-
pose Of carrying the Mane Indiana, and Pennsylvania
elections in September and October. He applied TO Mr.
Grnne through whose great personal efforts $4,000
MIR. washburne and Gen. Grant have since admitted
that this aid decisive Of the Presidential contest
Mr. rinnel was appointed Collector OF the Port OF New
York Gen. Z. 4. Merritt was appointed at the
state, and Gov: FentOn, knowing, his great
ability and perfect Joined sDboDcS in
the recommendation OF Mr. COrbin, brotherin-
law of the President Gen Jones was made Postmaster
at the solicitation OF Mr. Greeley, and his reeOmmeDda
ton cOncded entirely with the wishes Of Gen Grant
Collector Bs4ey appointed at the solicitation OF
ment having been made, Mr.. FentOn Joined with other
Senators In the confirmation, although doubling the
was appointed the personal Recommendation or
Marshall o. Roberts. Postmaster Filkins Of Albany
was appointed for the Hon. Lyman Tremain and other
prominent Republicans Postmaster Booth and Gen.
Curtis were appointed upon the Recommendation OF
the leading Republicans in their several Localities All
these gentlemen being undoubted Republicans, Senator
FentOn probably gave them his cordial support MI
Allaben not appointed Assessor through the ln-
huence OF Senator Fenon but upon other recommends
tlOns
SO far my own appointment concerned. am
not aware that MI FentOn anybody else recommended
teither to the President to the Secretary OF te
tO
Senator FentOn in Europe. l was never Il cand
date for the place until officer OF the treasury De
partmcnt sent me- believe, by the secretary
of the Treasury and asked to accept the position
Thus much for Senator FentOns interference Withfhc
fnau