Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-02-27
Forty-sscOnd Congress
SECOND SESSION.
WASHINGTON, February 26.
aWMATR


to maintain any claim OF right against
the United States before such Iemov@
al of disabilities, unless the same &C
crued prior to April 11th, 1852, or sub.
sequent to April 10, 1865.
Senator COnkling offered the follow
ing resolution:
ResoLUed, That the President be re.
quested to inform the senate of the
number of recommendation for sp-
pointment, or to remove from Office,
SO far as can be ascertained, made to
the present administration by persons
now senators from the States Of New
York, Missouri, Illinois, and Nebras.
ka, respectively giving such partic-
ulars as may be given in regard to
such recommendation regarding
persons whose appointment or re-
moval was proposed, together with a
statement of the number of cases in
which action was taken in accordance
| with such recommendations
lively, of the number Of such persons so
appointed, and who have been re.
moved; also whether any senators
have solicited such appointments or
removals in any sense other than by
transmitting papers stating character
and qualifications of applicants, or OF
those who vOuehed for applicants, and
il 30, what senators.
Senator Sawyer moved to include
South Carolina.
Senator Conkling accepted the
amendment.
Senator Upton moved to amend it
so as to include all the States.
Senator COnkling said that he was
willing to vote for a similar resOlu-
tiOn applying to all the States, but he
preferred to have this one passed un-
changed, as ne desired the informa-
tion asked for as soon as possible.
Senator Upton said that Senator
Conkling seemed to favor partial in
vestigatiOns.
Senator Summer called attention to
the fact that Senators Schurz and
Trumbull had just taken their seats,
and said the investigation must not
be pressed behind the backs of the
senators concerned.
Senator COnkling said that he had
noticed the absence of the senators
mentioned. He would be candid and
say that it was his own recommends.
tions that he wished to get at.
Senator SehuIz asked to have the
4 I6bUiuLtOn A6dOy no AD was GU5Eub
when it was offered. The resolution
was again read.
Senator Trumbull-When this mat
ter of recommendations to Office was
| first brought to the attention OF the
senate on Friday last, by the senator
from Indiana Motion did net
think it proper TO reply TO his obser.
vations, and when he stated that he
had seen tabulated statement show
ing the number of recommendation
made by me, thought it was piece
| of business very much beneath the
senate and beneath the dignity of any
senator to be prOWling about the
departments trying to find out how
many recommendation were made
by me or by any other senator as if
that had anything to do with the
question then before the senate. l
snail make no opposition to the resO-
luton; let Us have an investigation
and let it go further, want to know
who the sneaks are who go around
to the departments seeking infOrma-
ton of this kind; / want to know at
whose instance it was that the depart
ment officials have been engaged to
make out tabular statements in re-
gard to one of the members of this
body; I want to know who called for
that information, and whether it WIS
required in reference to all senators,
or only in reference to one; let US see
who those are that thus 60 prOWling
around the departments; let US know
from the heads of departments for
what purpose this information was
sought, whether for public purpose,
or for personal, mean and contempt
ible purposes. l am willing to have
this resolution pass, but trust that
the civil service reform is not to be
defeated or corruption covered up by
personal attacks on those who attempt
to expose them. 1t is matter of very
little concern to the people whether a
senator has recommended one or q
thousand men for Office, but it is Of
great Importance to them to know
whether it is improper that dishonest
and corrupt men are put into Office,
and whether they are placed there for
personal, mercenary and improper
ends. l am willing that this resolu-
ton shall pass with the amendment
l have suggested. II there Is anything
to be made out of it, let the senators
from Indiana and New York have the
benefit of it. So far as 1 am con-
cerned, say to those senators, clay
on, MacdufI! and damned be he who
first cries hold, enoughp
Senator Conkling said he would &C.
cept the amendment proposed by
Senator Trumbull.
Senator Morton-The statement l
spoke of Friday was not made out at
my request. do not know at whose
request. 1t was made out, and have
seen it. I should not have referred to
it, however, but for the insinuatiOns
/ Of Senator Trumbull had made in re.
gard to myself and OtheTsi hanging on
the skirts Of power for mercelaTy pUr-
poses. have right to den0unce the
| hypocrisy wherever l find it; if any
man comes here and casts destinations
upon me that am seeking for patron
age, while he himself has gone as far
as any one in recommending to
Office has recommended In writing
and verbally has even gone to the
executive and demanded personally
| the appointment of relatives and
| fTiends, has been persistent and has
been impOrtunate. If any such man
comes on this floor and casts imputa-
tions on me, have the right, with
being criticised for 1t, to call attention
to what he has done himself. In re-
gard to proWling around the depart
ments, have been in only one de- |
partment during this session OF con-
gIess. 1 do not 90 to the departments |
once where suppose the senator !
CTrumbulll goes twelty times,
and SO far as sneaks are concerned |
who is q sneakY Is it the man who |
comes here and casts imputations on
senators, impugns their motives, talks |
about their hanging on the skirts of
power and attempts to make party cap
| italsby charges OF that kind, when he
has been one of the most impOrtunate !
seekers for Office and has urged the |
appointment OF his friends personally |
and in writing time and again. Now
/ said that ] had seen q statement |
showing that the senator had made |
one hundred and three recommenda- |
tions in writing to this admiuistra- !
ton. l believe that statement to be !
true and that it will be verified under |
the resolution offered by the senator |
from New York.
The resolution went over.
At the expiration of the morning !
hour the senate resumed the consid- |
Grafton of the resolution to inquire
into the alleged sale of arms to the |
French agents.
Senator Nye addressed the senate. !
He said that in this debate the pur- |
pose OF destroying the Republican |
party had been openly avoWed. This |
attack on the administration had been |
arranged by two distinguished sena.
tors, and they fiattered themselves |
1 fhano fhorv rrvDvrIl ~