The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-17
CERTAINTY OF HIS CONFIRMATION.
Senator Sherman's Great Speech
for Specie Resumption.
Principal Instead Of Interest Should Consume
Gold Received in Customs.
Corruption, Favoritism, Idleness and Waste
Discovered in the Treas
ury Department.

COnkltng as Candidate for tho Chief
| Justicesht p-lseasOns OF His Oh Oice
and tho Certainty OF His Confirms ton.
| 1t is stated on authority that Senator Conkling
actually received q letter from President Grant
| last summer rendering him the position of Chief
Justice, which he In writing declined It is said
that he was prompted to this by conversation re-
| peated to him which Chief Justice Chase had with
a friend shortly before his death. MIR.
! Chase said that If he could obtain
| the presidency of one Of the large railroads he
would gladly resign the position he then held !;
| that 1t was SO Onerous and the duties connected
with the ONCE so exacting in their nature that it
took man from pr0priety not only out
OF all political life, but also in great
measure interfered with the freedom of social
enjoyments, anu that for man of active tempera-
ment it was not a desirable place. MIR. Conklfng
thought If these were Mr.. Chase's experiences ne
had better take warning and not enter upon duties
which would be to him In their conse-
quences exceedingly irksome. The quiet, digni-
fed retirement OF the Bench would not at
all suit him. He preferred to stay IN
the active turmoil Of political life But the ques-
ton of the Chief Justiceship through late events,
has assumed very different phase from what it
had at the time of the original offer. It has become
question of vital Importance to the unity of the
republican party.
The nominations OF Williams and Cushing de-
veloped most extraordinary opposition,
which has been deemed by the republican leaders
in the Senate as injurious to the party
prospects. 1t is claimed that the nomination
Of Conkling would In q great measure,
If not totally, ef1ace the bad effects which
had been thus created. and he has therefore been
induced to change his original determination and
accept. When his name is sent in it Will be
mn folv acfa kc
would not be courtesy to refer it to the
Judiciary Committee aside from the fact that he ia
q member of that committee. He will, therefore,
in ACCORDANCE with the custom, be con-
frmed without reference. President Grant
had desired to perpetuate the remembrance
OF the joint High Commission, and
what followed 1t by some marked honor bestowed
on one of It's members OF some one connected in
other ways with 1t. williams was Objectionable to
the Senate account of the doubt of his abilities
and Gushing for political reasons Waite was, till
the Geneva arbitration, unknown to the
country at large; besides he was also weak on his
political record Evarts was distasteful to the
President as having been Andrew Johnsons coun-
sell and lockwood Hoar. though strongly pressed,
had the insurmOuntable disadvantage OF having
been already rejected by the Senate for judicial
position on the Supreme bench. From prominent
republicans in different portions ofthe country have
come letters to senators ana to the President him.
sef stating that the Chief Justiceship has ceased
|. to he personal choice, but that proper nomma-
ton is essential to the welfare of the party. It is
feared that the Supreme Court cannot be relied
upon in matters which have q political
bearing. Clifford is, OF course, known to
be democrat in his politics. Field
and Davis are classed with tendencies strongly of
that nature. Miller is not entirely relied on, and
fhncfO rrr ont f tho nuhtT rp6sv
| litically dubious II Chief Justice should
be added who could not be entirely
depended upon the Court might In
some test question declare unconstitutional
laws OF q particular nature which have been
enacted by the strength OF the party. ana thus
vitality injure It's future prospects. 1t was this
feeling OF insecurity with regard to the
Court that was the main cause OF the
fierce crusade against Cushing. Though
1t might be granted that during the present adj
ministrstion and that of Lincoln he had been
republican In politics; yet there was strong
doubt that he might not in questions Of purely par
tIsan legislation decide In favor of the
party, and republicans demand that the
party should be made secure against such
doubts. This dread would be overcome BY placing
tried republican leader on the bench, on whom,
under any emergency which might arise, the ut
most reliance could be placed. 1t is therefore as o
distinguished party leader that Mr.. Conkiing has
been urged to accept the 0fflce, pacify the repub
lican party and restore confidence among Its de.
mOralized sub0rdfnates.
Specie Psyments Discussed in the SEN.
ate--Strong Arguments In Favor of
Strict Maintenance Of the National
Faith--Sher mans Great Financial
Speech.
In the Senate to-day, during the morning hour,
bills were reported by General Logan to increase
the Pay Department OF the army, and, by Senator
Howe to place the buss OF the late Chief Justices
fancy and Chase in the Supreme Court room. The
Postal Route bill was again discussed. With
view 70 getting our financial system on nrm
oasis, and to place the country In condition ac-
cordngly, the question Of returning to specie pay
ments again received consideration. Senator
sherman, chairman of the Finance Committee,
made lengthy and powerful speech, occupying
the whole session, which was In favor OF returning
to specie payments. He gave an exhaustive and
interesting description OF the varying phases
through which we had gone in the conduct of
our national finances. Morton Is Numerically
opposed to Shermans plan, but while both have
good, strong views of the remedy necessary to be
applied 10 the unsatisfactory condition Of the cur
rency and the wants OF the people, it was ackn0wl-
edged on all sides that sherman stood out
boldly to-day as sincere and jealous advocate OF
the national faith and credit when, rising to
lofty consideration OF his theme, he said, $50 help
him God he would never countenance a failure on
the part OF the government to faithfully discharge
all the obligations 1t had assumed towards its
friends and creditors who had stood by 1t in the
dark hours OF its peril" He gave full figures and
statistics OF the currency increase and the pay
ment OF interest in coin, asserting that one.tentn
Of the specie We had given to pay interest on
debt not due would applied to q debt
due, have brought us to specie payments
or greenbacks to par. He claimed that
under the pledge OF the government to
return to specie payment, it was bound to apply
its means. power and energy to keep the promise
of . great and proud people, and that four years
had gone by without the success OF single meas
ure in either House which had for its object to fulfil