, 1876-05-27
cONKiING---BtkiNs.
The Frixidity that Exists Between Them
A Spicy Encounter Ten Years AGO

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A spicy Encounter Ten Years AGO
| We are often asked if is true that the dis
tinguished statesmen whose names head this
article are unfriendly to each other, and if
so, the cause Of it; aud if it is Of such char
acter as would be likely to prevent the cor
dial support of one bv the other for the Presi-
deney, in case of his nomination at Cinein-
natl We have been compelled to answer
that We did not know but to enable our in
terrogators to judge as well as we, it may be
stated for their information the cause of the
quarrel and leave them 10 form their opinions
The Chicago TTiJlsN says: We believe these
gentlemen have exchanged 80 Courtesies foI
the past ten years, but a common danger TO
the country it is quite likely wOuld bring
them again together. On the 9th of April,
1866, while the army appropriation was un-
der discussion in the House, Mr. COn%lInS
reflected severely upon General Fry, Provost
Marshal General during the war. Blaine
defended Fry, declaring that there was not a
|
army than he. He further said " That
officer, | doubt not, is ready to meet the ger
| tlemen from New York, or anybody else. in
the proper forum. l must say that L do not
think tha: it is very credita6le proceed
| ing for the gentleman from New York, here
in this place, to traduce General Fry as a
military officer, when he has no opportunity
10 be heard"
Conkling responded; ''If General Fry is
reduced TO depending for vindication upon
the gentleman from Maine, he is to be com
miserated certainly If | have fallen TO the
necessity of taking lessons from that gentle
man in the rules OF propriety, or Of right or
wrong, God help me" On a subsequent day
Mr. Blaine read letter in the House from
| General Fry, which closed as follows: " he
| (Conkling) can, therefore, only escape the
charge of deliberate and malignant falsehood
as member of Congress by confessing an un-
pardonable breach of duty as Judge Advo-
cate. He held both Offices, and took pay for
both at the same time. He has certainly
been false to honor in one, and perhaps, as
the sequel may show, in both"
This drew an explanation from Conkling
| of the manner he was employed by The Coy
ernment. Blaine charged that lie violated the
law, which he quoted, prohibiting him to re-
ceive compensation while holding the office
be did In the progress of discussion Conk-
ling said al the gentleman from Maine
had the least idea how profoundly indifferent
| am TO his opinion on the subject be has
| been discussing, or up0n any other subject
| pertinent 70 me, ] think that he would hand
/ iy take the trouble 10 rise here and express
his opinion, aud, as 1t IS matter OF entire
| Indifference TO me what the opinion may be,
! I certainlT will not detain the House by dis
eussing the question whether It Is well or III
| founded, or by noticing what be says, and
/ concluded by calling B.aine's conduct " IN
| gentlemanly, impertinent, and having roth
| ing nothing whatever 20 do with tbe qnes'
| ton Blaine closed the discussion as fol
| lows: AS 10 the gentleman : cruel sarcasm
hope he Will not be too severe. The con
| tempt of that largeminded gentleman Is 50
whiting; his naughty d;sdain, his graudl!o-
quent swell, his majestic, supereminent, over
powering, turkey gobbler strut has been so
crushing to myself ana all the members OF
! -, Fl,aF I n .p .rt a.
greatest temerity for me to venture upon
controversy with him. But sir, know who
is responsible for all this. know that with
| in the last five weeks, as members OF the
House will recullect, extra strut has char
acterized the gentleruan's 5 bearing. 1t Is not
his fault. u Il the fault Of another That
gifted and saiirieal writer. Theodore Illton-
of the Y. 7. Aaipsa2zt, spent some weeks re-
Gently in this city. His letters published IN
that paper embraced. with many serious
! statements, little j3eose satire, a part OF
! which was the statement that the mantle OF
| the late Winter Davis had fallen upon the
member from New York The gentleman
| took il seriously, and 1t hEs given his strut
additional pomposity. The resemblance Is
great II is striking. Hyperion TO sa'yr,
/ Thersites TO Hercules mnd 10 marble, dung
/ hill to diamond, singed cat to Bengal
! tiger. a whining puppy to a roaring hon.
Shade of the mighty Davis, forgive the al
most proclamation Of the ioeose satire
That pa5sage-at arms between the two dis
tinguished gentlemen ended their personal
| and social relations, and to each other they
have never spoken since.-Pats5argh Gassttt