New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-13

temper.
It was afterward discovered that the misunder-
standing arose from a misrepresentation OF the IAN
guago used 10y one of them.
Senator Maxcy spoke against the confirmation OF
Messrs. Roosevelt and Prince. He knew, he Sald
what the Democratic idea of reform IS lie believed
in Civil Service reform il is a good thing, he said
and he believed generally in the rights Of the
President to remove public officers and to appoint
new ones in their places but there were
cases to which the general rule docs not
apply. In his opinion General Arthur aud Mr.. Cor
nell are good men and efficient officers; concurrent
testimony from many sources proved this besides,
their terms C Office have not expired. lie should
vote against the confirmation Of the President nom
nees simply the ground that he did not think that
the present incumbents should be removed.
Senator Christiaucy made rather a dry speech on
the legal bearing Of the facts, and making almost
the only reference that made curing the session
10 the Civil Ieuura-ofOhceA Act Tie was not listened
TO with much attention, except When be announced
his purpose 10 vote for the Presidents nominees.
Senator Morrill,, of Vermont, took strong ground
against the policy Of the President regard to these
appointments, and in favor of retaining good men
III office when their services were once secured,
Senators Blileyaad Morgan made speeches in favor
Of confirmation. They both expressed the belief
that President Hayes is q sincere and patriotic
man.
At $50 o'clock q motion was made by the OPP
poneuts Of Senator Cooking that the Senate adj
journ. The ayes and nays were called. The friends
of Senator CoukIuE urged al. who agreed with them
To- stand firm and sit The thiug OFT. The mo-
ton for adjournment was defeated by na-
jointly o. five votes and tine discussion w1s resumed.
Senator'S sent out 10 the pe-,tand- and restaurants
for sandwiches, apples, etc.. and gave mp all hope
Of enjoying the warm dinners waiting for them at
home.
Senator Col0yor who voted III favor of confirming
Mr. Roosevelt, made sh1r. speech explaining las
position. lie sad lla- Senators could now sae Who
were true 90 the party and who were desarting it,
looking with significant gesture toward Senator
CoalJme. In explanation ol las vote Tonight, 1r.
Cnoyer gys shat be might nave voted differently
i tae result had depended upon his voice.
SENATOR coNKLyGs SPEECH.
When all other Senators seemed TO have concluded
their speeches, Senator Couzliug arose to close tho
debate. lie spoke for an hour and q half and bis
speech is described bY those who beard 1t being
one Of the most brilliant, eloquent, and able Of i,s
life. lie divided his remarks under three heads
The first was the general policy Of ap-
poin;monts and Of removals from office. lie
explained under this head lis own ideas
of the position Of tho President aud that of the
Senate under the Constitution AMI the laws. The
SECOND topic related to the political duties Of men,
where they begin aud where they end. The third
treated ol the character of the men proposed to De
removed and of those nominated in their places.
DURING his speech the Senator wa surrounded by
plies Of documents. Ills desk and the chairs IN his
immediate vicinity were oyerOUIdeHed vith books
aud papers aud letters. In treating of each Cy-
sion of his suh'cc, Le made frequent reference to
these documents.
Nr Couk'iug called the attention Of his brother
Senators 20 what be conceived t. bs the meaning
Of the appointments under considerations he
said that tie proposed removals in the
New-Iork Custom House were intended 10
break him down, and dIshon0r him politically.
They had been made at q time when 1t WAS thought
bis destruction could be easiest occurred. lie spoke
with great feeling and caue.tns5s Oh tlia point and
when be alluded TO General Arthur ana NJ Cornell
he moved up and down the aisle and spoke
at the top of hs voice, and clnchod every sentence
with violent GESTURE lie said that those men had
been long Iu Office they had served under several
secretaries, and he showed that each one regarded
them with the highest estimation, both as officers
auL gentlemen. lie remarked that even General
Bustow laud he read a letter from gentleman wuo
had heard Mr.. Blistow make the remark had said
that they were the best officers in the service.
Mr.. Conkling made few assertions that be did not
support with documentary proof. He took up the
jay Commission report and Analysed 1t point by
point showing that every reform there recon-
meuded had been suggested by Collector Arthur
months before, as was shown by his letters
on lie in the Treasury Department. This re-
mark referred to all except three, which had
previously been enacted into laws and now stood
upon the statute books. lie also showed that all
the accusations made against the Custom House IN
the Jay report were pferings from reports made by
George William Curtis seven years ago. lie asserted
that ID every other Custom House investigation in
the country, except New-York, the Custom House
had been represented on the commission.
Mr.. Conkiug devoted much time to detailing the
manner in which the President did business, and MS
Inconsistencies lie took up the case OF the nomina
lion Of Mr. Henry : Sanford to the Belgian Mission
and said that the Foreign Committee had agreed
10 report adversely on that nomination, but
that tho report was never made TO the
senate: the members Of the Committee
desired. no doubt 10 save the feelings
Of Mr.. Sanford; the session closed soon that his
nomination dropped with It. Mr. Conllling said that
when the President was urged TO renew the nomlna-
ton Of Mr. Sanford, he declined, Oh the
ground that it would be dIscourteous to
fine Senate. "Was il dlscourteous,' shouted
Mr.. Coukling, ito nominate the gentlemen,
whose names are before US, after they had been
rejected by the committee; Senators will not con-
sent 10 emulate such consistency" In further CON
sideripg the JAY .rport Mr. Conkhng showed by the
most po,ve assertions that both the President and
Secretary Sherman had removed General Arthur
and Blr. Cornell in consequence Of the Jay repert
and vet neither the Secretary the President had
ever read that report.
He spoke Of the people in NeW-iork who opposed