New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-14

AID.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNR.l
WAsHINGToN Dec. 13-The dgnihed self-control
of Senator Conklng throughout the entire contest
in the Senate over the New-Yor1 Custom House
nominations has been of the most striking
features of the events of the past few weeks.
Coming TO Congress in the Fall with the avowed
determination TO defeat the appointments OF
Mcssrs. Roosevelt and Prince not especially on
account of any personal hostility to either Of
them although If changes were to be made IN the
New-Yor]t Custom House lie would have selected
other candidates for these two important places
Mr. Conkling has directed all his efforts to that one
end. doing his work without display but doing it
most efectually. While the temper of the
Democrats in the Senate was such as
10 make their united support of the
Presidents nominations probable he would
not allow himself to be hurried. Week after
week passed before the first meeting of the Com
Inittee on Commerce called, and then there was
no haste in bringing the question of confirmation or
rejection to a vote. The foundation for an effective
opposition was skilfuly laid in the correspondence
between the Senator and the Executive. Finally
when by the decision of Senator Dennis TO vote
against the nominations to the confirmation of which
Mr. Conlling was opposed he found that be had a
majority of the committee with him, he allowed
the vote to be taken. Even then he was not ready
to make his fight i'm the Senate. The extra session
was drawing 70 a close and the time was too short
The contest once opened might not be decided by
twelve o'clock on the first Monday in December,
and might end without a victory on either side, but
with a waste Of ammunition and an exposure by
Nr. COuklng Of his line Of attack and OF the char
acter and strength Of his forces.
The opening of a new session gave Mr.. Conkng
an opportunity TO gain new advantage, which he
was not slow to improve. There was one black
81 Io IN
Commerce. Senator Burnside had concluded to
stand by the Presidents nominations, and
could not be moved from this determination.
The balance of power was, therefore, in the
hands of a Democrat Senator Dennis; and
there was danger that he might be persuaded by his
party associates some of whom had become the
most earnest champions of the Presidents nominal
tons. TO change his vote at the last moment, and
thus defeat Mr.. COnkling in the committee. ms
was a contingency against which TIC New
York leader made haste to provide. The Organi-
cation of committees, which always takes place at
the beginning Of every new session, placed
II in his power to effect the removal OF
Senator Barnside from the Committee on Com
rperce IN substitute Senator Jones, of Nevada one
Of fine most outspoken opponents of the President
policy in the Senate, in his place This placed the
result of the vote in the committee beyond ali ques
ton and left Senator COnklng undisputed master
4, ;tna+ior so far as the character of the report
that should be made to the Senate was concerned.
Even then the victory was not entirely organized
In Senate almost evenly divided between the TWO
po,itical parties, Mr.. COnkling must have accom-
nlisbcd one of two things or he would have been
beaten still lie must either have carried the sohd
vote Of his own party losing the support OF no
single Senator, OF he must have secured assistance
from the Democratic side OF the chamber
IN i,,,y,,cuiltip EOuT five men had
irrevocablv committed themselves to the support OF
tbe Presidents appointments, and if the Senate d.
,-idcd an Marty lines they would have held the bal
once of mower Mr. Conkling was therefore driven
70 the necessity of going over to the ranks
of his political opponents for help. ms Is
the work be has accomplished within the
mast few DAYS. and in which he has, perhaps,
displaved his greatest skill. Mr.. COnklng is not
per.onaly popular with his Democratic associates III
the Senate. Scrupulously polite IN his intercourse
with them he is always distant and cold, making
very few warm personal friends. Besides TINS, MT
Conling represents radical rather than liberal Re-
pubhcanism. During General Grants Adininls'ra-
tion he was one of the strongest pow
ers behind the throne. The Democrats have
held him in great measure responsible for much IN
General Grants policy that was III their estmatIon
oppressiye 1t was no easy task therefore, for Mt.
ConklinC to capture Democratic votes. Nothing
made his success possible except the strength OF ms
case as he presented it, and the usages OF the Sen
ate, which it will be as convenient for the Demo-
Gratis to have observed two years from now as 1t was
for Mr.. COnkng and bis followers III the crisis
through which they have just passed.
Mr.. Conkling took very few friends into ms
confidence Those who supported the Presi-
dents nominations, both Republicans and
Democrats, expected their confirmation until
within less than twenty-iOuT hours of the
time when the final struggle began. The most
careful canvasses they could make did not disclose
majority on Nh. Conkng's side. -Four or five Re
publican votes added to the Democratic strength
seemed to them sufficient to make a clear majority
Of tie Senate, in spite of the detection
OF two or three Democrats. Mr. Conkling's friends
were confident Of his for several DAYS before
the final contest came. Even they, however, did
not see his canvass of the Senate, If he put one on
paper They knew that he never went into a battle.
until he had his forces all well in hand and that lie
rarely left weak spot in his lines. When, there
fore. they saw him ready and anxious for the fight,
they felt assured that the battle already good
as won.
During the whole contest Mr. ConklIng has been
exceptionally careful IN his treatment Of the
Administration Early last Spring he made
APPROXIMATION that be should support the President
when right and oppose him when wrong; and look
ing at the Eew-York Custom House cases from his
point of view he has not sweryed from that policy
Rom the beginning TO the end of the controversy. In
all OF his speeches he has studiousy avoided any di-
rect attack upon the President A Senator who has
boon present at exeTy executive session, and listened
s4tentiyely to every word Senator Conkling has
- his linaf hat