The New York herald., 1879-02-01


your policy in correcting all abuses that devel
oped and securing all possible reforms and il they
III your opinion. fail. that you shall exercise the
power given 10 you by the constitution to secure
officers who will do
regret that the pressure of public duties which
now demand my constant attention. viii not permit
me with more funess and detail to answer the
points made by Mr. Arthur. but can readily fur
nish the Senate with copies of my -rrespondence
and documents referred to by either Mr.. Arthur or
myself which will tend to throw light upon the sub
ject without an examination of which a clear and
impartial opinion cannot be formed. Very respect
fully. JOHN SHERMAN. Secretary.
The reading of these documents. and of a supple
mental communication enclosing a statement from
person named Farmer who alleges that he was dis
charged by Collector Arthur because he had testified
before the Jay Commission to the existence GER
tain Irregularities in the New York Custom House.
consumed an hour or more.
SPEECH coNKLISG.
Senator Conkling then took the floor He said that.
although perhaps other Senator felt great an
interest himself in the vindication of the gentle
men assaed. he nevertheless did not consider it
necessary to ask that any opportunity be given
to Messrs. Arthur and Cornell to the
extraordinary communications which had just
been read to the Senate They contained.
with two exceptions nothing new. One of the new
matters consisted of series of charges against
Deputy Collector Lydecker and he would proceed to
answer them by Mr.. Sherman's own statements. He
thereupon read to the Senate letter written by Sem
ator now Secretary Sherman in the summer of 1867
expressing entire confidence in Mr.. Lydecker This
letter. Mr.. Conkling said. was written after these
charges had been brought to Senator Shermans
attention and they had been fully investigated
and refued.
In regard to tho Farmer letter, he said General
Arthur could readily prove that Farmers dismissal
not tho result of pique resentment. but
merely incident of the reduction of the clerical
force; but he did think there any need of de-
laying action the pending nominations in order to
afford an opportunity for the answer to be made.
WEAK INVENTION OF THE ENEMY.
Mr.. Conkling next read to the Senate twenty or
twenty-five kilograms received by him from republ-
can members of the New York Legislature in regard
to the memorial signed by them asking the United
States Senate to confirm the nominations of Messrs
Merritt Burt and Graham for Collector. Naval
Officer and Surveyor of the Port of New Yo rk.
The senders Of the kilograms individually
inform Mr.. Conkling that they signed the memorial
upon the strength of private representations that it
was his (Conkling 81 desire to have such memorial
signed and forwarded, as means of enabling him to
withdraw from the contest without discredit,
some of them phrased it, ITO let him down easy
One telegram read to the Senate from ex-Col-
lector Thomas Murphy, stating that such me-
mortal was in circulation. and that If Mr.. Conkng
desired he urphy) could get signatures for it.
Mr.. Conkling said he answered this expressing sur
Ihat npte hs "iI had nevsr thouaht Of snch thim
This answer seemed to have called forth the
kilograms from members OF the Legislature above
referred to. Senator Conkng continuing his remarks
denounced this attempt to mislead his friends in
phatc language He said the whole thing a
a trck-not the work OF amateur, the
result Of accdent--but well devised, though
nefarions scheme, which he believed had
it's origin in this city. He intimaed. also. that he
possessed positive information that two men started
from Washington with instructions to undermine
him in this way, and that they had confidentially
divuged their secret purpose in New York city.
FROM
Mr.. Conkling also read the following letter, ad-
dressed to him by Mr.. Arthur
e my letter lett IF the 80 2s t and that
desire to add after the wosds collect revenuep fol-
In regard falling off the revenue have omitted
that great of it from the Treasury
mass
on all manufacturers of certain specified raw materials did
by SS' the s Court in Reahs H. msiho %na
IMPOSED specific duty specific article. though
Of the raw materials rial I or Tint into M
persisted in it, though in various tried by my de-
year the Supreme Court decided that rEl, and the
r lost many %c OF BY
this error II stated to me that the official records show
So5o and it is believed that this is below the average
Mr. Conkling closed with an expression Of opinion
that the Senate should proceed to consider and act
npon the pending nominations without further post
senator Matthews then offered resolution pro-
viding-First. that the message and accompanying
documents should DE presented ana lald on
the table and that further consideration
of the nominations should be postponed
until next Monday The first branch of this reso-
ton agreed to without division by the Senate.
but the proposition for postponcment gave rise to
extended discussion. Messrs. Matthews. Thurman
and Bayard advocated it. the ground that it the
communications worth anything Mt all they
should be examined and read in printed form, il
was impossible to understand them compare the
charges with the replies the replies with the
joinders in any other way.
Messrs EAros. DAVIS Cof nlinois and VOORHEES,
favored immediate action. They argued that the
Senate had read the charges and the replies and that
these in connection with the papers which had been
read their hearing to-day, furnished all the nfor-
nation requisite.
Mr. EATON also expressed the opinion that the
charges against Messrs. Arthur and Cornell had been
concusively answered. and that the papers read to-
day contained absolutely nothing worth reading.
Mr.. BLAINE briefly opposed postponement, on the
ground that the appropriation bills and other public
business in pressing need of attention. and that
the Senate should economic the short remainder OF
the session.
PosrroNrMENr.
vote by yeas and nays then taken on Mr..
Matthews resolution and resulted in its adoption
Yeas 35. nays 26
The affirmative votes cast mostly by demo-
Gratis and the negative votes by republicans.
Messrs Matthews, Hoar Dawes. Burnside, Window,
Wadlcigh, Mitchell and Ferry however voted i'll
favor OF postponement. and Messrs. Eaton, Barnum,
Voorhees,, Davis of Illinois, and Mcpherson were
recorded III the negative.
VOTE INDICATES
This vote does not absolutely forcshadow favorable
action the nominations, for several Senators who
voted for the postponement definitely known to
be opposed to them, but the advocates of confirma
ton have been greatly encouraged by it, and tonight
confidently expect success in the final vote them
Monday.
CATTLE DISEASE