The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-07-12

The following response has been sent to
the committee OF stalwarts asking the
Joint Caucus Committee to call eau
Gus:
ALBANY. New York, July 11.-Gentle-
men; Your communication dated this day
addressed to me as chairman of the Senate
caucus committee is received, and hasten
to reply. Early in the senatorial caucus an
effort was made to secure caucus of the
Republican members of the legislature for
the purpose of nominating two candidates
for United States senators in the place of
Conkling and Platt, resigned, but for rea-
sons then publicly stated the committee on
the part of the senate declined to unite in
such call. Since that time sixty seven
Republican members of the senate and as
sembly united in calling a caucus and in
the call which they issued every Republi-
can member of the legislature was urgent
ly solicited to attend the same and what is
unusual personal notice was given all those
not writing in the call, of the time and
place of meeting. Such was the only
method left for the convention OF Repub-
lican members after the refusal of
the joint committee to unite in the
call for caucus and such is the method
usually adopted and which during the
present session of the legislature has
twice received the sanction of each of the
gentlemen of your committee. In pursu-
ance of that call caucus was held, which
was attended by by sixty eight Republican
members of the Senate and Assembly, be-
ing nearly two-thirds of the entire republi-
can representation. At that caucus candi-
dates to fill the vacancies created by the
resignation of Conkling and Platt were du-
ly nominated There has been no COM
plant made that the proceedings were in
any respect unfair. 1t was open to every
Republican member Of the Legislature and
on the call of the roll of names each and ev-
cry Republican member was called. The
nominees severally received the unanimous
approval of the caucus. In view of these
facts majority of the Senate Committee
declines to reopen the question OF candl-
dates on the ground that the committee
has no power in the premises. The power
to call joint caucus for nominating can
didates for United States Senators has been
exercised by superior authority and IS ex
hausted. If the committee were
to assume authority to call an
other caucus, it win be an act of
usurpation, and would lead to com
plication much more embarrassing than
any which have Kindred our efforts to dis
charge an obvious public duty. The OBJ
lection which you are pleased to urge
against the candidacy of Lapham and Mil
Ter because they chance to be represen
tives in Congress were considered III joint
assembly and later in public press are not
deemed of sufficient Importance to justify
the hazardous experiment of retiring can
didates who had been fairly nominated and
concerning whose fitness no doubt has been
suggested. Very respectfully,
D. MCCARTY, Chairman.
A report has been put in circulation that
ex-senator Conkling has written letter
retiring from the canvass for the Senator
ship.
| New YORK, June 1.-THE Posts AL
bany special says: 1t is expressed about
that the Stalwarts are considering the
feasibility of putting forth Grant and
| Wheeler for the vacancies.
| Private telegrams to this say that the
Kingston Freeman, hitherto strong
Conkling paper at the home Of Speaker
! Sharp, will come out this afternoon advocat-
| ing the election of Miller and Lapham in
the interest of peace and harmony.