The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-05-21
The Great Sensation.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., May Is, 1881.
Sir viii you please announce to
the Senate that my resignation as
Senator of the United States from
the State of New York has been for
Warded to the Governor of the State.
| have the honor to be, with great
respect, your obedient servant,
(Signed) ROSCOE CoNKLING.
To Hon. c. A. Artbor, Vice President.
This communication was received
with great sensation, which was
heightened when the Vice President
laid the following before the Senate !:
SENATE CHAMBER, May I6, 1881.
To the Hon. c. A. Arthur, Vice Pres
iIent of the United States:
Sir Il have forwarded to the Coy
ernor of the State of New York my
resignation as Senator of the United
States for the State of New York.
Will you please announce the fact to
the Senate. With great respect your
obedient servant,
It. G. PLATT.
Shortly afterwards the Senate went
into executive session where large
number of nominations were con-
firmed, that of Judge Robertson and
VIM. Chandler, however. not being
among the number.
The effect of the resignation upon
the Senate is thus described by an
evening paper: AS soon as The letter
announcing Conkling's resignation
had been read, "What's that ?" in
quired dozen or more Senators in
simultaneously. AS quick as lightning
the hum of voices ceased, a silence
reigned, and several Senators, not
doubling but that they had misun-
derstood the document, called for
another reading of it.
Once more the brief notice of Sen
ator Conkling's resignation was read.
Senators were surprised astounded.
Each looked from one to another, as
if to silently inquire whether or not
his ears had deceived him. More
than one Republican Senator's coun-
tenance, assumed instantaneouSly, a
grave expression. Another envelope
was given to the clerk by Mr.. Arthur.
and amid silence the brief note it
contained was read. 1t stated that
the resignation of ThOs. c.. Platt, as
a Senator from New York, had been
sent to the governor of that State,
and requested the Vice President to
so announce to the Senate. The
silence which had so suddenly over
come the Senate continued for a few
seconds, all present looking toward
the Vice President as if tosee whether
he had another surprise in store.
When it became evident that all the
designations had been read confusion
succeeded silence. Senators moved
about expressing their surprise and
inqulring what this meant.
There is a great variety of opinion
pro and con as to the effect of these
Senators action. The purpose OF
Messrs. Conkling and Platt was
known, it is said, only to Senators
Don Cameran, David Davis, and one
or two others, prior to the official no.
LITIGATION in the Senate. The almost
universal opinion as far as expressed
was that Conkling and PIatt will
both go before the Legislature for re.
election that they will regard their
re- ELECTION as a rebuke to the admin
istration as well as an approval OF
the course they have taken. Some
of the Democrats spoke of this action
as "claptrap," saying that Coukling
and Platt, know, in advance, pre-
cisely how the legislature stands ;just
how many votes they can get, and
that they are in no danger of losing
their seats. These who are DISPOSED
to critieise to any extent hold that
the endorsement" COnkling and
Plat will get will not count for much
because they are assured of the re.
suit that if they would wait and &C
before the people that course would
be more commendatory. After the
Senate had adjourned an admirer O.
Mr.. Conkling expressed the belle
that he will not ask a reelection
from this legislature, but will &C
before the people next fall and make
a fight to elect a Legislature which
will re-elect him. Neither Mr.. Conk.
ling nor Platt has been at the Capita
to-day, and in the absence of any au
thoritative explanation from them
| Tile IDOllN6S duu fileduluS vi tllell
designations are left subject to mere
speculation and conjecture.
COMMENTS OF THE PRESS.
New YORK. May 16.-The EUeni,1t
Post says: To-day, for the frs
time since the organization of the
government, the state of New Yorl
is without any representation in thu
Senate of the United States. TIL,
first comment on this proceeding i,
that it is a genuine surprise. If thu
report was less circumstantial, i
might be regarded as not very in
genious invention of some practica
humorist in Washington. Until tn,
senators shall vouchsafe an explana
ton of their course, there is wild
room for conjecture as to its meaning
1t is hard to conceive of any theor,
consistent with the dignity and man
illness, which are the most obviou
qualifications for their high Offices
If they are seeking an endorsement
of their conduct by means of a re
election, the experiment is danger