The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-05-24
THE LETTER OF RESERVATION.
The Devil Quotes ScripGure-1enm.
ter Cenkling Arraigning the
President for Using OMces
as Rewards fer Per-


1s Rewards fer Fer
SonaH Service.
ALBANY, n T.. May l6.-The follow ing IS the
letter of resignation Of Senators Conkling and
Platt
WASHINGTON. Nav IA. 1881.
SIR transmitting as we do our resignaiions
respectively of the great trusts with which New
\ fork has honored US, il is ft that we acquaint
you, and through you the Legislature and peo-
pie of the State, with the reasons which, in our
Judgment make such step respectful and neces-
sary
Senate in group the nomination of several per-
sons for public Office already filed One of
the otnces is the collectorship of the port of
New York, now held by General Merritt
Another is the consul generaship at London
now held by General Badeau. Another is that of
charge dafaires to Denmark, held by Mr. Cra
mer. Another is the mission TO Switzerland
held by Mr. Fish. son of the former distin-
guished Secretary of State. Mr.. Fish had, in
Difference TO an ancient practice placed his posi-
ton al the disposal of The new Administration.
but like the other persons named he was to re-
main at bis post If permitted to do So All Of
these officers, save only Mr.. Cramer, are citizens
OF New York. Ii was proposed to displace them
all; not for any alleged failure or for any alleged
NEED or advantage of the public service but in
order to give the great Office OF collector at the
port OF New York to Mr. William H. Robertson
aided in making the nomination Of Mr. Garfield
possible.
The chain of rewards thus proposed was brc-
ken by General Badea1's promptly declining
the acceptance of the Office to which he was 10
be sent.
These nominations summoned every member
of the Senate to say whether he advised such q
transaction The movement was more than q
surprise We had been told only few hours
before that no removals in the New York Offices
were soon 10 be made, or even considered and
had been requested to withhold papers and sug
gestiors bearing on the subject which had been
sent TO Us for presentation. should the occasion
arise until we had notice from the President of
his readiness to receive them Hearing that the
Nice-President was equally surprised, and had
been equally mised, we went TO Mr. James, the
Cabinet officer from our State, and learned that
though be had spent sometime with the Pres
dent on the morning of the day the nominations
were sent in. no disclosure of any intention 10
send them had been made 10 him, and that he
first knew of the matter by hearsay following
the event. After earnest reflection and consul
tatlon, we believed the proceedings unwise and
wrong, whether considered wholly in relation to
the preseI vati0n and integrity OF the public ser
vice ard the public example to be set, or in rela-
ton to the integrity OF the Republican party.
No public utterance of comment or censure was
made by either of US in the Senate or elsewhere.
On the contrary, we thought the President
would at least adopt less hurtful and objectiona-
BILE modes Of requitiBg personal or individual
service. In this hope the following paper was
prepared and signed and presented by Mr. James
to the President, who was subsequently, informed
that you had authorized your name to be added
also:
To the President: We beg leave to demonstrate
against the change in the collectership OF New
York by the removal of Mr. Merritt and the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Robertson. The proposal was
wholly a surprise We heard of il only when
several nominations involved in the plan were
announced in the Senate. We had only two
days before this been informed from you that .
change in the customs Office at New York was
not contemplated, and quite ignorant Of pur-
pose TO take any action now, we had no oppof-
tunity, until after the nominations, to make the
suggestions We present N
We do not believe that the interest of the pub
lie service will be promoted by removing the
present collector and putting Mr.. Robertson in
his stead. Our opinion is quite the reverse and
we believe no political advantage can be gained
for either the Republican party or its principles,
believing that no individual has claims or obi
cations which should be liquidated in such .
mode. We earnestly and respectfully ask that
the nomination Of Mr.. Robertson be withdrawn.
CHEsrER A. ARTHUR,
I. c. PLArT,
THoAAs l. JAMES,
Roscoe CoNKLNa.
This paper was presented by Mr. James on
Monday, the Goth day of March. Knowing the
frequency with which every one of the twenty
Presidents of the Republic, and markedly the
present incumbent, had Withdrawn nominations
on less serious representations, we did not ap-
prehend such suggestion would be treated az an
intrusion or an invasion of the prerogative of
the nominating power. Immediately the pubic
press, especially in articles and dispatches writ
ten by those in close and constant association
with the President and with an influential mem
Der of his Cabinet, teenled with violent denunci-
atoms of the Senators from New York for Aop-
posing the Administration " and debating to
the President" Persons who visited the Exec
utive mansion reported the President a. resent
full and impatient of hesitation to advise and
consent" TO what he proposed. We had made,
we have made no assault upon anybody. We
have at all times refused to answer questions by
representatives of the press or TO make COM
plant or comment or denial Of many truthless
charges against Us by ofacicus champions of the
Administration. Indeed, beyond confidential
consultation with brother Senators and officials,
We have said nothing until now on the subject,
nor have we or either Of Us promoted the dead
lock in the Senate, in order to prevent or inffu-
ence action on any nomination Nor have We
50 stated Immediately after the nominations
were made Republican letters and teIegrams in
great numbers came from every part Of the State
from its leading citizens, protesting agAinst the
RAOkAA1~ks
grounds Several thousands Of leading mercan-
tile firms OF New York constituting We are IN
formed, q majority Of every branch Of trade
sent Us Temonstrances sixty Of the eighty-oue
Republican members Of the Assembly, by letter
or memorial, made objection Representatives in
Congress, State officials, business men, profes-
sional men, commercial, industrial and political
associations are among the remonstraais, and
they speak from every section of the State.
Besides the nominations already referred 10
there were awaiting the action Of the Senate
several citizens Of New York named for elYices
connected with courts, district attorneys and
marshals- These were al re-appointments, most
Of them had been originally commissioned by
Mr.. Hayes They were certified By judges Of
courts and many other eminent persons who ~
tested the faithf0luess and mer1fs Of their services
and recommended their continuance. They
were not presented by US We have not -nt-
tempted to dictate. nor have We askei the poni
nation 81 one person 10 any oEzlee IN the HlasA
Indeed, with the sole exception ef the Writtsn
request set forth above, We have never expeeased
an opinion 70 the President In auy casa unlens
questioned In regard 10 IL 81
Some days ago the Prendenf abruptly wifh-
drew iE one and the sans act the names 81 Gen
Woodland and Mr.. Teuney, the two marskalk
THIS unprecedented proceeding, whether pr
mlsai6le ~ hw . no4 wss gFsssly 1Eniaclne
The Preaidsnt haA nominmfed theae cGscsn azAar
thsy had been Weighed II ihe balance. Iheir
edlcial records were belbre him and had beeA
Inily seIusi1ized nd approse6 e mass - Pre-
stunned III BE thoakhs ths nomina1feW O. = -
made end that i wss his duay - HakF thens