Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-17
A STALWART MANIFESTO.
CONKLING AND PLATT TO
CORNELL.
why They ResIgned-A Very Neat
Piece Of Special Pleading = The
Story of the New York Nominations
as Told by the Crestfallen Bosses.

W ny 4ASI GAGBk&uca-A W0Ey NC4@
Piece OF Special Pleading The
Story of the New York Nominations
as Told by the Crestfallen Bosses.
ALBANY, N. Y, May 16.-The following
is the letter of resignation of Senators Conk-
ling and Plat:
WASHINGTON, D. c., May IA, 1881.
STR-Transmitting as we do our resigna-
tions respectively of the great trust with
which New York has honored US, 1t is fit
that we acquaint you. and through YOU the
Legislature and people of the State, with the
reasons which, in our Judgment, make such
step respectful and necessary.
Some weeks ago the President sent to the
Senate group of nominations of several
persons for public offices already filed. One
OF these offices Is the COllectorship OF the
port of New York. now held by Gen. Mer
ritt. Another is the Consul Generalship at
London, now held by General BAdeau. An
other is that of Charge d'Affaires to Den
mark, held by Mr. Cramer. Another is the
mission to Switzerland, held by Mr.. Fish, a
son Of the former distinguished Sec
retary Of State. Mr.. Fish had, in
Difference to an ancient practice,
placed HIS position at the disposal of the
new administration, but like the other per-
sons named he was ready to remain at his
post II permitted to do so. ALI of these
officers, save only Mr.. Cramer, are citizens
of New York. 1t was proposed to displace
them all, not for any alleged failure or for
any alleged need or advantage of the pub
lie service, but in order to give the great
office of Collector of the Port of New York
to Mr.. William III. Robertson, as reward for
certain acts of his said to have aided in
making the nomination Of Mr.. Garfield DOS
sible.
The chain of rewards thus proposed was
broken by General Badeau's promptly de
elining to accept the new place to which
he was to be sent. These nominations sum
moned every member of the Senate to say
whether he advised such a transaction.
The movement was more than q surprise.
We had been told only a few hours before
that no removals In the New York offices
were soon to be made or even considered,
and had been requested to withhold the
papers and suggestions bearing on the sub
iect, which had been sent to US for presenta-
tion should occasion arise, until we had
notice from the President Of his readiness
to receive them. Hearing that, the Vice
President was equally surprised and had
been equally mlsled.
We went to Mr.. James, the Cabinet off
Ger from our State, and learned that though
he had spent some time with the President
on the morning OF the day the nominations
HGIt ecGb III uO QlbClOouEG III duJ luJCublOu
to send them had been made to him. and
that he first knew of the matter by hearsay.
Following the event, after earnest refec
tiOn and consultation, we believed
the proceeding unwise and wrong,
whether considered wholly In
relation to the preservation and integrity
of the public service and the public exam
pie to be set, or in relation to the integrity
of the Republican party. No public
,,kkr nR
was made by either of Us in
the Senate or elsewhere. On the con-
trarY, we thought the President would
reconsider this action, so sudden and hasty,
and would at least adopt less hurtful and
Objectionable modes of requiting personal
or Individual service
In this hope the following paper was pre-
pared and signed, and presented by Mr..
James to the President, who was subse
quently informed that you had authorized
| your name to be added also.
! To the President We beg leave to re-
monstrate against change In the Collector
ship at New York, by the removal of Mr..
Merritt and the appointment OF Mr.. Rob.
ertson. The proposal was wholly sur.
prise. We heard of it 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 igno-
! rant of purpose to take any action now,
we had no opportunity until after the nomi
nations to make the suggestions we now
present. We do not believe that the inter
est of the public 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 prin-
| ciples. Believing that no individual has
claims or obligations which should be liqui
dated in such a mode, we earnestly and
respectfully ask that the nomination of Mr..
| Robertson be withdrawn.
! Signed CHESTER A. ARTHUR,
L. G. PLATT,
! THOMAS L. JAMES,
Roscoe CoNKLING.
This paper was presented by Mr.. James
on Monday, the Goth day Of March. Know
ing the frequency with which every one of
the twenty Presidents of the republic, and
markedly the present incumbent, had with
| drawn nominations on less serious rep
resentations, we did not apprehend that
such a suggestion would be treated
as an intrusion or an invasion OF
the prerogative of the nominating
power. We were disappointed. Immedi-
ately the public press, especially In articles
and dispatches written by those in close and
] COBblduh dSsOC1dLiOu Win VIC EICSlACnb dnQ
with all influential members of his Cabinet,
teemed with violent denunciations of the
Senators from New York for "opposing the
administration" and Of "dictatingn TO the
| President Persons who visited the
Executive Mansion reported the President
! as resentful and impatient at the hesitation
"to advise aud consent" to what he pro-
! posed. We had made, we have made no
| assault upon anybody. We have at all
! times refused to answer questions by repre-
sentatives of the press, or to make COM
plant, or comment, or denial Of the many
! tTuthless charges against us by off1cious
! 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 deadlock
| in the Senate In order TO prevent or iBfu-
ence action on any nomination, nor have we
so stated.
Immediately after the nominations were
made letters aud kilograms Ia great num-
| bers came from every part of the State from
| it's leading citizens, protesting against the
| proposed changes, and condemnipg them
! on many grounds. Several thousand of the
| leading mercantile firms of New York,
constituting, we are informed, a majority
| of every branch of trade, sent us remon-
strances. Sixty OF the eightyone Republican
members of the Assembly, by letter or me-
mortal, made objection. Representatives in
! Congress-, State officials, business men,
! professional men, commercial, Industrial
| aud political associations are among the
remonstrants, and they speak from every
section OF the State.
| Besides the nominations already referred
| to there were awaiting the action OF the
| Senate several citizens of New York named
| for offices connected with the courts, Dis
| tgict Attorneys ald Marshsls. These were
| all reappoiRtments. Most of them had been
originally commissioned by Mr.. Hayes.
They were certified by Judges of the
courts and many other eminent persons, who
attested the falthfulness and the merits OF
their services, and recommended their con-
! tinuaDce. They were Lot presented by US.
We have not attempted to dictate, nor have
we asked the nomination of one person tC
any Office in the State. Indeed, with the
sole exception of the written request set
forth above, we have never even expressed
an opinion to the PRECEDENT in any case
unless questioned In regard to It.
Seine days ago the President abruptly
withdrew by one and the same act the names
of Gen Woodford and Mr.. Tenney and of
the two Marshals. This unprecedented
proceeding, whether permissible by law or
not, was gravely significant. The President
had nominated these officers after
they had been weighed In the
balance. Their official records were
before him ana had been fully scfutintzed
and approved. IL must bepresumed that
he thought the nominations fit to be made,
and that it was his duty to make them.
There is no allegation that he discovered
uuftness in them afterwards. 1t could