Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-18

show His COlOrs-BaWes Stirred
Up-AnOther MOtbeTIy HOmily-
The Cases of Fish and Cramer-
Nominations and Combinations.
WASHINGTON, May H. Conkling has been
unusually busy all day, sending letters and
kilograms. He kept several stenographers
busy writing letters and dispatches, ad-
dressed mainly to New York. He is pre-
pairing for his campaign against the admin
istration and working up public sentiment
1t is now reported that Piatt has
consented to let Conkling be elected
| to his term in the Senate, which does not
expire until 1887. Conkling's term would
expire in 1884. with the present admins
tration, and should Garfield be renominated
Conkling would have to work to carry New
York to save himself. But II he takes
Platt's term he can fight Garfield In New
| York in 1884, and be safe In his position In
the Senate.
The sensation produced by the resigna-
tions yesterday has pretty well died out.
| The Senate, in executive session to-day,
confirmed Fred. Douglass for Recorder of
the District of Columbia. Ben. Hill made
telling speech for Douglass, who, 1t seems,
was opposed by the Republicans. Hill said
the Republicans had used the negroes, and
now let them give him an office.
Robertson's nomination was reported
favorably from the Committee on Com
merce and was objected to by Jones, Of Ne
ysda. So the case goes over until to NOR
row, when Robertson is certain to be con-
irmed by three-fourths majority. No
speeches will be made on Robertson at all,
and it will take but few minutes to con-
| firm him.
| A resolution was submitted In executive
session to remove tne Injunction of secresy
from all the proceedings on Stanley Mat
| thews' nomination and combination. This
was move instigated by the opponents
Of Matthews, who maintained that he is not
a fit man for a United States Supreme
Judge.
Jere Black is down here now, and 1t is
| said he put in motion this matter for the
purpose Of uncovering all that was shown
| and said against Matthews during the PEN
dency OF his nomination. The resolution
| was discussed at length, but the final vote
was not taken on 1t. It may be adopted.
! One or two Of Matthew'S friends say they
| do not object to it, but the vote will be very
| close.
A journal OF the proceedings Of every
executive session has to be made up for the
President when he wants 1t. Garfield calls
for 1t every day, and no Senator can dodge
on the Robertson case without the Presi-
| dent knowing 1t.
Postmaster General James has left the
Conkling cause, and is In complete harmony
now with the President. Every member of
mis- Cabinet iudorses his position and acts.
General Grant wrote a letter to the Press-
dent urging him to withdraw Robertson,
which was delivered by Jones, OF Nevada.
The Senate will TO morrow appoint com
mittee to wait on the President, and ask
| him IL he has any further business for the
Senate. The President has only few more
nominations to make, and the Senate will
no doubt adjourn by Thursday.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, after the
reading of the journal, inquired ironically
| of Mr.. Dawes whether he WAS not now ready
| to proceed with the consideration of the
resolution for the election of Senate officers.
Mr.. Dawes replied that whatever the ma
jority of the Senate should decide on that
be found resisting the will Of the Senate
itself. The Senator from West Vir-
ginia had become, from an acci-
dental occurrence on the Republican
side, ready to submit to the will OF the ma
i0rity, beceuse he believed that there was 8
| majority on his side. He (Mr. Dawes had
| not word to say, but was willing to bow TO
the will of the msjority for him or against
him.
Mr.. Davis said that he was glad that the
Senator from Massachusetts was willing to
proceed with the pending business which
he had been 30 anxious to go on with during
the past month.
Mr.. Dawes regretted that the Senator was
ambitious to expose the ground on which
he stood. One would suppose that when
United States Senator took a position so
radically inconsistent with the fundamental
principles Of the government-that the
majority should not rule unless the majority
would do as he wanted, he would not be
ambitious to uncover himself to the Amerl-
can people.
He (Mr. Dawes) would remind the Sena-
tor that the Scriptures epoke In not COM
mendable terms of men who laid themselves
bare to the gaze of an indignant public, ex-
posing themselves and their shame. The
Senator had had no higher ground for his
opposition to the resolution than that
! be was conscious that the result,
/
now he woke up to an alarming and new
zeal for the passage of the resolution simply
because an accidental majority had yes
| terday morning been turned upon
him. So far as he (Mr. Dawes
was concerned no motion which
the Senator might make in regard TO
| the resolution would meet with any opposi-
tIon beyond the force of his vote.
Mr.. Davis regretted that the Senator
| should have referred to the Scriptures to
| support him. 1t did not come from the
right direction. He would like to know
| how long this accidental majority" was
| going to continue. The Democrats had had
this accidental majority" three or four
| times. He had asked more In pleasantly
than otherwise, whether the Senator from
| Massachusetts desired to proceed to the
| consideration of his resolution. He (Mr.
Davis) had no wish to force 1t.
| Mr.. Dawes moved to go into executive
session, and declined to yield to Mr.. Burn
side to call up his interoceanic canal reso-
luton.
MIR. Burnside thereupon said that he
would tomorrow call 1t up, and ask the
| Senate to dispose Of it In one way or an
other. The Senate then, at 1915, went into
executive session.
THE CASES OF MINISTERS FISH AND oRAAdER.
Ia Senator Conkling's recent letter he
makes the folio wing statement: "Mr. Fish,
the son Of former distinguished Secretary
of State, had, In Difference to an ancient
practice, placed his position at the disposal
of the new administration, but was ready to
remain at his post II desired to do So"
Inquiry to-day at the diplomatic bureau
OF the State Department revealed the fol-
lowing facts in the case of Mr.. Nicholas
Fish, late Minister to Switzerland: On the
18th OF February, 1881, he wrote to Secretary
Evarts that he must decline to remain longer
at his post, and enclosed his resignation.
On the 7th OF March. Mr.. Fish addressed a
letter to Secretary Blaine, asking to be re-
lieved from duty. His resignation was &C.
cepted, and a note of acknowledgment for
faithful duty was sent to Mr.. Fish by Sec
retary Blaine. Learning a short time
afterward that. while Mr.. Fish was un-
willing to stay In Switzerland, he might |
possibly desire TO still remain n the diplo- |
matte service, Secretary Blaine elegraphed |
him April 4th, asking him If 1t would be
agreeable to him to go to Denmlrk, Gen.
Badeau having declined that mission. Mr..
Fish replied by cable, declining Denmark
for the reason that he desired promotion.
In reference to Mr.. Cramcr's appoint |
ment as Mr.. Fisb's successor in the Swiss
mission, 1t is learned that 1t was dpne In
answer to the personal request OF General
Grant, who asked that his brother-ia-law
might be sent to a more southerly climate,
his long residence at Copenhagen interfer- |
fnO with hia health