The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-05-21
CONKLING AND PLATT RESIGN.
Because they Cannot Control Federal Offices
in New York.


the Governor Cornell, of New York:
Washington, D. c., May 14.-Sir: Trans
hitting as we do our designations respective
ly of the great trusts with which New York
has honored us, it 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 aud
necessary. Some weeks ago the President
sent to the Senate in a group the nominations
of several persons for public Offices already
filed. One of these offices is the collector
ship of the port of New York, now held by
Gen. Merritt; another is the consul general-
ship at London, now held by Gen. Badean;
another is charge 'affaires to Denmark, held
by Mr. Cramer; another is the mission to
Switzerland. held by Mr.. Fish, son of the
former distinguished Secretary of State. Mr..
Fish has, in Difference to an ancient practice,
placed his position at the disposal of the new
administration, but, like the other persons
named, he was ready to remain at his post If
permitted to do so. All of these officers. save
only Mr. Cramer, are citizens of New York.
It was proposed to displace them all, not for
any alleged fault or for any alleged need or
advantage of the public service, but in order
to give the great Office Of collector of the port
of New York to Mr. VIM. II. Robertson as a
''reward" for certain acts of his, said to have
''aided in making the nomination Of General
Garfield possible The chain of rewards
thus proposed was broken by Gen. Badeau
promptly declining to accept the new place TO
which he was TO be sent. These nominations
summoned every member of the Senate TO
say whether he advised such transaction.
The movement was more than surprise.
We had been told only few hours before
that no removals in New York offices we're
soon to be made OF even considered, and had
been requested to hold papers and suggestions
bearing on the subject, which had been sent
to US for presentation should occasion arse,
until we had notice from the President OF his
readiness to receive them. Hearing that the
Vice President was equally surprised, aud had
been equally misled, we went to Mr.. James,
the cabinet officer from our State. and learned
that he had spent some time with the Presl-
deat on the morning of the day the nomiua-
tons we're sent in. No disclosure Of an in
tention 10 send them had been made to him,
and that he first knew of the matter by hear
saw following the eveRt. After earnest re-
hection and consultation We believe the pro.
ceeding unwise aud wrong, whether consider
ed wholly in relation 70 the preservation ana
integrity of the public service aud the public
example to be set, or Ia relation also 10 the
integrity Of the republican party. No public
utterance Of comment or censure was made
bv either Of Us, in the Senate or elsewhere.
On the contrary, we thought that the Prssl-
dent would reconsider the action, so Sudden
aud has,v. aRd would at least adopt less hart
ful and Objectionable modes o! requitIng per
sonal or individual service. la this hope the
following paper was prepared and signed and
presented by Mr.. James TO the President, who
was subsequently Informed that you had aa'
ihorized your name 10 be added also:
TO TIE fi'Csiieaf We beg leave 10 re
monstra,e against the change Ia the collector
ship a, New York by the removal Of Mr.. Mer.
riti and the appointment % Mr. Robertson.
The proposal was wholly a sarprise, We
heard OF il only ahen the several nominations
involved IN ihs plan were aaaouacsj in the
Senate. We bad only tso days before tins
been informed from yeu that change "a the
customs Office 81 New ork was nos conicm'
plated. nnd quite igsOraRi Of pgrpose 10
take aHy action aow We had no opportaui'
" until after the nominations to make the
suggestions sc uoS present We DO not be
heye that the interest Of The pablie services wisi
Be promoted By removiaT the present collec'
tor aud pu,iing Mr. Robertson - his stead
Oar opinion i qGite the reverse. and We be
lieve no political advantage can be gaiaed so'
either The republican party az IT'S principles.
Relieving that no individual has clsims Of
obligations which should be liguidaicd -
such mode, NC earnestly and respectfully
ask that the nomination Of Mr.. Robertson BE
withjFawH
CHESrra A. AEvHra,
7. c. PtATT,
THos. l. jaws,
RoscoE CoyEltye.
This paper vas presented 10 ghe Pres,ieai
by Mr. james on Monday. the 2sih dag al
March kHawlsg the frcqneucy wigh sh5eh
every Que Of ihe twenty Presidents Of The Re-
pubic, and markedly the present iacHm5eai.
had wIthdawa nominations os less serious
representations, we did not sppfshrHd ihz,
such a suggestion woaid be treated as 81 az.
trusien or a. INVASION Of any pTeEosatre 81
The nominating pswer. We were disapPo'ai-
"a, Immediately the public press, especially
IN ariiclcs aud dispatches written BY those IN
close and constant association ulih the Pres
dent and vita an influential member Of bis
cabineut, teemcd Wiih Vioisss denanciAsions
Of the senators from Mes J ofk for ''opPos-
iar the administration and debating 70
the r resident Perssns Eho visited the TX.
ecative Mansion reported the Presideui a.
resentfsl and inpaiieal u hesitation 70 ''ad
wise and eoaseat' 20 what be proposed. We
have made no assault upoa anybody. We
have a. all times refused 10 answer questions
by representatives Of the press or make com
plaint or comment, or even GENIAL ofthe u1any
RUTHLESS charges pubiished against us BY The
oaicious champions Of ''the administration.
Indeed. beyoud confidential consultations
with brother Senator's and officials, Ne have
said nothing naul now on the subject. nor
have VIC, or either of rs, promoted the dead
lock in the Senate IN order TO preveni or
influence acIisn On any nomination, nor have
We ever so stated Immediately after the
nominations vrfe published letters and tcse-
grams ia great numbers cane frsm every part
Of the State from its leading citizens, protest
ing against the proposed changes, and Goa
demned them on many grounds Several
thousands Of the leading mercantile firms Of
New York, constituting, We are informed, =
majority OF every branch Of tie trade, seat Us
remenstranees. Sixty o. the eighty-on re-
publican members Of the Assembly, by letter
or memorial, made objection. Representa-.
tives In Congress, State officials, business
men, professional men, commercial, indus
trial and political organizations are amOag
the remonsgraBis, and they speak from every
sections Of the State. Besides the nomina-
items already referred 10 there were awaiting
the action Of the Senate several citizens OF
New York named for Offices connected with
courts, district attorneys and marshals. These
we're all reappointmeH,s- Most Of them bad
been originally commissioned by Mr., Hayes
They we're certified BY the judges otthe courts
and many other emineRt persons, who attest
cd the failhialness aud merit Of their service
and recommended their continuance. They
were not presented by us. We have not 1t
tempted 10 dictate nor have we asked the
nomination OF one person TO 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
President ia any case, unless questioned in
regard TO IT, Some days ago the President
abruptly withdrew in one and the same act
the names OF Gen. Woodtord and Mr.. lea
uey, and Of the two marshals. This unpTece-
dealed proceeding, whether permissible by
law or not, was gravely significant. The
President had nominated these officers alter
they had been weighed in the balance. Their
official records we're before him, and had been
fully scrutinized and approved. Ii mus. be
presumed that he thought the nominations ut
10 be made, and that 1t was his duty 10 make
them. There is no allegation that he diseov-
cred unftness in them afterwards. Ii could
hardly be that he had discovered unftness in
all of them alike. What, then, was the mean
ing and purpose of this peremptory step? 1t
was Immediately stated, as II by authority,
and seems to be admitted, that the purpose
was to coerce the Senate or Senators to vote
as they would not vote if left from executive
interference. The design was to control the
action Of Senators touching matters committed