The Portland daily press., 1881-05-19
AT ALBANY.
Growing Belief that Conkling Can
not be Returned.
ADMINISTRATION MEN CLAIM He is
ALREADY BEATEN.
Speech of Judge Robertson in Response
to Serenade.

same side before night. The indications are
that there may be from twelve to fifteen men,
bers of the Assembly thus positively opposing
the election of Conkling and Platt
A very powerful sentiment however exists
among tine Stalwarts in favor of putting the
elections over. Among the administration
men the same division exists, one side assert
ing that Conkling and Platt having appealed
for vindication the whole matter should come
before the people Cor settlement, the other side
believing it better to make sure of the present
opportunities. The two sides are about evenly
divided as they stand to-pay though if polled
the Conkling men would probably vote for
present action.
Mr.. Rains, one of the most enth usiastic ma
chine members heretofore, declared that neith-
er of the Senators can be reelected, but he
and many others who would desire their re-
election if possible, consider it best to hold
elections at the present session rather than run
the risk of a Democratic legislature next au-
tumn and the choice of two Democrats to the
United States Senate.
WASHINGTON, May 18.-The private news re-
ceived here from Albany is certainly very
much more reassuring to the Administration
than it can be to Mr.. Conkling. A dispatch
upon which great reliance is placed says that
the anti Conkling Republicans will under no
circumstances consent to vote for the re-elec-
ton of either Conkling or Platt. That they
propose to stand by the Administration and
the Republican party, and will not consent to
ministration; that if the result can be secured
in no other way the late New York Senators
shall have the opportunity to appeal to the
people of the State, which they have ostens-
bly, claimed to desire, and that the Senate,
controlled by -Conkling Republicans, will
decline to enter joint convention in this leg
islature. This would force Conkling and Platt
to go to the people.
Another dispatch received here indicates that
it is very possible that Gov. Cornell may after
all be a candidate against Conkling or Platt-
lie, OF course, is known as Conkling man,
but he does not at heart sympathize with
Conkling in this movement, and has said so.
Neither did he approve of the lukewarm
course which Mr.. Conkling pursued after the
convention at Chicago aud before President
The apprehension OF the Conkling men is il
Illustrated by the renewal of the statement that
Conkling is not disposed to be candidate if
he loses anything of what he calls the "moral
effect OF triumphant victory.
ALBANY, N. Y, May 1S-In the State Sem
ate this morning Mr.. Mccarthy presented the
remonstrance OF forty-Sx residents of the
town of Homer against the reelection of
Conklng and Platt and read the same before
sending it to the clerks desk adding that
every resident save two endorsed the senti-
ments therein stated.
President Robertson ordered the remon-
Mr.. Bixby moved to refer it to the Commit
ee on Grievances
Mr.. Halbert-No; to subcommittee on salt.
Mr.. Sessions-Salt won't save them
Mr.. Woodin-Hello! did hear you speak?
r. Here the matter was dropped.
1t is pretty we'll settled that the Senate will
not agree to go into election TO fill the vacan-
cies in the United States Senate.
Papers are being circulated in the Assembly,
one sustaining President Garfield and the
other denouncing Conkling and Platt. Only
to off
the election of Conkling and Platt, and it is
said over forty have already been secured
In the Senate, at Las o'clock, while in COM
mittee OF the whole, Senator Lord in the chair
telegraph operator entered and handed Mr..
Robertson a telegram. Mr.. Robertson handed
the telegram to Mr.. Woodin, who quickly
read the contents and coming down toward the
desk, said:-"Come down from there Lord,
What are we in? move the committee rise. %
Mr.. Lord then put the motion, which was de-
ertson had returned to his seat in the circle
and appeared deeply affected. Mr.. Woodin
assumed the duties of President and said =
"On motion of Mr.. Sessions the Senate stands
in recess five minutes. will read despatch
To Hon. I'm. II. Robertson:
Your confirmation Just made unanimous. Accept
congratulations.
The widest excitement ensued and cheer
ing and clapping of hands. Mr.. Sessions
jumped upon his chair and gave three cheers
for Mr.. Robertson, while Mr.. Hustled, who
came in from the Assembly, also leaped upon
chair and aided in the cheering. Mr.. LOOMS
then cried three cheers for Garfield, which
were given with a will. A general hand shaE.
ing followed, amid which the Senate ad-
journed.
The Republican general committee serena
ded Senator Robertson at his hotel tonight.
On being presented he was vociferously APP
plauded and spoke as follows:
Fellow citiZenS:-You have come here to-
night to congratulate me upon the confirma
tion of my nomination as collector of the port
OF New York. Let me congratulate you Or
rather the country upon the fact that we have
President whose intelligence, frmness and
patriotism will protect the constitution from
every assault coming from whatever quarter ii
may. did not seek the collectorship nor did
any one ask it for me. visited neither
dence with the President in regard to it. The
bestowal of the Office under such circumstances
was exceedingly gratifying to me. During
| the tendency of the nomination in the Senate
other events of gratifying character occurred
| was much gratified with the early and judi
| cious advice of the chief magistrate of this
great state in respect to the proper disposition
| that nomination should inspire as that advice
was by its high sense of honor, sound Judgment
and great practical sagacity advice which if
taken in the spirit in which it was given would
have strengthened, solidifed and made the
Republican party in this state invincible.
After expressing his gratitude for the nomi-
nation, its unanimous confirmation and to the
press and people throughout the country for
| their support of the Presidents course
throughout the entire affair, Judge Robertson
| continued
'The popular approval of the Presidents de.
| termination to maintain his constitutional
| right has been such as was never vouchsafed to
any other President. I venture to say there is
no neighborhood within the United States the
| majority of whose inhabitants are not in full
| accord with the President on that question
| The abolition of the unit rule, defeat of the
| third term project, establishment of the prin.
| ciple of district representation at Chicago and
reatfirmance at Washington to-day of the con-
stitutional right of the President to nominate
to the Senate and have such nomination con-
| sidered by the Senate are hopeful evidences oil
| the dawnng of brighter day in politics
| when independence of thought and indepen
| dence of action may be exercised within
| without the certainty of instant death beneath
| the wheels of political juggernauts. When
| that day comes, and not till then, we shall
| have what you and every other good citizen
long and earnestly desired, government by
| the people. In conclusion let me say l shall,
in the discharge of the duties of this Office, a.
have in the discharge of the duties of every
| other office held by me, take care that the in
terests OF the people receive no detrimeut."
LATER.
There has been a marked change in the
situation of the senatorial matter to-day. It is
| evident that members of the legislature have
received advices from their constituencies.
| Those who on Tuesday were unprepared to
| express themselves have talked freely to-day
| and many have signed the papers in circua
| ton taking a position who refused to do SC
| when first invited
One of these papers expresses fullest con
| fidence IN President Garfield and endorses his
| action concerning New York nomination.
made to the United States Senate. The Other
! declares that the signers will not abide by the
action of any legislative caucus which nomin
ates Conkling and Platt. The first paper was
signed yesterday by many who would not sign
the other. To-day several of these have signed
the latter paper. 1t is claimed tonight that
signers enough have been attached to the
latter declaration to make it utterly imposs
BILE to elect Conkling and Platt, and the anti
| Conkling section are exceedingly jubilant
| The stalwarts exhibit depression though some
| of them are exceedingly bitter.
The following statement of the proceedings
which resulted in the election of the two Sen
ators who have resigned their seats may be o
interest:-In the Republican caucus held il
Albany on Jan. 20, 1879, to nominate a United
| States Senator from this State to succeed Ros
coe Conkling, that gentleman received thu
| unanimous vote of those present, Senator Goe
bel and Assemblyman Wadsworth being thu
only absentees On the following day vott
for United States Senator was taken in boil
branches of the Legislature. The vote in til.