Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-14

Robertson BuRinessEWhat GAR
field Owes COnkIing-The Claims OF
"SenatOrfal COurtesy''-What He
Thinks it Means-The Treaty of
MentOF-NO Bargain Made There
Garfield and BrOtheF-ln-LaW Graz
mer-What Re Thinks Of Ihe Alba
NY MuddIe-The Great Traveller Not
In a Happy Mood.
CHICAGO, June 13 General Grant, ac-
companied by Mrs. Grant, Colonel Fred.
Grant and his wife, and Miss Sharpe, ar
rived here yesterday morning. Owing to
the poor health of Mrs. Grant, the General
will remain until Wednesday, when he will
proceed directly to New York. To Morn
ing Ne1S representative he said
81 accomplished the purpose for which
| went'to Mexico, having obtained all that
| went for without any great difficulty,
despite the attempts of certain newspapers
and persons here to create opposition
through talk of annexation, etc, etc. The
articles published by the Chicago papers
were copied into those of Mexico, and first
aroused bitter opposition, but went before
the Congress, and in a short speech told
them what wanted, and they gave my
charter at once. No charter was ever be-
fore issued in so short time. The road
will be In all about seven hundred miles
long, running from the City of Mexico,
through Puebla, to the Pacific coast, while
another branch must go down to the Gulf. It
will be of great benefit to Mexico in
developing the resources of that country
and to the United States. The charter pro-
vides for the completion of the road In ten
years, but in all probability 1t will be finished
inside of three. Four surveying parties are
already at work. shall very likely return
there next winter"
In regard to the situation of affairs in
Albany, General Grant said: "It you want
to know what / think of the manner In
which Conkling has been treated by
the President and by his colleagues in
the Senate 1 will tell you without
any hesitation. | think it is most outrage
Gus, and If you want to know where stand
in the present contest l will tell you that l
am with Conkling and Platt. Conkling is
my friend. He has been a warm supporter
of mine, but for all that l do not owe him
near so much to day as Garfield. 1t is true
Conkling did not support Garfield in the
Chicago Convention, but he saved him in
November. Without New York State
Garfield could not have been elected,
and without Conklipg New York State
would not have gone Republican. When
ever the State has gone Republican In
past years the cause could be traced to
Conkling and his personal efforts. When
say that Garfield owes more to Conkling
than do, do not mean to underestimate
the obligations that am under to him, but
was elected once without the State Of New
York, and when 1t did go for me l would
have been elected without 1t. When Conk
ling went to Warren and commenced his
vigorous campaign for the Republican
party, and Garfield matters looked very Sc
rious, defeat was almost certain. L. was then
and then only that the Republicans took
heart, and from that time on the battle
turned. Conkling went into the campaign
because he was Republican, and because
he desired the success of his party-not
because of any trade he had made with
Garfield. 1t was in accord with the resolu-
| tions which he offered In the National Con-
vention pIedging the support of every dele
gate to the candidates nominated, whoever
| they might be. This was done because
several had declared that If was nominated
they would bolt.
'iIn regard to the Mentor treaty, Of which
we have heard so much, there was not a
word of truth In the sensational reports
that were published concerning what oc-
| Cured during our visit We were in the
| State speaking, and, in compliance with
Garfeld's oft repeated requests, | deter
mined to call at Mentor, as it could be done
without putting US out of our way. CoDk
! ling said that he would go with me. AR.
irving at Garf1eld's house we found a crowd
of people there, probably one hundred and
| fifty in all. We went into the house and sat
down and talked with Garfield and the others
present, but not q word was said by
either Conkling or myself to Garfield
in the way of a trade or bargain, nor was
any understanding Of any kind whatever ar
| rived at. All that we said while with Gar
field was In a general way, and could be
heard by those around US. In fact, 1t would
have been impossible for US to say anything
that those around us could not hear. All
this talk about the Mentor treaty is mere
nonsense.
al have no doubt but that when Conkling
resigned he did SO with the intention of
keeping out of politics and out of the
Senate, and think he acted wisely. He was
sick and disguised with the condition of
affairs. He had been insulted by the Presi-
dent and slighted by the Senate. There is,
or should be, a great deal In Senatorial
courtesy which means simply this, that
when the President makes an appointment
In any State, and It fails to elicit the ap-
proval of the two Senators from that State,
the matter ends there, and the nomination
is rejected. II the Republican Senators
from any State object to any nomination,
them In the matter without exception. The
same is, of course, true of the Democrats,
but in this case 1t was a coalition against
Conkling, and he accepted it as such. In
the first place it was an insult, and doubt
less intended as such on the part of Gar
field, to ever select for the New York Col
lectorship this man Robertson. He was
personal and political enemy of Conkling's.
and was probably chosen for that reason. /
don't believe 1t ever would have happened
If Blaine had not been in the Cabinet.
81 know nothing personally of Conkling's
purposes or intentions, having neither seen
nor heard from him since this affair hap
pent d, but from my knowledge of him, and
from what | have learned of those who have
talked with him, | am of the opinion that he
went home to stay. But, as you know, no
sooner had he got out than series of at
tacks were made upon him through the
press and from all quarters. 1t was said
that he ected petulantly, and was
inclined to sulk and play the child
because he could not have things
to suit him. All the stories seem to ema-
nate from the White House aud that locali
ty. Even after he was out they could not
let him rest In peace. Oonkling is a proud
man, and presume he said, when all these
contemplate stories came to his ears, i
will show them what | can do. l will go
back again; 1 will fight them.' And he
will do it, too. They may beat him through
the means resorted to, but they can
never carry New York State without him.
The contest will, in all probability, be car
ried over to another session."
Respecting what he had asked Of the ad
ministration, the General said: "After
Garfield was elected he wrote me several
letters filed with protestations of gratitude
for what he chose to call my valuable ser=
vices during the campaign, and asked
me to give him q chance to repay
in part the great debt he thought
be owed. He said he wanted my
assistance and the benefit of my travels
aud experience in making his SELECTIONS
for foreign appointments. | finally wrote
him that my brother-in-law, Mr. Cramer,
was sick and wanted to go out of Denmark,
and asked for his transfer to some place
In the South, naming Spain, Belgium and
Portugal. He was sent to Switzerland.
But you see it was sn part Of
a plan. General Badeau was known to
be q friend of mine. he was sent
to Denmark In order to make place for
| General Merritt. Merritt was appoint
ed to the New York custom house be-
cause he was known to be an enemy Of
Conkling, and Tor the purpose of breaking
the latter up Failing in this, Robertson,
a still greater enemy, was selected to com
plete the work, aud It was, Of course, ne
cessary to provide for Merritt, hence these
changes. But it is not likely that would
ask for any transfer that would 'endsnger
| the son of my old secretary of State. Mr..
Fish resigned 1t is true; hut it was because
| he wanted to be promoted"
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Roanoke College commencement.