The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-04-27
COmklang7s Intrigue.
[From the Chicago Tribunel.


LFrom the Chicago Tribunel.
1t is 0 plausible story which is told in New
York concerning Conkling's intrigue to gel
Merritt out of the office Of Collector before
the expiration Of his term. and if the story
be true it ought efectually to estop Conkling
from making any effort to defeat the confirm
alton of Judge Robertson, who has been ap-
pointed as Merritt's successor. At all events,
the transaction is sure to make Mr. 5Conk-
ling's further opposition ridiculous, and to
deprive him Of the sympathy Of disjnterested
people III the chagrin which has oyertaken
him. .
The story goes that Conkling, after estab-
fishing himself on q friendly footing with
the new President, and after suggesting a
large number of personal appointments, to
which the President readily assented, limited
that Merritt might be got out Of the way and
a vacancy created in the New York Custom
House by sending him abroad in some ac-
ceptable diplomatic or consular capacity. To
this the President replied that he had not yet
thought Of making any change in the Gus
tom House, and the matter was dropped.
Conkling went away from the White House
With the conviction that his ingenious sug-
gestion had made q lodgment il the Presi-
dents mind, and that he himself was SO COM
pletely master Of the situation that he might
with impunity conduct further negotiations
without consulting the President. 1t never
once occurred to him that, in case Merritt
were retired from the Custom House, the
President would think Of filling the vacancy
without first obtaining his, (~Conkling'a), con-
sent and approval. So the managing sena
tor from New York wrote to Mr.. Merritt
that q change in the Custom House was inn
minent, and advised him that he had better
make some provision for himself BY apply
ing tor g foreign appointment. Conkling al
80 graciously proffered bis aid in procuring
q foreign appointment for Merritt If he de-
sired one. Upon receiving this letter, imme-
dlately after SO many Conkling appointments
had been made, Merritt very naturally con.
cluded that Conkling's position as Boss
and dispenser of New York patronage had
been formally acknowledged by the Presi-
dent, and that he would do well to provide
himself with another place before it should
be too late. Merritt settled at once on the
London Consulship, and notified the Presi-
dent that be would be very glad to accept
that office. The President took him at his
word, nominated Merritt as Consul to Lon
don, made the changes necessary to secure
him the place, and appointed Robertson.
II this history Of Robertson's appointment
be correct, then Conkling himself was directly
responsible for it, and has not the slightest
warrant to protest against it. He attempted
to regain control of the New York Custom
House by an underhand proceeding. The
President had dealt openly, fairly, ever gen.
erously by him, and then he resorted to in
trigue to obtain more. He assumed that the
President had surrendered the appointing
power into his hands, so far as the New York
Offices were concerned, and that ii. would on
~ be necessary to get rid Of Merritt by mis-
representation to enable him to name Mer-
ritt's successor. It is entirely probable, un-
der the circumstances related, that the Pres
ident discovered Conkling's handiwork in
the transaction as soon as he received Mer-
ritts Letter announcing the latter's willing
ness to go to London. In such case he could
hardly fail,#with proper respect forshis own
position, to resent Gonkling's impairment In.
reference and unWarranted assumption Of
executive power. This story fully accounts
for the only feature ii the case for which
the President could reasonably be criticised,
even By the po~liticians-viz. his appoint
lnent OF Robertson without any consultation
with the New York senator. Tn
der The conditions that have been described
the Presldentcould not consult with Cork
ling without d%emeaning himself. and the
only punishment at all adequate to Conk-
mischieVous intermeddling, vas to