The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-05-26
CoxKLIya AND PLATT.

CONKLIyG AND PLATT.
Rcsi9naiien y the New York sena-
tors Statement O4 the Reasons That
Impclled Ihc,n 10 such : C0urSe.
The controversy between the President and
Senator Conkling over the nomination Of Judge
Robertson TO be Collector Of the port Of Now
York eliminated, ON the 10th inst, in the resig-
nation, BY Senators Conkling and Piatt Of their
seats in the United States Senate. The action
Of the New York Senators In tendering their
designations, II Il needless to say, created
profound sensation at the national capital, and
was sharp surprise to the country ct largo.
Messrs. Conkling and Platt addressed the fol
lowing letter to the Governor Of New York,
defining their position, and explaining their
rsass0s fer rssignine:
WAsnlxoroN, May IL. 1851.
To His Exosllsnsy A. ,. Cornell, Governor:
BIR: Transmitting. We do, our resignations, ~
spectivcy. OF the great trusts with which New York
has honored ", !. !, AZ that ws .cqua,nt you. and
through you the Legislature and the people of fhe
State, with the reasons which, In our judgment, make
such step respectful aud necessary. Some weeks
ago the President OF the United States sent 70 the
senate in group the nomination Of several porsons
for pubic ofAcee already filed One OF thsse Offices
10 the Collectorship OF the Port u New York.
now held ~ aen. Merritt; another 10 the Con-
Bal.an; another Is The Charge a. iaairss
at Denmark, held BY Mr.. Cramer; another
y the mission to Switzerland hcld BY Mr. Fish, the
OF the former distinguished Secretary Of STATE.
Mr.. Fish hAd IN Difference TO m anc ent practice,
placed hs position It the disposal of the admin
istration, but, like other persons named, vas read,
70 remain ct his post Il permitted % do -.
All these oflcerr, save only NJ. Cramer, ars citi
zsns Of New York. Il wss proposed TO displacc
them al not Tor any alleged faults OF advantage Of
ofAce OF Collector Of The Port Of Now York 10 Mr..
William H. Robertson . reward for certain acts Of
his which said 70 have aided in making tho
nation Of Gen. GARFIELD possible.
The chain Of removals thus proposed
broken by Gan. Badcau promptly declining
u accept the nsw post - which ho was 20 b. sent
senate to say whether he advised such Transaction
The movement wao moro than : SURPRISE We had
been told cniy few hours be ore that no removals
of New York officers aonn to be made, or ever
onsidsred. and had been rsaneste to Withhold the
papers sndpuegsetons bearing on the subject which
ad been rent to for preaentation should occasion
arise, until We had notice from the Prsstdsnt Of his
readineHs to receive them.
Learning that the vics President was equal,
surprised, and had been equally misled, No sent
10 Sir. James, the Cabinet ofYicer from our State
and learned that, though he had spent some time
with the President on the morning Of the day the
nominations sent In, no disclosure Of the In
tcnton TO send them In had been made to him, and
that the nrst he knew Of the matter BY hearsay
following the event.
After earnest reflection and consultation Ne be-
lievod the proceeding nnwise and wrong, whether
considered who y in relation to the preservation and
integrity the pubic service and public example
to ls set, In relation also to the integrity Of the
Republican party. No public utterancr
either s0' q u. n .ss 'I ssn.t. Or s sl.ssh.rs.
On tho contrary, ~ thought that The President
would reconsider the action no sudden and hasty,
able modes of requiting personal Individual
pared, signed and presented by Mr. James . the
had authcri.ed yoar nane 70 Is sdded Also:
To the President:
Wa bag leave - remonstrats against the change
IN the Coll-ctorsLip Of New York by ths removal
{ Mr.. Merritt and tho appointment Of Ma
.solertson. The proposal was wholly . surprise.
| Ws heard o. II only ~hen several nominations
| ,nyo.ved In the plan we're announced in the
senate We had only two days hefnre this been in
formed from you that change in the customs OH
| ccs At New Yoik was not contemplated, and, quite
sgnt rant Of tie purpose TO Axe sny acton now w
had NJ opportunity until alter the nominations Il
maize the suggestions We present We do moi
be eye that the ntercts of tho pnbic service will IN
| promoted Iy removing tic present 60 lector and
| putting Mr. Robertson N his stead. Our opinion !,
i quite tho reverse, Ari We believe polite Il al
i vantage can he glincd for either tho Republican
party its principles. Beic,ng IN NJ ind.. ilnA
has csiMe obligations hich sh5u be Equidats
! IN such mole. We tarneasly "a respectfully nal
that liz nominat,on az Mr. Robertson lie withdra wn
i CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
&. C. PLATr.
Tn MAS L. JAMEs.
Roscok GOSkLIk0.
This pas.- wss presented 10 the President by Sir
\ James on Monday, the 2sth day Of March. Knowing
o. .sis.n,s - tne rennhic h.s u,ithdrau,n nam,,na
ns on lcss serious renr4 ousations and the SINH q
| AMI marked nr,c,c. II tao present ,;,cumb.nt. y,
,;s .s an,,rs,..na th.t snrh .uvccstinr wa,,;I II
~ i,tr,.,an - an nx,s,nn ~ .,r II ri III
nominating power. We wer. DISAPPOINTED. lnlme
| da.siy the pubic press, erpr.,aly in articles sns
dispatches written BY these in c!ose ant css'ssai
| ucmlers o. his Cabinet. teen.ed with sio'ent de
| nunciations Of tho senators from New York 10
s.oppeing the administration aid debating ~ IN
| Pr.s.,l.nt
lsEooos Who visitAd tho E1eoutve Mansion report
= ths President - resentful aud impatient Of ii
hGstaion Of the 0enxte 70 advice and consent -
! what ho proposed We had made mo- assault upon an,
body. We have at al times refused 70 answer question
lsom rsp sssntatiyes q tho prsss, or make com
plaint comment Or sven denial Of many truthles
se.ssss published asalns. y. y cnepe
combinations with brother Senators and cfhcias,
hrvs said nothing until now upon this subject NJ
ths senate " in order to prevent ct influence aeto
on any nomination: nor have We ever 40 stAie,
Immediately after the nominations were pnbllthe
letters and tee.rams in great mum crs came foo.
evsry part Of the State, from i,s leading citizen
| protesting against the proposed changss, and CO
| aemnng them en- many Rrounds. H@vela 'a,n.-
u - l1AAine mercantile Arms q Nsw York, consl
| tutine g wt eyA informed, : majority of essl
branch 81 trade cent 10 remonatrances si1ty Of 4
eighty .ons Republican members cf the Assembly,
letter or memorial, made objection. Kepresentstis
in Congress, State ofacials, business men. profe
! a,onal man commorcal industrial and poaGcas .
csnisatioss s,e AMONG the remon.trents. and th,
snesi from everv section of the f,tata.
Reside The noinn stinns already referred 10, the
vero avaiiinr the acflon Of the Senate several eli
! se.s ~ Nan Work named for ofaces connected III
s..s..... rn...-... A1.o-,,... 80 r.reh.l.A No
- thsrn h.S l,een ortsinaily commssioned by 4
/ M.~ss Th.v rers certifea ~ Jndvea al cour
| .ri 800 cek.. .r,tn.rf y,sr~cns ~" aftested Il
;;snS",nsss .na merit ~ thair .cr,ices Ana rocor
,,sndsd tI,-,r sontnnsnca They vere not prescuta
- - VA h.va nat Sftennsed to dictate nor ha
..i.s ths rnmin .tion of ona uerson 20 sny ON
N tia st.ts Indeed. With the s,e exception Of d
written request set forth above, Wa ha,s sv
i expressed an opinion to the President In Any CO..
4 | unless questioned in regard to It
Some t,ays aco tho President abruptly withdrs
| IN one ana thc sains act. the names Of Gen. Woo
] FORD and MT. Ienney. ana 9, two Matsnals.
I nnprecedehscu Procseune. Mnoset ~. 49,
. iaw o. mol, 49, 9raveH EEnncan1 ~. .S ~
naa noMnasea snsse oansrss ssss G.I 49, ys.1 a -