The Cecil Whig., 1881-05-21
i POLITICAL SENSATION
SENATOR cONKLltld ) SURPRISING
DEAL.
Why He and Piatt Resigned Excitement
at the National Capital.

WHY Ilt- anu iStlN ANSSiSo A-hSA'S''A~'N
at the National Capital.
WASHINGTON. May t6.-The announce
ment of the resignation of McSSrs. tonk-
ling and Platt, as Senators from New
York, caused universal surprise. and has
been the topic of conversation III all en-
clcs The designations Were laid before
the senate Ly the Wee President immc-
diately after the reading OF the Journal.
and the asiuni>hmcnt was such that th
resignation OF NJ. Cnnklug. which wa
first presented. had to hc read Il >"c"n'
time before the Senators could convince
thcmS Ives that his retirement WAS really
intended. The feeling WAS intrn>'tie"
when the resignation of Mr. Platt follow
ell that of Mr.. Conl!inT. the Democrats
manitrSting as great surprise rs the k'-
puhlcanS. Shortly after he designations
We're read the Senate went int" secret
session of about an hours duration.
The designations have been the unlrer-
sal subject Ui conversation among al
classes OF people. Republican Senators
lave very little to say i'll the way OF eA-
pressing an opinion upon the wisdom "i
the act or of tho motives that lrompte"
it. They all. however, express regret
that NcsSrS. Conklmg and Platt hhou!h
have deemed it necessary t" take tins "N-
traoraina"y step. Those senators that
are regarded as favorable tu the Admin
istratiun speak OF it rs an exhibition OF
petulance that is unwarranted by any
thing that has transprcd, and are in
clinei to believe that the people OF New
York will regard the action OF their Sen
atorS in thus retiring from the senate in
this light.
1t is not expected here that MeSsrs.
C1nklng and Platt by their designations
intend to permanently retire from the
Senate but that it is their purpose to q"
before the legislature of New ork. and.
after submitting the questions that have
been raised between the President and
themselves in L terence. 10 the nominal
ZION nf the Federal officers for New York.
to ask the Legislature 10 prunonuc"
Judgment rs between themselves and the
Pre- sidcnt. 1t has been alleged that III
the contest over the New York n"mina-
tions the people Of New York were i'll
sympathy with the President rather than
with the two Senators. and for the pur-
pose of testing this feeling it is believed
that Messrs. Conkling and Platt have
taken this method of laying the matter
before the Legislature and will ask that
body to viudicate them by again return
nr them to the Senate.
THE LETTER OF RESIGNATION.
ALBANY. y. Y. May 16.-'The letter of
resignation from Senators Conkling and
Platt is preiaced by the following. which
~ don. Ia
2Sth.
WAsnINGToN. May 1ith. lSS1.-Sir:-
Transmitting. as we do. our resignation
respectively of the great trusts with
which New York has honorcd Us. it Is
lit tina. we acQuaiut you. aud through
! you the Legislature and the people oi
the State, the reasons which. III our
Judgment. make such a step respectful.
ana necessary. Some weeks ago the
/ President sent to the Senate in Il groul
the nominations Of several persons fol
public Offices already filled. One OF the
offices is the ColIectorship of the Port "i
New York now held by General Merritt;
another is the Consul Generalship at Lon
don. now held by General Badeau; an
other is Charge d Affairs to Denmark.
held by Mr.. Cramer: another is the mis-
sion to Switzerland. held by Mr.. Fish. Il
son oi the former distinguished Secretary
OF State. Mr.. Fish had, i'll deterence t.
an ancient practice. placed his p'siti'h
at the disposal "t the new Adnlnl>tra
tinn. but. like the other person named.
he WAS ready t. remain ut MS post /
permitted IT, do SO. Nj OF these officers.
save only Mr.. Cramer. are citizens Z"
New York 1t was proposed I" di>pIar,
them all. not tor ;,uy alleged ta"lt or ("
any alleged need or advantage OF th'
puhlic service. but i'll order To give til,
great oiiut of Collector at the Polt @
New Iori, to Mr.. WIN. IL. k"hcltS"u Il.
a reward for certain acts of his sac
to have aided III making the n"milIa
ton of General Garfield p">sinlc.
The cham of rewards thus propose
was broken by Gen Hadean promptly
declining 10 accept the new place t.
which he was to he sent. These p"ini
nations summoned every member of tn,
Senate to say whether he advised such ;
transaction. The movement was more
than a surprise. We had been told only
Il few hours that no removals III the New
York offices we've soon to be made o.
even considered. and had been requested
tn withhold papers and suggestions bear
inc Oh the subject, uhicil had heen sen
to us tcr prrauntat!0n, should occaslo'
arise. until we had notice from the PrcSi
dent of his readiness to receive them
Hearing that the Vice President WA!
equally surprised and had been equal,
uislcd. we went to Mr.. James. the tabi
net officer from our State, and Learned
that. though he had spent some time
with the President on the morning of the
day the nominations were sent III. no dis
closure Of ar Intent ion to >enu them hat
been made 10 him. and that lie first knew
Of the matter by hrresay, following til,
event. After earnest reflection and con
suItatiou, we believed the proceedings
iinwise and WRONG, whether considered
wholly in relation To the preservation anf
integrity of the public service and tn,
public example to be set. or III relation
also to the integrity OF the Republican
party.
No public utterance Of comment ol
cenSure was made by either of us in the
Senate or elsewhere on the contrary, We
thought that the President would recon
slider tie action, So sudden and haSty
and would ut last adopt less hurttul anc
Objectionable modes of rcquittimg per
soual or individual service. In this hope
the following paper vas l"s4a.ea an'
signed and presented ~ Mr. James Il
the President. who WAS subsequently Ill
formed that You had authorized youl
llanlc to be added also:
To the President:
We beg leave to demonstrate against
the change in the EollectorShip at New
York hv the removal of Mr.. Merritt anC
thn n,,Doiutmeut of Mr. RobertSon The