Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-06-02

-, .CONKLlNG AND, PLATE.
rhss, x.tssr ! e Hesas.ssssa as u.sssA
STATE. ss..s,-.. :. Wsssh Tssy CIV Tsslr
- he Dl1srenees Between Ths0 sd -
AanIulstrasasn - Wsshinstea.
AN Albany IN. ~ Telegram Of the
10th gives the joint letter Of resignation
sent to Governor Cornell by United
States Senators Conkling and Platt, and
which we publish in fun - . matter of
general public interest, giving, a it
does, ''their side OF the story:
gaH '.iia wAsHiNoroN, d. c., May II. 1851.
Sra: Transmitting - we do our Tesi9na-
tons. respectively. Of the great trusts with
which New York has honored Us, Il u fit that
We acquaint you, and through you the Lcsis-
latpre and people Of the state, Of the reasons
which, in our judgments, make such step
respectful and necessary. Some weeks aso
ths President sent TO the Senate In group
ofices already Allied. One Of these ofices Il
the C0liectOrship OF the Port Of New York,
nowheld BY General Merritt. Another n the
Consul Generalship ct London, now held by
General Badeau. Anogher q Charge d'ARaires
to Denmark, held by Mr.. Cramer. An
other 10 the Mission to Switzerland. held
by Mr.. Fish, son Of the former distin-
euished Secretary OF State. MT. Fish
has, in Difference to an ancient practice,
placed his position at the disposal Of the new
Administration, but. like the other persons
named, he was ready TO remain ut his post, II
permitted to do DO. All these officials save
only Mr.. Cramer) are citizens of New York.
It was proposed to displace them all. not for
any alleged faults, or for any alleged need or
advantage of the public service, but In order
to give the great office Of Collector of the Port
OF New York to Mr.. William H. Robertson,
as "reward'' for certain acts OF his, said to
have aided in making the nomination of
General Garfield possible. fr..ssi g
The chain of removals thus proposed was
broken by General Badeau promptly declin-
ing to accept the new place to which he was to
h1e sent. These nominations summoned every
member Of the Senate to say whether he lad
vised" such transaction. The movement was
more than a surprise. We had been told only
a few hours before that no removals in New
York offices were soon to be made or even
considered. and had been requested to with.
hold the papers and suggestions bearing ON
the subject which had been sent to US for pre-
sentation should occasion arise until we had
notice from the President OF his readiness to
receive them. 1serI--s. ~. .lif
Learning that the vice-President was equal
ly surprised, and had been equally misled, we
went to Mr.. James. the Cabinet officer from
our State, and learned that, though he had
spent some time with the President on the
morning of the day the nominations we're sent
in, no disclosure Of an intention to send them
had been made to him, and that he first knew
of the matter by hearsay following the event.
After earnest reflection and consultation we be
lieved the proceeding unwise and wrong, wheth-
er considered wholly in relation to the preser-
walton and integrity of the public service and
the public example to be set, or in relation
also to the integrity OF the Republican party.
No public utterance of comment or censure
was made by either Of us in the Senate or else
where On the contrary. we thought that the
President would reconsider an action 30
sudden and hasty. and would at least adopt
less hurtful and Objectionable modes Of requit-
ing personal or, individual service. In this
hope the following paper was presented by Mr..
James to the President, who was subsequently
informed that you had authorized your name
to be added also:
"TO the President: We beg leave to remon-
New YORK by the removal Of Mr.. Merritt and
the appointment OF Mr.. Robertson. The pro-
posal was wholly surprise. we heard Of Il
apian were announced in the senate. We had
only two days before this been informed from
New \ ork was not contemplated, and. quite
ignorant OF your purpose to take any action,
we had no opportunity until after the nomfna-
sent We do not believe that the interests Of
the public service will be promoted by re
RoSertso n in bis stead Our opinion Is quite
vantage can he gained for either the Repub-
NO RfsS al has da%sp Or wS'Cs
should be liqui1ated tn such mode, we
earnestly and respectfully ask that the
Of Mr. Eph Ina, vvft hdrnu
Signed "CHBsrERA.- ARTHUR,
THOMAS L. JAMES, Ia
7. c. PLATT.
tale -s ROSCOE CoHKLING.
e. This paper was presented to the President
by MIR. James on Monday, the 18th day of
March. Knowing the frequency with which
every one of the twenty Presidents of the Re-
public, and markedly the present incumbent,
had withdrawn their nominations on less
serious representations, we did not apprehend
that such suggestion would be treated as an
intrusion or an invasion of any prerogative OF
the nominating power. We were disappoint-
ed. Immediately the public press especially
in articles and dispatches written by those in
close and constant association with the Presi-
dent and with an influential member OF his
Cabinet teemed with violent denunciations Of
the Senators from New York for opposing
the Administration and debating 10 the
President. Perso ms who visited the Executive
Mansion reported the President ~ resentful
and impatient Of the hesitation of the Senate
to "advise and consent" to what he
proposed. We have made no assault upon
anybody. We have at all times refused to
answer questions by representatives OF the
press, or to make complaint, or comment, or
even denial Of the many trnthless charges
published against us by ofhcious champions OF
the Administration. Indeed, beyond confiden-
tial consultations with brother Senators and
officials, we have said nothing until now upon
the subject, nor have we or either Of US promot-
ed deadlock in the Senate In order to prevent
or influence action upon any nomination. Nor
have we ever 50 stated. Immediately after
the nominations were published letters and
kilograms in great numbers came from every
part OF the State from fits leading citizens pro-
testing against the proposed changes, and
condemning them on many grounds. iI.l
Several thousands of the leading mercantile
firms Of New York, constituting, We are IN
formed majority Of every branch of trade,
sent US remonst, ances. Sixty OF eighty-one
Republican members Of the Assembly, by LETT
ter or memorial, made objection. Repre-
sentatives in Congress. state oficials, business
men. professional men, commercial. fndustrl-
al and political organizations are among the
remonstrants, and they speak from every sec
ton of the State. Besides the nominations