The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-05-26
CONKLING AND PLATT.

CUNAL1NH AND PLATTs
States Senators, In Which They Give Their
Reasons for Resisnlng and Their Version
OF the Difference Between Then and the
Admlnlstration 1t Washinston.
AN Albany IN. ~ telegram of the
10th gives the joint letter Of resignation
sent to Governor Cornell by United
States Senators Conkl ling and Platt. and
which we publish in full as matter of
general public interest. giving, as it
does. "their side of the story:
WASHINGTON, D. c., May Il, 1881.
SIR: Transmitting as We do our resigna-
tons, respectively. Of the great trusts with
which New York has honored us, it is ft that
We acQuaint you, and through you the Legis-
lature and people of the State, of the reasons
which, in our judgments, make such step
respectful and necessary. Some weeks ago
the President sent to the Senate in a group
the nominations Of several persons for public
Offices already filed. One of these offices Is
the Collectorship of the Port of New York,
now held by General Merritt. Another is the
Consul Generalship at London, now held by
General Badeau. Another is Charge d Affaires
to Denmark, held by Mr.. Cramer. An
other is the Mission to Switzerland, held
by Mr.. Fish, q son of the former dtstin-
suished Secretary of State. Mr.. 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 at his post, If
permitted to do so. All these officials save
only Mr.. Cramer) are citizens of New York.
1t 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 a "reward" for certain acts of his, said to
have aided in making the nomination of
General Garfield possible.
The chain of removals thus proposed was
broken by General Badeau promptly declin-
ing to accept the new place to which he was to
be sent These nominations summoned every
member Of the Senate to say whether he lad
vised'' such transaction. The movement was
more than 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.
Learning that the Vice.President was equal
ly surprised, and had been equally msled, we
went to MIR. James, the Cabinet officer from
our State, and learned that, though ho had
spent some time with the President ON the
morning of the day the nominations were 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-
a uk,ot1p
or 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 60
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:
ITO the President: We beg leave to remon-
strate against change in the CollectOrship at
Of Of m
pOsal was wholly a surprise. We heard OF it
only when the several nominations involved in
aplan were announced in the Senate. We had
only two days before this been informed from
you that change in the Customs Office at
New York was not contemplated, and, quite
ignorant OF your purpose to take any action,
tons to make the suggestions we now pre-
sent. Wedo not believ Q that the interests Of
the public service will be promoted by re-
Robertson in his stead Our opinion is quite
the reverse, and we believe no political adj
vantage can he gained for either the Repub-
lican party or its principles. Believing that
should be fquidated in such q mode, we
earnestly and respectfully ask that the
nomination of Mr.. Robertson be Withdrawn.
(Signed) "CHESTER A. ARTHUR,
THOMAS l.. JAMES,
=. C. PLATT,
ROSCOE COMPILING"
This paper was presented to the President
by Mr.. James ON Monday, the 2sth 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 prer0gative 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-
Cabinet) teemed with violent denunciatons of
the Senators from New York for Opposing
the Administration and "dctating'' to the
President. Perso ns who visited the Executive
Mansion reported the President as resentful
and impatient Of the hesitation of the Senate
to "advise and consent" to what he
proposed. We b ave 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 truthless charges
published against US by oficious 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 SO stated. Immediately after
the nominations were published letters and
kilograms in great numbers came from every
part of the State from its leading citizens pro-
testing against the proposed changes, and
cOndemning them on many grounds.
Several thousands of the leading mercantile
firms of New York, constituting, we are in
formed, a majority of every branch Of trade,
sent us remonst. ances. Sixty of eighty-one
Republican members of the Assembly, by let
ter or memorial, made objection. Repre-
sentatives in Congress, State officials, business
men. professional men, commercial industri-
al and political ORGANIZATIONS are among the
remonstrants, and they speak from every sec.
ton of the State. Besides the nominations
already referred to there were awaiting the
action of the Senate several citizens of New
York, named for Offices connected with courts,
District Attorneys, and Marshals. These
were all reappointments. Most of them had
been originally commissioned by Mr.. Hayes.
They were certified by Judges of Courts,
and many other eminent persons, who attest
ed the faithfulness and merit of their services
and recommended their continuance. They
were not presented by us.
We have not attempted to "dictate," nor
have we asked the nomination of one person
to any Office in the State. Indeed, with the
sole exception of the written request set forth
above, we have never even expressed an opin-
ion to the President in any case unless ques-
toned in regard to it. Some days ago the
President abruptly withdrew. in one and the
same act, the names Of General Woodford and
Mr.. Tenney, and of the two Marshals. This
unprecedented proceeding. whether permissi,
bic by law or not, was gravely significant. The
President had nominated these officers after
they had been weighed in the balance. Their
official records were before him, and had been