Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-17
AT ALBANY Y.

AT ALBANY.
Reception of the designations = Letter
from the Senators Giving Their Reasons
Therefor.
ALBANY, n. Y, May l6.-At the ses,
sion OF the Assembly communication
was received from Gov. Cornell, covey-
ing the letters OF the designations of
Conkling and Platt; also the joint letter
from the Senators giving their reasons
for resigning. The designations and
letter we're read by the Clerk. The
chamber was crowded with spectators,
among whom were many Senator'S. AT
the end OF the reading the chair an
nounced the message would be entered
upon the Journal Following is the
letter accompanying the designations:
WASHINGTON, ID. G., May IA, 1881.
SGR:-Transmitting as We do our res
ignations, respectively, OF the great
trust with which New York has honored
us, i. is fit that we acquaint you, and
through you the Legislature and people
OF the State, with the reasons which, in
our Judgment, made such step respect
ful aud necessary.
Some weeks ago the President sent to
the Senate in q 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 consul general at London,
now held by General Badeau; another
is charge d'affaires to Denmark, held
by Mr.. Cramer; another is the mission
10 Switzerland, held by Mr.. Fish, son
of a former distinguished Secretary OF
State. Mr.. Fish had, in Difference to an
ancient practice, placed his position at
the disposal OF the new administration,
but, like the otherp persons named, he was
ready to remain at his post if permitted
to do so. All these officers, save only MIR.
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 to 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 "aid-
ed in making the nomination OF General
Garfield possible" The
Chain of Removals
thus proposed was broken by General
Badeau's promptly declining to accept
the new place to which he was to be
sent. These nominations summoned
every member of the Senate To say
whether he advised such transactions.
The Movement was More than q Surprise.
We had been told only few hours be-
fore that no removals in the New York
offices were soon 10 be made or even con-
sidered and had been requested to with.
hold the papers aud sugyt stlons bearing
on the subject, which had been sent TO us
for presen,a alton should occasion arise,
until weha1 notice from the President Of
his readiness TO receive them. Learning
that the Vice President was equally sur
prised and had been equally mislsd, we
went to Mr. James, Cabinet officer from
our State, and learned that, though he
had spent some time with the Presi-
dent on the morning OF the day when
the nominations were sent in, no dis
closure OF his intention In send them
hal been made to him, and that he fire (
know OF the message by hearsay.
Following this event, after an earn
es, reflection and consultation,
We believed the procee ding
unwise aud wrong. whether considered
wholly in relation to the preservation
and int, gritty OF the public service and
public example Ia 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 elsewhere. On the con-
trarv. We thought the President would
reconsider the action so suddenly and
hastily taken, and would, at least, adopt
less hurtful and Objectionable modes OF
re0uiting personal or individual service.
Protest Against Robertson.
In this hope, the following paper was
prepared and signed, and 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 remonstrste against a
change in the Collectorship at New
York by the removal OF General Merritt
aud the appointment of Mr.. Robertson.
The proposal was wholly a surprise.
We heard OF il only when several nomi-
nations, involved in the plan, were an
nounced in the Senate. We had only
two days before this been informed
from you that a change in the customs
officers at New York was not contempla-
ted, aud were quite ignorant OF the pur-
pose to take any action now. We had
no opportunity until after the nomina-
tons to make the suggestions We now
present. We do not believe the inter
ests OF the public service will be promo.
ted by removing the present Collector
and putting Mr.. Robertson in his place.
Our opinion is quite the reverse, and we
believe no political advantage can be
gained for either the Republican party
or its principles. Believing that no in