Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-05-17
| WASHINGTON.
Decided Sensation in Political
Circles.
GONKLING AND PLAFT RESIGN.
New York Without Representa-
tion in the Senate.
RESERVATIONS IN FULL.
The Malone Gorham Riddleberger
Business Wound Up.
COMMENTS OF VARIOUS PAPERS.
other Items Of Interest from the National
Capital.
lsrEcIAL BY TELEGRAPH TO THE KsooRD-uHIoN.l
ESPECIAL By TELEGRAPH TO III. nsOoHD.usros.l

WASHINGTON, May 16th.-The Vice President laid
before the Senate the following communication
WASHINGTON, May l6, 1881
Sir: VIII you please announce to the Senate that
my resignation as Senator of the United States
from the State OF New York has been forwarded to
the Governor of that State ? ! have the honor to
be, with great respect, Your obedient servant,
ROSCOE C0NkLING.
This communication caused great sensation,
which was heightened when the Vice President laid
the following before the Senate:
SENATE CHAMBER, May I6, 1851
Sir: / have forwarded to the Governor of the
State of New York my resignation Senator Of
the United States for the State Of New York. Will
YOU please announce the fact to the Senate? With
T. C. PLATT.
Great astonishment followed the reading of the
communications, and Hill of Georgia suggested
(sotto voce) that this would be good time to elect
officers of the Senate.
Burnside, Chairman Of the Committee on Foreign
Relations reported back favorably from that COM
mttee the resolution declaring the consent Of the
United States Government to be a condition pre-
cedent to the construction Of the ship canals or
other ways for the transportation Of going
sells acrosI the Isthmus connecting North and South
America, and also the rules and regulations under
which other nations shall participate in the use of
such canals or other ways.
Burnside gave notice that he would call it up to-
morrow.
Dawes moved to go into executive session.
Hill and Cockrell said Dawes aimed that the Re-
public would be subyerted unless the resolution was
acted on
Dawes said Hill was never convinced until he
happened to have majority.
Hill said to Davis Of Illinois that there was moth
ing to prevent the Senate adjourning this week.
The Senate then went into executive session. and
when the doors were reopsned adjourned.
The Resignation Sent to the Governor OF
New York.
ALBANY, May 16th.-Following is the full text Of
the resignation sent to the Governor by Senators
Conkling and Platt:
WAsHISeroS, May II, 1881
Transmitting as we do our designations re-
specively of the great trusts with which New York
has honored us, it is fit that acquaint you, and
through you the Legislature and people of the
State, with the reasons which in our judgment
make such step respectful and necessary. Some
weeks ago the President sent to the Senate in
group the nominations OF several persons for pub ic
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 Generalshp
at london, now held by General Badeau. Another
is the Charge d Afaires 20 Denmark, held by Mr..
Cramer Another is the mission to Switzerland, held
by Mr. Fish, sen Of tie former distinguished
Secretary Of State. Mr.. Fish has, III Difference to
the ancient practice, placed his position the dis
posa OF the Administration, but like the other
persons named, he was ready to rem ain at his post
if permitted to do All these officers, only
Mr.. Cramer, are citizens Of New York. II was pro-
posed TO displace them all, not for any alleged
faults or for any alleged 3eed advantage Of the
public service, but in order to give the great Office
OF Collector of the port Of New York to Mr. William
II. Robertson, as reward for certain acts OF his,
which are said TO lave aided in making the nomina-
ton OF General Garfield possible. The chain Of re-
movals thus proposed was broken by General Badeau
promptly declining to accept the new place to which
he was to be sent. These nominations summoned
every member of tne Senate to say whether he adj
vsed such transactions The movement was
MORE THAN A SURPRISE.
We had been told only few hours before that
no removals In the New York offices were soon to
be made, or even considered, and had been re-
quested to withhold the papers aud suggestions
bearing on the subject, which had been sent to us
for preser taton should occasion arise until had
notice from the President of his readiness to re.
ceiye them. Learning that the Vice. President was
equally surprised, and had been equally misled, we
vent to Mr. James, Cabinet officer from our State
and learned that though he had spent some tine
with the President on the morning of the day the
nominations were sent in, disclosure Of an nten
ton to send them had been made to him, and tha,
he first knew OF the matter by h,arsay following
the event After earnest reflection and co.sulta-
tion, we believed the proceeding unwise and wrong,
whether considered wholly in relation to the
preservation of the 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 utterauce Of comment OF
censure was made by either Of US. in the Senate OF
elsewhere On the contrary, we thought that the
President would reconsider his action. so sudden
and hasty, and would at least adopt less hurtful
and Objectionable mode OF requitng personal q
individual services. 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:
THE RENoNsrBANcE.
To the President: We beg leave 10 demonstrate
against the change In the Collectorship at New
| York hy the removal Of Mr. Merritt and the ap
| pointneut Of Roberison. The proposal was wholly
| a surprise We heard Of it only when the seY
eral nominations involved in the plan was an
nounced in the Senate We had only two Gays
| before this been informed by you that
change in the customs officers at New
| York was not contemplated, and we're quite
ignorant Of your purpose to take any action now,
We had no opportunity until after the nominations
| to make the suggestions We now present We &c
not believe that the interests Of the public service
will be promoted by removing the present Collector
| and putting Mr. Robertson in his stead. Our opn
ion is quite the reverse and believe no poliica
| advantage can be gained for the Republican rty
or It's priuc pies Believing that individual ha;
Claims or obligations which should be liquidated II
such mode We earnestly and respectfully ask thai
| the nomination Of Mr.. Robertson be withdrawn.
CHESTER ARTHUR,
ROSCOE C0SkLING,
I. c. PLATT,
THOMAS L. JAMES
A DIsAPPoINTMEHT
This paper was presented 10 the President by Mr
James on Monday, the 2sth day Of March Know
ing the frequency with which every one of th
| twenty Presidents Of tie Republic, and marked,