Daily Republican., 1881-05-17
A SENSATION IN POLITICS.
SENATOR CONKLINGS NEW AND
SURPRISING DEAL.
Why He and Plat Resigned--Ex
citement at the National
Capitalize Feeling
Mt Albany.

WASHINGTON, d. c., May 16.-The
announcement of the resignation OF
Messrs. Conkling and Platt, as Sena-
tors from New York, caused universal
surprise, and has been the topic of con.
versation in all circles. The resign;-
tons were laid before the Senate by the
Vice President Immediately after the
reading Of the journal, and the aston
ishment was such that the resignation
OF Mr.. Conkling, which was first pre-
sented, had to be read a second time be-
fore the Senators could convince them
selves that his retirement from the
Senate was really intended. The feel
ing was intensified when the resignation
OF Mr. Platt followed that of Mr.. Conk-
ling, the Democrats manifesting as
great surprise as the Republicans.
shortly after the designations were read
the Senate went into secret session, and
after session of about an hours du-
ration adjourned.
The designations have been the uni
versal subject of conversation among
all classes of people Republican Sena-
tors have very little to say in the way
OF expressing an opinion upon the wis
dom of the act or Of the motives that
prompted it. They all, however, ex-
press regret that Messrs. Conkling and
Platt should have deemed it necessary
to take this extraordinary step. Those
Senators that are regarded as favorable
to the Administration speak of it as an
exhibition of petulance that is unwar-
ranted by anything that has transpired,
and are inclined to believe that the peo-
pie OF New York will regard the action
OF their Senators in thus retiring from
the Senate in this light.
1t is not expected here that Messrs.
Conklinga and Platt, by their designations
intend to permanently retire from the
Senate, but that it is their purpose to
go before the Legislature of New York,
and, after submitting the questions
that have been raised between the Pres
ident and themselves in reference to the
nomination of the Federal officers for
New York, to ask the Legislature to
pronounce judgment as between them
selves and the President 1t has been
alleged that in the contest over the New
York nominations the people of New
York were in sympathy with the Presi-
dent rather than with the two Senators,
and for the purpose of testing this feel
ing 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 vindicate
them by again returning them to the
Senate.
THE LETTER OF RESIGNATION.
ALBANY, n. Y, May 16.-The letter
of resignation from Senators Conkling
and Platt is prefaced by the following,
which was presented to the President,
March 2S:
WAsHLNGToN, May "A, 1SS1.-Sir
Transmitting, as we do, our resignation
respectively of the great trusts with
which New York has honored us, it is
tit that we acquaint you, and through
you the Legislature and the people of
the State, the reasons which, in our
make such step respectful,
and necessary. Some weeks ago the
President sent to the Senate in u group
the Nominations of several persons for
public offices already filled. One of the
offices is the Collectorship of the Port of
New York, now held by General Mer-
ritt; another is the CONSUL GeueralShip
at London, now held by General
Badeau; another is Charge d. Affairs to
Denmark, held by Mr.. Cramer; another
is the mission to Switzerland, held by
Mr.. Fish, son ofthe former distinguish
ed Secretary Of State. Mr.. Fish had, in
leterence to an ancient practice, placed
lis position at the disposal Of the new
Administration, but, like the other per-
IONS named, he was ready to remain at
lis post if permitted to do so. All of
hese officers, save onl Mr.. Cramer,
Ire citizens of New York. 1t was pro-
posed to displace them all, not for any
alleged fault or for am alleged need or
advantage of the public service, but in
'rGer to give the great Office of Collector
Il. Robertson as "reward" for certain
tets of his, said to have "aided in max
ng the nomination of General Garfield
possible"
The chain of rewards thus proposed
vas broken by General Badeaus $
declining to accept the new
'lace to which he was to be sent. These
nominations summoned every member
f the Senate to say whether he advised o,
uch transaction. The movement was sc
nore than surprise. We had been &C
old only a few hours before that no re- X
lovals in the New York offices were VI VI
Don to be made or even considered, ,and tn
ad been requested to withhold papers dl
nd suggestions bearing on the subject, = =
Ihich had been sent to us for presen- \
ch ri a
ad notice from the President of his m
sadness to receive them. Hearing ev
lat the Vice President was equally In
lrprised and had been equally misled, IN
q went to Mr.. James, the Cabinet Off
er from our State, and learned that,
lOugh he had spent some time with the L
resident on the morning of the day the
were sent in, no disclosure 1aER
an intention to send them had been :"
ade to him, and that he first knew of
le matter by hearsay, following the =
7ent. After earnest reflection and con- l.
we believed the proceeding T.
lwise and wrong, whether considered nj,
holly in relation to the preservation my
I'd integrity of the public service and =
e public example to be set, or in rela- \
III also W 'i'o in'osii'y Vi 'iio A'op"' bu
can party. Ad
No public utterance of comment or rU
insure was msde by either of us in the
mate or elsewhere; on the contrary, "
g thought that the President would '
consider the action, SO sudden and W. W.
Lsty, and would at last adopt less hurt piy
and objectional modes of requitting --
rsonal or individual service. In this Y
pc the following paper was prepared y
d signed and presented by Mr.. James P,s Pas
the President, who was subsequently a1, an
formed that you had authorized your
me to be added also: Y
To the President:-W beg leave to '
1-.. =. o,.,;-,a. Az 49,. 4: ~ mi