New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-10
mittee on this nomination was as follows;
In favor Of condrmaton--Mr. Lamar.
Against confrmati0n-Messrs. Edmunds, Logan
ingalls, Mcmillan. Davis Of Illinois, and bayaru'
Absent-Messrs Conkliag and Garland.

SENATOR CONKLING's ATTITUDE.
HIS UNREASONABLE ATTACKS UPON THE president
a NEW FRAR or EXECUTIVE UsCRPAIIoN-n''
DEFEAT EXPECTED BY HIMSELF.
tBY TELEGRAPH THE rRIBuSEl
WAsHrSGroN. Nav 0.-Tho last resort OF MI. ConK-
ling in his losing fight to deprive the President Oh
his constitutional right TO nominate public oihceIs
is to set I'D A clamor about Executive uSurpauoh.
His ORGAN here the newspaper owned by Bra'y anu
edited BY Gofham, breaks out atresh against .no
President to-day, calling hima Car. CharieS Isl
and Louis Napoleon, and accusing INN OF M
grant abuse CT the appointing power. MI Cohkiins
himself il reported to have said 70 fellow senator
Yesterday that he anticipated within three years
an uprising of the people to resist the encroaehmens
of the Executive power" ..,.
This sudden zeal to protect the Senate against 'he
imaanary desiensof the President upon its independ
epce is decidedly grotesQue in man who oniy arc"
wears ago was thick and thin defender TAU the acts
of the most arbitrary President who ever occupied
the White House There was act OF General
Grant when he was President which Mr.. COnkling
did not sustain Even when the hand Of the Execu-
tive was stretched ont 10 remove Charles Sumner
from the Craftsmanship of the Foreign Relations
Committee as a punishment for opposing the project
10 annex San Domingo. the New-York Senator was
in no wise shocked at the encroachments OF the
Executive power" So long as q President allows
him to dictate who shall hold Federal Offices in the
State Of New-York he is not disturbed about usurpa-
ton but as soon as he feels he cannot control
single important Office he sees in the Executive n
despot of Oriental m3levOlence. His atti-
tude begins TO excite ridiculc. No man in
the Senate has been such admlrer ana
apologat of dictatOria power al the White House rs
he when that powercoud be directed 10 his own ad-
vantage. His performance Of shaking the raw head
and bloody bones Of Executive usdrpaion before the
Senate and attempting 10 identify the scarecrow OF
his own manufacture with the quiet. conscientious
straightforward man in the White House. Is too alb
surd to have any hut a comic effect.
The President as everybody knows, asks nothing
of the Senate hut direct vote on tho merits OF
Robertson's nomination for the New-York Custom
House. He is bringing no sort of influence to bear
on Senators to secure this that he has not the clear
est right to use according to the strctes views Of
what is proper for him 70 do. He tells
Senators who call upon him. as he does
other people what Ns view is OF the
situation in the Senate lie believes that IT Is tho
dutv Of the Senate in obedience 20 the Constitution
as well rs out Of respect for the Executive. to give
his nominations fair consideration on their merits.
He energeticay antagonizes the theory that one OF
two Republican Senators have the night 10 nnlhiy
nominations in their States whom not made in ac-
cordance with their wishes Hestands squarely upon
his constitutional right TO make nominations on bis
own Judgment. whether Mr. Conkng Is pleased
with them OF not and he asks from Sona-
tors only that they will freely express by their votes
their Judgment on the question Of confirmation or
rejection, without regard to Mr.. Conhlings dicta-
tion OF intimidation He Will not yield m inch OF
his Qround nor will ne ovcueach an inch on the
rchtful functions of the Senate.
Mr. Coukling is making tremendous tight and
acts as if II were indeed case Of murier or
suicideD and finding he could not destroy the Nd
ministration he were struggling hard 20 avert tho
conse0uences Of his acts his own political exist
cnce The other dav hc poured ont his resource Of
sarcasm and invective against the President 70 the
| Committee Of safety before whom hc made ~ Wig
orous a speech as though they were iury IN case
| where he had everything 0t stake. Today m th,
| caucus he is said 20 have adopted mid tone OF
| earnest and almost sorrowful appeal asking Sen
atOrs how they would like TO be IN his place, ana
begging them not TO desert him. lie j. beaten. aud
he knows H. despite all tie hluster Of his followers.
| III me had the confidence in his ability 10 defeat
Robertson which he prof rses hc would be- cagcr 10
have the nomination brought 10 vote. His ciiort,
on tho contrary Is 70 secure further delay. lie Is
afraid of the test Of the yeas and nays Well be may
be His sangIinc friends only count on twcnty-iour
yntes Including his own. TO reject Robertson. OH
ers who look at the contest from The Administration
side SAY to-day that he can rely positively ON only
! five Republican, and six Dsnocrats. When the
! fight is over as il will be by the end Of the week.
reople will wonder that 80 small faction was able
| 10 make such a noise and kick mp such dust.