The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-05-25
THE GRANDILOOUENT SWELL.
oonkling Resigns His Seat in the Senate,
and Persuades His Donzel, Plat,
to do Likewise.
Enn]perfaIist Grant Condemns the Hresa'
denf-ExcerDts OF Opinions on
Eha Situation.

GcESE-AzAcSEA gas Va "EhEsASA7 wa
che Situation.
The Vice President laid before the Senate
the following communication
- WAsH1NGToN, D. G. May Is, 1881.
S1R:-Wil you please announce to the
Senate that my resignation as q Senator OF
the United States from the State or New
York has been forwarded 70 the Governor Of
that State.
[ have the honor TO be. with great respect,
your obedient servant.
@@ @.~. 5 Roscoe CoNKLING.
This communication caused great sensa-
ton, which was heightened when the Vice
President laid the following before the Sen
ate
SENATE CHAMBER, May IL, 1881.
SIR:-I have forwarded to the Governor
Of the State of New York my resignation as
Senator of the United States from the
State of New York. VIII you please an
nounce the fact to the Senate.
With great respect, your obcdlent servant.
(Signed.) I. G. PLATT.
It IS understood that Blaine thinks that
Conkling and Plat resigned because they de-
sire reelection, or because they feared de-
feat and wish to retire from public life. The
legislature will hesitate before endorsing
their course. They will reap 10 benefit from
their childishness, which does not IN the
slightest affect the administration.
The Republicans fired one hundred guns in
honor of RobertsOn's confirmation in Utica,
the home Of Conkling.
The Milwaukee Repu67Nan says: Conk-
ling is undoubtedly certain OIrC-eleCt!on and
in increase of prestige; but he has mistaken
the temper of the people who recognize Gar
field as President.
A gentlemen who had q long talk with
him says Conkliug's resignation has been
made in good faith and that he does not
permit his name to go before the albany
Legislature for reelection. He says also
that the original suggestion Of resignation
came from Plat and not from C0nkling.
Plat IS so Disguised that hs will not again
be q candidate. If the two New York
Senators are in earnest ia their resolution to
retire from public life, this Will have o
decided effect in changing the tide Of feel
ing which set in swiftly against them.
- The theory which has advanced, that
Senators Plat and ConkliDg are quite con-
tident of being returned by the New York
Legislature sVery generally accepted, but in
some quarters it is maintained that On ac-
count Of the Legislature having heretofore
endorsed the nomination Of Robertson to be
Collector, it cannot consistently endorse the
action of the two Senator'S in opposing il.
Plat held q consultation with a number Of
his political friends to-day at his Office here.
One gentlemen present afterwards said the
ex-Senators were rather surprised at the gen.
eral disapproval of their course, Conkling
will arrive tomorrow, and q caucus will be
held in this city. A friend Of ex-senator
Conkling said to-day that he would immedi-
ately enter into the practice of law in this
city, and would take no further part in poll
tics until he had made sufficient money to
insure himself a comfortable living. The
Senator would advise his friends to select ex-
President Grant as his successor ii the Sen
ate.
NEW YORK, May 18.-The Hera7d's Wash
ington special says: The following letter
from ex-President Grant to Senator Jones Of
Nevada, shows that the present contest be-
tween ex-senator ConkliDg and the Presi-
dent MIR. Gonkling has the full sympathy and
support of General Grant. This letter to
Senator Jones contained one from the ex- |
President to Mr.. Garfield, which was deliv-
cred to him personally by Senator Jones. It's
contents are not known, but there can be no
doubt but its purport was similar to that of
the letter to MIR. Jones. The letter is as fol-
lows
New YORK, May, IS, 1881.
NV DEAR SENATOR: I see by the latest
dispatches received here from the capital of
our country that the dead lock in organizing |
the Senate is not yet broken, that nothing |
has been done by the President 10 alIay tie
bitterness WHICH must cngendered by his
most recent appointment. When the first
batch Of nominations for New York was
sert in / was delighted. / believed then that |
the President had determined to %reorganize
tile Republican party. But his nominations
Of the next day convinced me that the first
act was but q deep laid scheme by somebody
10 punish prominent leaders Tor being OPEN
" friendly to me. l cannot believe that Gen.
pral Garfield il the author of this policy. /
rive him credit for being too great man to
he men who gave him such & hearty support
Il, his election, and who are disposed to give
him the same Ea1pport noW,f for the otfense of
having had q former preference for some
one else for the office which he low holds.
But Garfield is President, and is responsible
before all the acts Of the administration
Conkling and Plat are the chosen Senators.
from the great state of New York, and that
too. against all the opposition OF the admin
~istration created BY the same party that elect
ed them. This should give all the stronger
claim to be consulted in the matter Of APP
il their State. When it comes TO
filing the most Important office in their State
WlInOub COL6utkiHS anG6o pCudhUlc, ~ ~ q /
great slight, and when he selects the most
offensive man to be found, it becomes al in
suit that ought to be resented to the bitter
end.
+ sincerely hope the President will see and
correct his mistake himself, and restore re-
harmony to the party. He ives this to.him-
self md to those without whom he could rot
have been elected. Nobody believes he
could have carried the State of New York
without the active support of her present
Senators. Their passive support would not
lave answered. Without the State of New
York Garfield would not have been Presi-
dent. His rewarding Robertson is not only
offensive to the New York Senators, but it is
offensive to the New York Republicans.
The change Of Badeau and Creamer, the
two appointments il which ! felG a strong
personal interest, was very distasteful to me
The first, because our personal relations and
my wish that he should be kept where bis
Office would support him until he finishes
some work he is engaged upon and which he
could do without any interference with bis
public duties. Tie second, becouse it was
L