The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-05-26
THE ELIMINATION.
Senator Conkling's Threatened Sur
prise to the Country.
He and Senator Plat Resign their Offices a
United States Senators.
Political Circles IN a Feoer of Excitement
Orer the Probable Result
to the Party.

following closely on the surprise to the
political world by President Garfield in his
Withdrawal of certain nominations to the Sen
ate, comes the unexpected resignation of Ros
coe Conkling and Thomas C. Platt, as United
States Senator's from New York, the act being
the elimination of the unpleasant controversy
between the President and the New York Sen
,ators over the nomination by the President of
Judge Robertson to be Collector of the Port
of New York. The first intimation in Wash.
'ington Of this step, was the reading of the
following letters on the assembling of the Sen
ate, on May 16:
WASHINGTON, May 16, 1S8l.-To Hon. G.
A. Arthur, Vice President: Sir-Will you
please announce to the Senate that my resig-
nation as senator of the United States has
been forwarded to the governor of the state.
have the honor to be, with great respect,
your obodent servant, Roscoe CoNKL1Na.
SENATE CHAMBER, May 16. 1881. Ito Hon.
9. A. Arthur, Vice President: I have for.
Warde1 to the governor of the state of New
York my resignation as senator of the United
States for the state of New York. Will you
please announce this fact to the Senate.
With great respect, your obedient servant,
. ...- 7. G. PLATT.
The reading of the letters created an intense
excitement on the floor of the Senate and in
the galleries, and soon the news spread out
side the capitol, causing such furore as has
mot been seen in Washington since the war.
kilograms we're sent flying to the executive
department and to every part of the country
by senator's. The intelligence was spread
through the city and it appeared of such an
improbable character that the people generally
refused to believe it,
THE FEELING AT THE WHITE HOUSE
is given authoritivelya as follows: The Presi-
dent had given to the New York Senators
credit for ordinary sense and discretion, but
this move somewhat shook his confidence in
their Judgement. If the Senators concocted
this plan to annoy tae President, they failed
in their purpose. It gives him no trouble
only SO far as it bears upon the fall campaign
in New York. TO have that great state go
into Democratic hands the first year of his
administration, would be deeply regretted by
the President. From the recent performance
of the New York Senators he is led to believe
that they will not exert themselves to prevent
this catastrophe. Senator Conkling has sew
eral times intimated that the Presidents
course, as he called it, would be disastrous to
the party in New York, and he seemed to be
willing to let the experiment be tried. The
Conkling men say that The loss of New York
would be rebuke to the White House which
woull attract the attention Of the country.
The first official information that the Presi-
dent received was dispatch from the Capitol
received about 1920 p M, containing the
letter of resignation of Conklng. The Presi-
rno5 nd hrli d I'm, TO ho
had bccna doubling Thomas. He Immediately
dispatched messenger for Blaine, and the
latter arrived ina few minutes. He displayed
some excitement, for the move was as much
a surprise to him as to the others. The Presi-
dents room. was cleared, ind the. two engaged
in a private consultation. The President
also sent for other members of the cabinet,
who soon arrived and the matter was quietly
talked over. What result was reached is not
known, but it was evident that the cabinet
ministers were not much disturbed by the
event.
The intention of the resignation of the
senator is to submit their action in the oppo-
sition to the confirmation Of Judge Robert
son to the endorsement of the people of the
state Of New York, in expectation that they
will be so far successful as to receive full
and complete vindicatlon at the hands of the
legislature now in session, and that they,
themselves, will be elected as their own sue
cessors. On this point opinions differ. The
mates = now in the legislature, and it is to
be decided whether or not it approves their
action. The news at Albany created most
profound sensation, as it is the first time in
the history of the state in which it has been
without senator. The revised statutes of
the state provide that in case of vacancy
occurring during the session of the legisla-
ture, 1t shall be filled on the second Tuesday
after the ratification is received, which will be
May %.