Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1881-05-27
News by Telegraph
FROM ALL QUARTERS.
GREEK MEETS GREEK.
A Clash of Cunning at Al
bany.
conkIing's Latest Dodge Rlpped.
His Invitations to a Con-
ference Rejected.
StaIWart HeeIers Going Home.
Robertson Holding. His
Forces Well Together.
NEW YORK.

Legislature AIready-Speeches For and
Against Re-election-A Heated Debate
The Stalvvarts Unable to Get Caucus
Robertson Upsets ConkIinR's Little
Game OF COnference-Latest View of
the Situation.
ALBANY, May 26.-In the Senate to-day
considerable excitement was raised by a de-
bate caused by the introduction of a number
of petitions for the reelection of Conkling
and Platt and circumstances against them.
Mr.. Woodin, in presenting the remonstrances.
made long speech in their support, which
is generally considered to be q strong pres
entation of the Administrations side of the
controversy. After giving history of the
designations of Senators Conkling and Platt,
and the causes that brought it about, Mr..
Woodin referred to the reasons for their
course given in their letter to Governor Cor
nell, and said presumably they were the best
and all that could be given, and if SO, history
will award to them the credit of hav ing COM
mitted the most stupendous blunder of mod
ern times. Their action has not the extern
uating merit which charity awards on &C
count of mistake or error of Judgment. It
evinces neither wit nor wisdom nor sense nor
cunning. Though not altogether thought
less act. it is absolutely ba, rem of states
manlike purpose. The power and duty of
the President in respect to nominations, said
Mr.. Woodin, is not divided one. He can
not with due regard to his official OATH share
it with another. It must be his act and his
alone, and such is the true intent of the con-
stitution. The act of confirmation or rejec-
ton is the act of the Senate alone. The fune-
tions are separate, distinct and absolutely in
dependent. Any other Interpretation of the
constitution overrides its intent and meaning
and makes the method of appointments to
Office farce. It is not denied that a Senator
may solicit the President to make a particu-
lar appointment, but he may not claim it as
right any more than private citizen; and
the Presidents duty to a Senator to heed his
solicitations in that regard is in no respect
other or different than to private citizen
The Presidents right and duty is to seek for
information as to the fitness of particular
nomination where he may, and the import
ance and value Of all solicitation and recon-
mendation is to be determined with reference
to the public interest and not with reference
to the interest of the individual
That right the President has exercised That
duty he has performed, fearlessly, independ
emily and with proper regard to an official
oath which he alone must observe Our
Senators would have done their whole duty
had they remained at their posts and voted
conscientiously to confirm reject. That
duty thus performed, would have paralyzed
all criticism, and they would have stood be,
fore their constituents justified and honored
for their courage and their independence
Mr. Woodin concluded his speech'as follows:
made vacant by their resignation. and we who sre
SHOCK ed not indignant at their betrayal of high
tive ptings of heart denounce their acts
as lacking in courage and unworthy of the high
them in person, to send them back
Send them back for what purpose ?
.hioh we so recently inangurated. and in With we
have confidence and which intend to support
pcation at lie st. of inndel ty and falsehood They
Rave charged him with making appointments in
charged him with cosrcing Senators to vote as they
would not II left free Of executive interference
taleb-arers di-cord in the Republican party
md bring into disreputs its honorable head. They
ents of Republican principles to denounce him and
BRAID him as liar with what purpose should we
unseem1y opportunities? Have they re-anted? Do
thew profer assurance of cordis1 support to Repub-
with the President will make them efficient guard
ans of the interests of this great state? No. no.
We endorse yonr actions We Justify
aud defend you in your indictments of the PIesi-
dent"
Mr.. Strahan replied at length, reviewing
Gonk1ing's career Republican leader, his
efforts in the last campaign and recalled the
peoples cry that he was the man who elected
Garfield. He said the people called for the
return of Conkling and Platt and that their
act of resignation was heroic and should be
sustained. The only thing that kept the op-
position together was the patronage that they
were able to control. Mr.. Woodin replied
denouncing Strahan's statements relative to
the remarks attributed to him in executive
session as false. Mr.. Forster replied for the
half-breeds taking the ground that the stall
warts had endeavored to suppress the judg-
ment of the Senators by an attempt to force
caucus where none was desired. Mr.. Hal
but took the other side and eulogized the &C.
ton of Conkling as patriotic Mr. Mccarthy,
chairman of the caucus committee of the
Senate and half breed, replied at length
He said the question at issue was one of prin-
ciple and not men. that the act of resignation
was cowardly. that Conkling was a dictator
and had come to Albany to lobby in his own
behalf, and would be defeated as he had
shown himself unworthy
The fact that the half breeds have pre-
vented the stalwarts from securing the nee
essary number of votes to call caucus to-
night is hailed as victory by the admins
tration forces and as harbinger of defeat
for Conkling and Platt. It was the inten-
| ton to hold the caucus to night in the usual
manner and nominate Conkling and Platt
| and the fact that the half breeds secured
| pledges sufficient to prevent it is indicative
of their strength in the joint convention.
The effect of this second de-
| feat in two days is weakening
| the stalwarts and many of the workers have
| left the city. The stalwarts to-day, in view
/ of their probable failure to secure fifty four
1 - - H.
| pointed time tonight. resorted to strategy.
| During the day messengers carried the fol-
| lowing note signed by Conkling to all Re
| publican Assemblymen whom he thought it
prudent to address.
| any DEAR SRI would like few minutes con
versation with you a. may be, at time and
| place Of your convenience. Will you let me hear
| from you? Cordially Yours,
RoscoE CoEKLIEa.
The recipients generally called upon Conk-
| ling. They were graciously received and
given to understand in general terms that
anxious to have it settled in any way that
| would prevent further discussion in the party
/ and further delay of the adjournment of the
Legislature He proposes friendly confer
| ence for all factions at the Assembly cham
| bers, where the whole subject could be dis
| cussed and some plan of settlement agreed
on The plan met with such success that by
| O'Clock the consent of ffty-s. ven Assem-
blymen to attend had been obtained Rob
| ertson heard of the plan and at once set
about to destroy it. He argued that Conk-
| ling would go before the conference and de-
| liver great Grafton defending his position
when having majority of his friends present
| they would treat the confer
| enee as regular caucus call
ed tonight and nominate Conkling and
Platt, when they would either insist on the
| regularity of the proceedings and take the
nominations as regular before the joint con-
ference of the houses next Tuesday, or Conk-
| ling would decline m set speech saying he
meant his resignation to be final, but was in
| duced to go into the present contest by his
| friends for vindication, that he was satisfied
with his vindication in a nomination and
would retire from politics The half breeds
used their arguments with such success that
| at 7:3O o'clock the number of Assemblymen
/ who went to the chamber was SO small COM
pared to the number expected that Vice BR ash
dent Arthur, who was in telephone commu-
nication with the doorkeepers, ordered the
i that fha erv1faranoa aban