Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-05-20

N, cortlinE Flat. Letter Ct Resignation.
The following is the letter Of resignation,
signed hy Senators Conhling and fia'', anu
lddrc sd to Gov. Cornell
W,sulycroX. d. C., Nay II, 1881.
sir Transmitting, rs We do, our resisna-
tious respectively of the great Trusts win
which New York has hon0red us, IL Is III
that we aCqilaint You. AMI through you t,io
legislature an! '.cnr!c of the State WIN inc
which, in our judgment, make sueh
Il step resp, Gtiul aud necessary. Some Weeks
ago the President sent to the SENATE, IN
.roup. the nominations Of several persons
for public offices alcady filled. One oil
these offices is the Collectorship of the port
of New York. now held by General Merritt
another is the Guardianship at London,
now held hy General Badeau; another Is
Charge IL Affaircs to Denmark. held by MIR.
Cramcr another is the mission to f'wil&er-
land, held by Mr. Fish, son Of the former
distinguished Secretary of State. MIR. FISH
had, in Difference 10 an ancient practice,
placed his position AT the disposal oil the NE"
administration, hui. like the other persons
named, he was really to remain At his post II
permitted Ia do 50. All of these officers, save
only Mr. Cramcr, are citizens of New ! ork.
1t was proposed to dispace them all, not Tor
any alleged fault or for any alleged need or
advantage to the public service, but in order
to rive the great oilice of Collector oil the port
If New York 10 NJ William ii. Robertson
as a reward for certain acts OF his SAID TO
have aided in making this nomination oil
General Gariicll possible" The chain Of
removals thus proposed was broken by Gen.
Ba,ica;.'s promptly declining TO accept the
new place TO which i.e was 10 be sent. These
nominations summoned every member % the
Senate to say whether ne advised such a
transaction The movement was more than
a surprise We had bcln told only a few
hours before that 10 removals IN the New
York Offices were soon 10 be made or even
considered, and had been requested 10 with
hold the papers and suggestions bearing on
the snbiect I-i.;..h had been sent to us for
presentation should occasion arise, until we
had nOiicc nom the President of his readiness
to receive them, Learning that the vice
President was equally surprised and had
heen msled, We went TO Mr.. James, the
cabinet officer from our State, and learned
that though he had spent some time with the
President on the morning of the day the
nominations were sent in, no disclosure Of
an intention TO send them Lad been made 10
him AMI that he first knew of the matter by
hearsay following the event. After earnest
reflection and consultation we believed the
proceeding unwisc and wrong, whether con-
sidered wholly in relation to the preservation
and integrity of the public service and the
public example to he set or in relation, also
TO the integrity Of the Republican party. No
public utterancc or comment or cenSurc was
made by either Of us, in the Senate or else
where; on the contrary, we thought that the
President would reconsider an action so sud-
den and hasiy and would at least adopt a less
hurtful and Objectionable mode of requiting
personal or individual service In this hope
the following paper was prepared and sign
dent, who was Subsequently informed that
you had had authorized Your name 10 be
added also:
TO he President
We beg leave TO demonstrate against the
change IN the Collectorship at New York by
the removal of Mr.. Merritt and the appoint
ment of Mr.. Robertson. The proposal was
wholly surprise. We heard of it only
when the several nominations involved were
announced in the Senate. We had only two
DAYS before this been informed from you that
a change in the customs officers was not con-
lcmpated, and quite ignorant of purpose
to take any action row, we had no oppor-
tunity until after the nominations 10 make
the suggestions we now present. We do not
believe that the interests of the public SER
vice will he promoted by removing the pres
ent Collectorand putting Mr.. Robertson in his
stead. Our opinion is quite the reverse, ana
we believe no political advantage can be
gained for either the Republican party or its
principles Believing that no individual has
claims or obligations which should be liquid
ated in such mode, We earnestly and re-
spectfuly ask that the nomination OF Mr..
Robertson be withdrawn.
(Sirncdj CHESTER \. AETnUE,
T.. {. PLATT,
Roscoe CoNKuNG,
T. l.. JAMES.
This paper was presented TO the President
by Mr. James On Monday the aSth day of
March. Knowing the frequency with which
every one of the twenty Presidents of the
Republic and markedly the present incum-
bent had withdrawn nominations on less
serious representations. we did not appre-
bend that such 4 suggestion should he treat
ed rs an intention Of an evasion Of any pre-
rOgaiive of the nominating power. We
were disappointed. Immediately the public
press, especially in articles and dispatches
written by those in close and constant asso-
citation with the President, and with an in
iiuential member of his Cabinet, tGemcd
with violent dcnIncialions of the Senators
from New York for opposing the Admin
istration," and debating to the President.
Persons who visited the Executive mansion
reported the President as resentful and inn
patient OF hesitation To advise and consent
hot bn, N a aIn No "a IN
upon anybody We have at all times refus-
ed IL anSwcr questions b. representatives. of
the press, or to make complaint or comment,
or even denial of many truthless charges
published against us by the oilicious cham
pions of the Administration. Indeed, be-
yond confidential consultations with brother
Senators and officials, we have said nothing
until now on the subject. Nor have We or
either Of Us promoted the dead lock in the
Senate" in order 10 prevent or influence
action on any nomination, nor have we ever
so stated. Immediately after the nomina-
tons were published, letters and kilograms
came from every part of the State from its
leading citizens protesting against the pro
posed changes and condemnng them on
many g.ounds several lh"lsands of tine
leading merchants Of New York, constitut-
ing, We are informed, majority of
every branch Of trade, sent MS re-
monstranccs. SIXTY of the eighty
one Republican members Of the Assem-
bly, By leltc: Of memorial made objections.
Representatives in Congress, State officials,
business men, professional men, commercial,
industrial and political organizations are
among the rcmonstranis, and they speak
from every section Of the State. Besides
the nominations already referred to, there
we're awaiting The action o. the Sepate sew
cral ciiizrnE nf New York named for oi'"S
connected wHi 'iic courts, district attorneys
and marshal ..sr were all rcippnint-
mcnts MusI o., !a.m lal been originally
commissioned L., Mr.. Hayes. They were
certified by the judges OF the courts, and
many other eminent persons who attested
the i.,ithiuncSS and merit of their service,
and recommended thtir continuance. They
were not presented by us We have not at
tempted To dictate nor have we asked the
nomination Of any person To any Office IL the
State Indeed, with the Sole exception of
the written request sci forth above, we have
never even expressed an opinion To the Pres
idcnt in any case, unless questioned in regard
To it, Some days ago the President abruptly
Withdrew in one and the same act the names
of Gen. Woodford and Mr.. Tenney, and of
the two marslials. This unprecedented pro-
cceding, whether permissible by law or not,
was gravcly significant. The President had
nominated these officers after they had been
weighed in the balance. Their official re-
cords were before him and had been fully
scrutini1cd and approved. II must he pre-
sumcd he thought the nomination fit 10 he
made and that il was his duty to make them.
There is no allegation that he discovered I'M
fitness in them afterwards. 1t could hardly
be that he had discovered untncss in all of
them alike What, then, was the meaning
and purpose of this peremptory step? 1t
was Immediately stated, as il by authority,
and seems To be admitted that ihc purpose
WAS to cocrCe the Senate or Senators TO vote
as they would not vote if left free from exc
cutivc interference. The design was TO con
troll the action of the Senators touching mat
tiers committed by the Constitution to the
Senate exclusively. 1t has been suggested in
addition To that that by recalling these no;ni-
nations and holding them in his own hands,
ia ,,,t.,I,t in tI,.a Vauf nf I'M.