The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-05-11
-CONKLING SPEAKS
t9c Tells why Robertson ia Unreasonable,
and Hsw the President Broke Hrs Word.


Vie Tells why Robertson ia Unreasonable,
and Hsw the President Broke Hrs Word.
WAsHNGToN, Nay 9-The Republican
Senators held caucus this afternoon for the
purpose of determining what course should
now bc pursued IN regard to the class of ex-
ecutiye business which was lett temporarily
unprovided for5n the programme adopted
last week. Themeeting, although prolonged
to the late hoUr of o'clock. was at last ad-
journed without reaching sny'action on the
subject under consideration. At an early
stage OF the proceedings 3 resolution was
submitted proposing 10 declare as the sense
of the caucus that it is ineNpedient for the
Senate to take action at this session upon
any contested nomination to fill an office
not now vacant. This gave rise to very
long and not especially interesting debate as
to the general rights and duties of the SEN
ate and of the President, the con-
tention being on the one hand
that the Senate is bound TO give respectful
consideration to all nominations sent
in by the President and to act upon them
promptly; and on the other, that the Senate
is entitled to exercise its own discretion in
regard TO the time when any nomination
should be considered. About A o'clock
COnkliDg took the floor and proceeded TO
make a speech which occupied the re-
mainder of the caucus session. 1t was
devoted to history Of the nomination of
Judge Robertson for the New York Collector
ship, and to a comprehensive statement of
| the reasons why th1s nomination was par
ticularly Objectionable and offensive to him
In the course of his remarks he entered ex-
tensively into the subject of New York State
politics and Judge RObertsOn's connection
with them, particularly at the Chicago Con-
vention, and he also gave detailed recital
of his conferences and understandings with
the President in regard to the New York
nominations, etc, at various times ante
cedent 10 the nomination of Robertson,
from all of which circumstances, he argued,
he and the party whom he and his colleague
represented in New York had been dealt
with in bad faith and treated most injuri-
ously.
1t is also represented that Conkling. in
narrating what occurred at Chicago, in
formed the caucus that Judge Robertson,
among other exhibitions of personal hos
tility then made by him, went so far as to
declare he would not support General
Arthur if nominated for Vice President.
At the close of Senator COnkling's speech
the caucus adjourned until tomorrow
None of the Senators whose position is to
any degree doubtful on the main subject of
the controversy participated in the debate
to-day, and, as no vote was taken on the
proposition, no indications are afforded as
to what may be the result of the delibera-
tions tomorrow.
Senator Conkling, instead of going into
the caucus, entered his Committee Room and
remained there until the caucus sent a re-
quest that he would join in its deliberations.
y proposition or suggestion to rule out Rob-
| ertsons case for action by agreeing to act
only on the nominations to fill the ex-
isting vacancies, was speedily discarded, as
such a rule would include fully half the
nominations made. However a general
discussion arose, participated in by Blair,
Hawley, Frye, EGmunds, Dawes and, in
fact, by nearly all the Senators present.
The discussion took a wide range
and embraced all topics now of
interest to the Republican party. Much of
the time was consumed in debating the pol
icy of continuing the fight for the election
of GOrham and Riddleberger Some SEN
ators opposed the policy of renewing the
| tight, and several who are warm friends of
the President declared they would not again
join in the fight for Gorham and Riddleber-
ger; that new and more acceptable nomina-
| tions would have to be made to induce them
to resume their former stand.
Conkling made speech of over an hour,
stating his objections to Robertson admit
ting that Arthur and Platt carried his ulti-
matum to the President, and appealing to
the Republicans to sustain him. He dwelt
hAOAC Oh N1ldb nC Cullcu tuC
Presidents usurpatiOn and invasion of the
Senate's rights and privileges, and said if
the Senate did not maintain
its rights they would be taken
from that body. Messrs. Edmunds
and Dawes, it is understood, spoke, saying
that if the-President attempted to use any
/ functions of the Senate they would resist,
] but their speeches were rather non-com-
initial, though some cOnstrue them as favor
\ able to Conkling. Senator Conkling's
/ voluntary absence from the caucus at first is
attributed to the pressure now being brought
! to bear upon him from New York Stall
wGrts to save the party from probable dis
] ruDtion by permitting the Senate to dis
! pose of Robertson without any fight.
Senator Voorhees, voiced the sentiment of
the Democratic majority in an interview in
/ the Evening Star to-day. He comes out
l boldly for the confirmation of Robertson on
the ground that the Democratic Senators
had nothing to do with the Republican
quarrel; that their duty is to confirm the
| nomination, if the nominee is capable and
l honest, and that nobody denies these quail
ties to Robertson; still, Conlding has some
prominent Democratic friends inside and
outside of the Senate who work for his
cause. Ex-Senators Eaton and Mcdonald
and Judge Amasa Parker have, in letters
and in person, urged Democrats to vote
against Robertson, but this has had bait
/ little effect. To-days estimate made be-
coOl-headed Senators on both sides, was for
Conl1ling zen Republican and eight Demo-