The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-05-18
THE LETTER
The Resignation of the Two Senators il.
FuII-An Arrangement of Robertson.

tun-An Arrangement OF robertson.
ALBANY, n. Y, May 16.-The following is
the joint letter of resignation to Governor
Cornell from Senators Conkling and Platt:
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 16, 1881
SIR-Transmitting as we do our designations
respectively of the great trusts with which New
York has honored us, it is fit that we aceuaInt
you, and through you the Legislature and the
people o. the State with the reasons, which, in
our ludgEent make such step respectful and
Some weeks ago the President sent to the Sen
ate in gro1p OF nominations several persons for
public Offices already filled. One of these Offices
is the COlleZOrship of the Port OF New York. now
held by General Merritt; another is the Consul
Badeau; anssher is the Charge d'Afaires TO Den
mark. held b. Mr.. Cramer: another is the Missf on
to Switzerland, held by Mr.. Fish, son of the for
mer Secretary of State. Mr.. Fish had, in defer
ence 10 theanGen practice placed his position at
the disposal of the new Administration but like
other persons named, he was ready to re-
do so. All these officers, save only
Cramer, are citizens of New York. Ii
was proposed to alspace them all. not for any al
legged faults or fer any alleged need or advan-
tage Of the pubicservlce, but in order 20 give the
great Office of Collector of the Port of New York
Mr.. William II. Robertson as a reward for certain
acts Of his, said TO have "aided in making the
nomination OF General Garfield possible"
The chain of removals thus proposed was
broken by Ge1eral BEdeau promptly declining TO
accept the neV place TO which he was to be sent
These nominations Summoned every member OF
the Senate 70 say whether he advised sueh tIanS
ACTION. The movement was more than a surprise
We had been tod onlya few hours before that no
removals in New York Offices were soon To be
mace OF even Considered and had been requested
To withhold papers and suggestions bearing on
the subject whseh had been sent TO Us for
presentation, should occasion arise, un-
al We had notice from the President
OF his readiness t0 receive them. Learning thai
the vice President was equally surprised ano
had been equally Risled, we went TO Mr. James
the Cabinet officer from State, and learned
that though he had spent some time with the
President on the mOraiRg Of the day the nomin-
enons we7e sent in, no disclosure OF the intention
70 send them had been made to him, and that he
hrst knew Of the matter By hearsay following the
event After earnest reflection and consultation
We believed the proceeding unwise and wrong,
whether considered wholly in relation to the
preseryation a1d integrity OF the public service
and p1blic example TO be set, or in relation also
70 the integrity OF the Republican party. No pub
lie Utterance Of comment or censure was made by
either Of Us in the Senate or elsewhere. On the
contrary we thought the President would recon
sider his action, 50 sudden and heavy and would
at least adopt less huftful and Objectionable modes
OF requiting personal or individual service. II
was with this hope that tho following paper wa
prepared and signed and presented by hr. James