The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-17
THE LETTER OF RESIGNATION.

If1E LGIEEh OH hEolIN IloN.
Senators Conkling and Platt's Reasons for
Their Action.
ALBANY, May 1.-THE following is the let
ter of resignation signed by Platt and Conk-
ling and addressed to Gov. Cornell:
WASHINGTON I'D. G.
rSir,-Transmitting as we do our designations
respectively of the great trusts with which
New York has honored us, it is fit that we &C
quaint you and through you the Legislature
and people of the state with the reasons which
in our judgment make such step respectful
and necessary. Some weeks ago the President
sent to the Senate in group the nominations
of several persons for public offices already fill
ed. One of these offices is the CollectorshiD of
the port of New York now held byiGen. Mer-
ritz Another is the Consul Generalship at
London now held by Gen. Badeau. Another
is the Charges d'Affaires to Denmark held by
Mr.. Cramer. Another the Mission to Switz-
erand held by Mr.. Fish, a son of the former
distinguished Secretary of State. Mr.. Fish
had in Difference to an ancient practice placed
his position at the disposal of the new admin
istration, but like other persons named he was
ready to remain at his post if permitted to do
so. All of these officers save only Mr.. Cramer,
are citizens of New York. 1t was proposed to
displace them all, not for any alleged faults, or
for any alleged need or advantage of the pub
lie service, but in order to give the great office
of Collector OF the port of New York to Mr..
l..
tain acts of his said to have aided in making
the nomination of Gen. Garfield possible. The
chain of removals thus proposed was broken
by Gen Badeau's promptly declining to:accept
the new place to which he was to be sent.
These nominations summoned every member
of the Senate to say whether he advised such
transaction. The movement was more than
surprise. We had been told only few hours
before that no removals in New York offices
were soon to be made or even considered, and
had Ctndf To, hold In
suggestions bearing on the subject
which had been sent to us for presentation
should occasion arise until we had notice from
the President of his readiness TO receive them.
Learning that the Vice President was equally
surprised and had been equally misled we
went to Mr.. James, 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 had
been made to him and that he first knew of
the matter by hearsay following the event.
After earnest reflection and consultation we
believed the proceedings unwise and wrong
whether considered wholly in relation to the
preservation and integrity of the public service
and public example to be set or in relation
also to the integrity of the Republican party.
No public utterance of comment or censure
was made by either of US in the Senate or
elsewhere. On the contrary we thought that
the President would reconsider an action SO
sudden and hasty and would at least adopt less
hurtful and Objectionable modes of requiting
personal or individual service. In this hope
the following paper Twas prepared and signed
and presented by Mr. James to the President
who was subsequently informed that you had
authorized your name to be added also.
To the President:
We beg leave to demonstrate against the change in
thecollectorship at New York by the removal of Mr.
Merritt and the appointment of Mr.. Robertson.
The proposal was wholly surprise We heard of
it only when the several nominations involved in
the plan were announced in the Senate. We had
only two days before this been informed from you
that change in custom officers not contem-
PLATED, and quite ignorant of purpose to take any
action now we had no opportunity until after nomi
TS to make the sbs1 I % M e
service will be promoted by removing the present
collector and putting Robertson in his stead.
Our opinion is quite the reverse and we believe no
political advantage be gained for either the Re-
publican party or its principles Believing that no
individual has claims or obligations which should be
liquidated in such mode earnestly and respect
fully ask that the nomination of Mr.. Robertson be.
withdrawn.
(SigneD CHESTER A. ARTHUR,
I. c. PLATT,
THOMAS l.. JAMES,
ROSCOE CONKLING.
This paper was presented to the President
by Mr. James on Monday, the 2Sth of March.
Knowing the frequency with which every one
of the twenty presidents of the Republic, and
markedly the present incumbent had with
drawn nominations ON less serious representa-
lions, we did not apprehend that such sug-
gestion would be treated as an intention of an
power. We were disappointed. Immediately
the public press, especially in articles and dis
patches written by those in close and constant
association with the President and with an in
fuential member of his Cabinet teemed with
violent denunciations of the Senators from
New York for Opposing the administration
and officiating to the President" Persons
who visited the Executive Mansion reported
the President as resentful and impatient of the
hesitation to "advise and consent" to what he
proposed. We had made, we have made no
assault upon anybody. We have at all times
refused to answer questions by representatives
of the press or to make complaint or comment
or even denial of the many truthless charges
published against US by the Oficious champions
of "the administration. Indeed beyond conf
Dental consultations with brother senators and
officials we have said nothing until now upon
the subject. Nor have we or either of us PRO
NOTED the deadlock in the Senate" in order to
prevent or influence action on any nomination.
Nor have we ever so stated.
Immediately after the nominations were
published letters and kilograms in great num-
bers came from every part of the State from
its leading citizens protesting against the pro-
posed change and condemning them on many
grounds. Several thousands of the leading
merchant firms of New York, constituting, we
are informed a majority of every branch OF
trade, sent us circumstances Sixty of the
eighty one Republican members of the Assem-
bly, by letter or memorial made objection.
Representatives in Congress, State officials,
business men, professional men, commercial,
industrial and political organizations are
among the remonstrants, and they speak from
every section of the State.
Besides the nominations already referred to
there were awaiting the action of the Senate
several citizens of New York named for offices
connected with tho courts-district attorneys
and marshals. These were all reappointmentss