Morris tribune., 1881-05-26
LIVELY POLITICAL SENSATION.
Senator's Conkling and Platt Resign
Their Seats in the Senate Of the
United States.

Senator's COnkling and Platt Resign
Their Seats in the Senate Of the
United States.
The New York Legislature Being in Session
They Will Seek Endorsement
Through the Medium of
Reelection.
The senate of the United States on Monday,
and the country as well, had a genuine sensa-
ton.
Senators Roscoe Conkling and Thomas @.
Platt of New York resigned their seats in the
senate Gov Cornell was notified of the resig-
nation by mail, and the senate and the country
was Informed of the fact by the vice president
This is the elimination of the controversy be-
tween the president and the New York senators
over the nomination Of Judge Robertson to be
collector of the port of New York.
The secret was admirably kept and when the
clerk of the senate read the formal notice
signed by Mr.. Conkling and Mr.. Plat that they
had resigned, the excitement was intense.
Conkling's resignation is as follows:
A. Arthur, Vice President: Sir-Will you
please announce to the senate that my resig-
nation as senator Of the United States senate,
from theState of New York, has been forward
ed to the governor of that State. have the
honor to be, with great respect, your obedient
servant, ROSCOE CONKLNG.
The resignation of Senator Platt is almost
identical with Conkling's.
The letters of senator Conkling and senator
Platt to Gov Cornell, containing their resigna-
tons, is very long, and gives the sole reason,
which is the nomination of Mr.. Robertson as
collector of New York.
The principal objection to MI. Robertson is
thus stated:
"We know Of no personal or political service
rendered by Mr.. Robertson 80 trancendent that
the collectorship of New York should be taken
in the midst Of an unexpired term and given
him. Of Mr. Robertson it is reported by the
New York Tribune that his nomination was
reward for his action as delegate to the nation
al convention. If Mr.. Robertson, in his action,
was influenced by sense of duty, if he voted
and acted his honest convictions, it is
difficult to see what claim he has for any re-
ward, not to speak of such great reward, the
action, of which an estimate is thus invited, ia
By this Mr.. Robertson and sixty-nine other
men accepted from the state convention certain
trust They sought and accepted the position
of agents or delegates to the national conven-
ton. The state convention declared its plainly
stated judgement and policy was to be OBJ
served and supported by those it commissioned
To this declaration all sent as delegates gave
implied consent But several of them, in ad-
ditlon to this made most specific personal
pledges and engagements to exert themselves
in good faith throughout to secure the nomina-
ton of Gen. Grant They made this pledge as
delegates, and they did, as is to us both per-
sonally known, obtain their seats in the national
convention upon the faith of their personal
statements Of their earnestness and fidelity
The obligation thus assumed we understood to
involve the integrity as much as the obligation
of one who receives the proxy of stockholder
in a corporation upon the pledge and promise
to vote as his principal would vote.
Whether Mr. Robertson was not himself bound,
not only by honor and implication, but by ex-
pressly giving his word, becomes quite imma-
teral in view of the claim made for him II is
insisted that he ''organized the bolt" or it has
been sometimes stated that lie was the leader of
the ''bolt"' That is to say that he invited, per-
suaded and induced others whom he knew had
given thSlf word and had obtained their seats
by doing 20, to violate their word and betray
not only the republicans assembled in state
convention, but the republicans of their dis
tlicts as well, who had trusted in their honor
Whoever counsels and procures another to do a
dishonorable act must share with that other the
guilt and should also the odium of guilt at
tached to it. We are, therefore, wholly un-
able, upon whatever ground we put it, to see
justification for ourselves should we become
parties to using public trusts which belong to
the people, to require such service in such
mode"
The senators say, in conclusion, that they
think it right and proper to submit the matter
of their difference with the President to the
legislature now in session.
A friend who called upon President Garfield
late in the afternoon, reports him as in good
spirits and not disturbed.
''What does he gay about it'll" was asked
''Oh! he says he has nothing to do with the
case, and that these designations will not hurt
ANYBODY:
'sWill he take any official notice of it?"
Nj A,11 14c1 III -
about his duties as if senate designations never
occurred. He does not believe that Senators
Conkling and PiStt are naen Of such vast i'm
portance that the country will be thrown into
spasm by their resignStions. In speaking of 1t
he said he believed the sun would rise in the
morning as usual"
"Did he say anything about the possibility
that Conkling and Platt tmight not be returned?"
':He said that if they should fail at re-elec-
ton, the joke would be upon them. He seems
to think, however, that the two senators care
fully learned their ground before they made
the jump In other words they know what to
expect from the legislature.
The president had given the New York sena-
tors credit for ordinary sense and discretion,
but this move somewhat shook his confidence
in their Judgment If the senators concocted
this plan to annoy the president they failed in
their purpose. II gives him no trouble only 80
far as it bears upon the fall campaign in New
Lula ~ n"'e Sii"' q, ,o0' Soo'o 81 .n'E
cratic hands the nrst year OF ms al
minlstratlon would be deeply regretted oy
the president from the recent per
formance of the New York senators he is led to
believe that they will not exert themselves to
prevent this catastrophe. Senator Conkling
has several times intimated that the presidents .
course as ne called It, would be disastrous to
the party in New York, and he seems to be
willing to let the experiment be tried. The
Conkiug men say that the loss of New York
would be . rebuke to the White House which
would attract the attention OF the country.
The Conkiing side is thus presented BY
warm friend; 1t means that Senators Conkling
and Piatt Will not be nsulted and outraged by
this administration. They have known from
the hrst that the nomination OF Mr. Robertson
was Blalnes declaration OF war against the rul-
ing element OF the republican party in New
S a9ta !. as nIeg an1M .nas M aopet.son was appoint.
e e. a;hs 1.LIn oHang aaa aes'foy ms innuehce
RSssiu,e, y. ahey naa aone eVsl ysn.ng ,s.ney
coutu " R,evehs .ns Di.er war N .ae lepuonSan
pua @ Mn, SnoWvu WI. inas Liey nau t .ne .n.
oan pasg % ~ . Eom - n s.aem Ia anu sllas
only sma4 rlng OF ols%9rganlzers % ana poi'ers
suppotI.eSE S.! hooelseon. bus tae piesiaen' re,
tuseu 20 ns'en 10 any aPbeas ., 10. peaos anu ~
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bdfluS tu0 UeplDllcdu party Ill new 1OTh lTOui