The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-05-17
Their Expianations for Reslxninx.

The following is the letter to Gov.
Cornell, of New York, regarding the
designations Of Platt and Conkling:
Washington, May IA, 1SS1.-Sir:
Transmitting, as we do, our resigna-
tions. respectively, of the great trusts
with which New York has honored us,
it is at that we acquaint you, and
through you the legislature and people
of the state. with the reasons which,
in our judgement, make such a step
respectful and necessary.
Some weeks ago the president sent
to the senate in group, the nomina-
tlons Of several persons for public Of
fees already filled. One of the offices
is the collectorship Of the port of New
York, now held by Gen. Merritt; an
other is the consul generalship at Lon
don, now held by Gen. Badeau; an
other is the charge d'affairs to Dem
mark, held by Mr.. Cramer; another is
the mission to Switzerland, held by
Mr.. Fish, son of a former distinguished
secretary of state. Mr.. Fish, had in
Difference toan ancient practice, placed
his position at the disposal of the new
administration, but like other persons
named, he was ready to remain at his
post, If permitted to do so. All these
officers save one, Mr.. Cramer, are citi-
zens of New York. 1t was proposed to
displace them all, not for any alleged
faults or for any alleged need or ad-
vantage Of the public service, but in
order to give the great Office of collector
of the port Of New York to Mr.. Will
liam H. Robertson, as reward for
certain acts Of his, said to have aided
in making the nomination of Gen. Gar
field possible. The chain of removals
thus proposed, was broken by Gen.
Badeau 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 a sur
prise. We had been told only a. few
hourh before that no removals in the
New York officers were 500 n to be
made, or even considered, and had been
requested to withhold the papers and
suggestions bearing on the subject,
which had been sent to us for presenta-
tion, should an occasion arise, until we
had notice from the president of his
readiness to receive them. Learning
that the vice president was equally sur
prised and had been equally misled, we
went to Mr.. James, cabinet officer
from New York, and learned, that
though he had spent some time with
the president OH the morning of the day
on which the nominations were sent in,
no disclosure Of an intention to send
them had been made to him, and that
the first he knew Of the matter was by
hearsay Of the following event.
After an earnest reflection and con-
sultation, we believed the proceeding to
be unwise and wrong, whether consid.
cred wholly in relation to the presenta-
tion and integrity Of the public service
and public, the example to be set, or in
relation also to the integrity Of the re-
publican party, no public utterance Of
comment or censure was made by
either Of us in the senate or elsewhere.
On the contrary, we thought the pres
ident would reconsider the action &c
sudden and hasty, and would at least
adopt less hurtful and Objectionable
mode Of requiting personal or individ.
ual services. In this hope the following
paper was prepared. signed and pre-.