Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-08
INSIDE HISTORY
OF .Garfield's New York Appointments
and Their Bearing Upon the Pol
tiles OF that State.
WhitelaW Reds Advice to the Late
President His Warming Against
James and COnkliDg.

NEW YORK, January THE Tribune of
| this morning publishes the following: a
| 'professed' friend OF Garfield writes 10 the
| Herald to vindicate the memory OF the late
| President from the criticisms on his New
| York appointments by explaining that Gen
| eral Garfield was not a free agent in the
matter, but 'Puppet in the hands Of others.
| This friendly defense he -lUndertakes TO
establish by a private dispatch from the
editor of the Tribune, which he says the
| President permitted him to copy. The dis
patch is given with substantial corrections.
and contains great deal of frozen truth, as
follows:
NEW YORK, March p, midnight.
The following points should reach the President
Monday morning. would Telegraph direct but
son; Senator Plat came here saturday yery an
CRY, and is reported talking to all corners with ex-
10 see me as usual; but he did not and did not
think it wise TO show any anxiety by going see
ertson both decided not to 20 see
him; Those who did say he declared that the
nation of Robertson. He regarded it, under the
circumstances which it was made, an insult
atoned for or the President must expect war.
He distinctly admitted that he was himself under
ton, given before his own election, but held that
the way in which Robertson was appointed re
leased him from this obligation. From this talk
and other indications here and at Albany we have
concluded that the Conking plan is, first, to make
withdrawal of Robertson's name under threats ats
from from. Conkli9g and persuasion from
make their Indignation useful by the ex.
tortion from the President, a means of placating
these they think they could largely neutralize
Robertson. Cornellps candidate for surveyor is
so violent Plat, and Conkling is in fact it is
believed, willing to aequiesce in Robertson.
say to the President in my Judgment this is the |
turning point of his whole administration; the |
is President for the rest OF his term and Garfield
becomes the laughing stock, On the other hand
unanimous action of the New York legis lature |
ton came solely from the beief thai dar6eid I'M
like Hayes meant to defend his own admjnistra- |
ton. The assembly is Overwhelmingly Conkling |
ertson so long as they thought the administration
meant business. Whenever the time comes Plat |
badly damaged by producing proof OF his pledges |
men dnen we can surely get enough Dem
no Safe or honorable way out now bnt 10 co striobi
change is made in the surveyorship the new man
should suit Robertson. Merritt would do perfectly
well for that place, since he is good subordinate
or some other good man could be found, but it is
i1dsPensabe that the sIrveyorship should be kept
sure victory, nQt merely for this year but for the
whole term. The least wavering would le fatal
whenever pressure Oh Plat James is wanted |
let us know. Beware OF Jamess soft, insinuating
way. He is again wholly under conklings infu-
instantly to his bearings. He ought to have had
that the morning after his seTenade speech;
WHITELAW REID.
OF course it was never intended for the pub
lie, but the writer sees no occasion TO modify
or regret it. Its aim was, in answer 10 the
written requests of the late Presi-
dent Garfield, to give him the exact facts of
the political situation here, as the writer I'M
derstood them. In answer to similar re-
quest he sent Mr.. Garfield number of other
equally confidential communications on this
and kindred subjects; and il some friend of
the dead President has been allowed to
copy" any more of them, the editor will be
glad, as they will be found to be
usually vindlcated by the facts OF the past ten
months. OF course this clumsy attack on
Mr. Garfield as puppet is really intended
as strike at Blaine. The persistent charge
hat Blaine's meddling in New York politics
ed to the lunacy of Conkling and Plat, and
% all the troubles that followed that affiiction,
nay as well, therefore, be disposed of. We
propose that Garfield himself shall do it.
We hold the original letter, in Garfeld's
OWN handwriting, sent to one OF his private :
We print it wholly withou: !
8laine's knowledge or consent. If he even G
Knows that such letter is in existence, he /
lever at any rate knew it was in our possess
ion. ,
Private
EXECUTIVE MANsIoN,l
WASHINGTON May 20 1881. q
DEAR NICIi0f-It IL not possibl for me to give | C
he land office to Rush, much as would be glad +
o oblige him. did not doubt his acceptance of u
he place to which he appointed. The land | 2
flee is arranged for | specially an Nious To | n
ratiy Sawy err but Jerry ought to accept the South
-merican mission; The attempt to shift the fight Il
he fact is no member OF the jibinet behaves
nth more careful respect of the rights OF his I
rother members than Blaine II should be un- L
crstood that the administration is not meddling
New York State politics 1t only defeods itself u
men assalled. In haste l am very truly yours. a
J. A. GARFIELD.
homas NJ Nichol, Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York. |
And if now anybody wishes to shed more T
ght on recent political history by further s
utilization of stolen confidential letters or a
ispatches from the editor of the Tribune, we +
romise to join in the effort to bring out the II
kact facts, and all the facts, with good =,