News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-06-15
Conkling'S NJ ethods.

LING'S EFFORTS TO BE ENDORSED"
The Tribune gives a long interview
with General Sharpe, in reply to the
statements made by Mr.. Conkling,
NJ. Platt, John F. Smyth and others,
concerning Mr.. COnkling's effort for
reelection as Senator a year ago.
The main portion of the interview may
be given in General Sharpe's own
words, as follows:
Mr.. Conkling resigned for the pur-
pose of being candidate for re-eIec-
ton. He sought to introduce into
American politics the English method
of resigning and obtaining a rein
dorsement from his constituency, in
order that he might wage war upon
the Administration untrammeled by
party obligations. So true was this,
that his friends in Albany were in
formed by the most expeditions meth
DDS. A special messenger was sent
from Washington to Albany bearing
the letter of resignation. and from
that messenger it was ascertained that
Mr.. Coukling expected immediate
steps to be taken by his friends to in
sure his election. | was myself in
| formed from Washington that he was
to be elected. | was also asked to
invite him by telegram to meet his
friends in New York to consult about
the steps to, be taken. | refrained
from sending any such telegram. 9th
ers were urged to send kilograms of
like purport, but at least one promin-
ent friend of Mr.. Conkling also re-
Trained from doing so. 1t was motor
ious in Albany that the messenger
who brought the designations stated
without reserve that reelection was
expected by the resigned Senators.
On the day alluded to in the sextuple
letter, May %, went to Gen. Ar
thurs house in the afternoon. He
was engaged, | think, writing letters
in his library up stairs, and while
was waiting in the parlor, Messrs.
John +. Smyth and Charles NJ. Den
nison came to call, also-nOt togeth-
er, but nearly at the same time. We
agreed that Mr.. Conkling's resigna-
ton was blunder, and his present
candidacy for reelection greater one,
and from our intimate knowledge of
the members and their views, we came
to the conclusion unanimously that
MIR. Conkling's reelection was prob
lematical, and l assert that it was
there agreed upon and understood be-
tween Messrs. Dennison, Smyth and
myself that, if it were possible, we
would present facts to Mr.. Conklino
TO change his mind. 1t was agreed
that we would support each other i'll
the opportunity occurred, in represen-
tations calculated to induce Mr.. Conk-
ling to stand by his resignation. When
others arrived the consultation between
Messrs. Dennison, Smyth and myself
ceased, and conversation became GEN
eral. When Mr.. Conkling came he.
as is usual with him, substantially en-
crossed the conversation. There was
no suggestion or understanding that
this was a conference. 1t was not as
serted or assumed that these men had
met or had been called together for
the purpose of deciding the question
of Mr.. Conklings candidacy. There
was no concealment of the fact that
Mr.. Conkling expected reelection
from the Legislature. He decided,
however, to have it appear that his re-
election should came TO him without
his solicitation. He did not want to
go to Albany. He wanted to be re-
elected without his appearing to have
hand in it. He continually referred
to his reluctance. This reference was
so frequent that | saw the opportun-
ity to make the suggestions which had
passed between Dennison, Smyth and
myself, and in the hope that it would
have the effect to change his decision,
| told him that .if he expected 20 be
reelected his presence in Albany was
indispensable. That / advised Mr..
Conkling to go to Albany is therefore
true, but it was in the way and for the
reasons | have stated, and no other,
and it is equally true that the question
of Mr.. COnkling's candidacy was not
discussed, but was taken for granted
throughout the interview.