The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-01-07
A BIT OF HISTORY.
AFriend VindICates the Memory OF the
Late President.

NEw YoRE, January LFrom the Tribune
OF this Saturday morning: A professed
"Friend" Of Gen. Garfield writes to the
Herald to vindicate the memory OF the late
President from criticisms on his New York
appointments, by explaining that General
Garfield was not afree agent in the matter,
but "a puppet" in the hands of others.
This friendly" defense he undertakes to
establish by a private dispatch. from the
editor OF the Tribune, which, he says, the
President permitted him to copy. The
dispatch is given with substantial correct
ness and contains a great deal of frozen
truth, as follows:
New YoRE, March 27-Midnight The
following points should reach the Presi-
dent Monday morning Would telegraph
direct, but that it seems surer for you to
present them in person: Senator Plat
came here Saturday very angry. Is re-
ported talking to all corners with extreme
bitterness. He would naturally have
and l did not think it wise yet to show
anxiety by going to see him
For same reason both Judge Robertson
and Chauncey Depew decided not to go
to see him. Those who did say he declared
the President must be forced to withdraw
nomination OF Robertson. lie regarded it
under circumstances, under which it waa
made, an insult to himself, Conkling and
James, and it must be atoned for or Presi-
dent must expect war. He distinctly ad-
mitted he was himself under positive
pledge to vote for Robertson's confrma-
tion, given before his own election,
but held that the way in which
Robertson was appointed released him
from this obligation. From this talk and
other indications here and Mt Albany, we
have concluded that Conkling's plan is,
first, to make n tremendous pressure on the
President for the withdrawal OF Robertson's
name, under threats from Conkling and
persuasion from James. Second, If this
fails, then to make their indig-
nation useful by extorting from
President, as means OF placating them,
the surveyorship and naval Office.
With these two they think they could
largely neutralize Robertson and Cornelps
candidate for Surveyor, Isaac V. Baker,
who is n bad lot. Cornell is not so violent
as Plat, and is in fact believed willing to
acquiesce in Robertson, hoping to get the
other offices. l wish to say to the Presi-
dent, in my judgement, that this is the
turning point OF his whole administration.
The crisis OF his fate, If he surrenders now,
is that Conkling is President for the rest OF
the term and Garfield becomes laughing
stock. On the other hand, he has only to
stand firm to succeed. With the unani-
NOUS action OF the New York Legislature
Conkling cannot make an etfectual fight il
that action came solely from the belief
that Garfield, unlike Hayes, meant to dc.
fend his own administration. The Assem-
Div was overwhelmingly for Conkling,
hut they did not dare to
90 on the record against
| Robertson, SO long as they thought the
administration meant business. When
ever the time comes Platt can either be
forced to support Robertson or be badly
4 damaged by the producing OF proof Of his
pledges. Then we can surely get enough
Democratic Senators to offset any thing
Conkling can do. In one word, there is
no safe or honorable way out now but "a
On straight on. Robertson should be held
and II a change is made in the Surveyorshir
The new man should suit Robertson.
Merrett would do perfectly well for that
place since he is good subordinate, oil
some other good man could be found. But
Il Is indispensable that the surveyorshiE
should be kept in our own hands. Bold
mess and tenacity now insure victory, moi
) merely for this year, but for the wholt
term. The least wayering would bt
fatal. Whenever pressure on Plat o.
lanes is wanted let US know
3 Beware Of James and his soft insinuatint
e way. He is again wholly under Conklingi
: influence, but q stern, sharp admonitioI
will bring him instantly TO his bearings
He ought to have had that the morning
!, after his serenede speech.
[signedl WhirELAw hElp.
or course this was neverintended for tn
nublic, but the writer sees no occasion
modify or regret It, Its aim was in answe
n reneated written requests OF Generf
Garfield to give him exact facts OF tn
political situation here, Us the write
:. understood them.
In answer to similar requests he ser
e General Garfield number OF other equal
d confidential communications on this an
n tindred subjects and II som
" .tiriendi, OF the dead Presider
'r hSs been @allowed to copy any more
y them, the editor will be extremely gag e1,
they should be -fonnd equally yindicate
), by the facts otthe past ten months