The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-18
Plain Truth About the Dorsey Letters


To the country there is important
political history in the Garfield, Nor
ton, Dorsey and other letters which
have lately been published relating to
the presidential campaign of 1880, the
formation Of the cabinet and the hos
tility which arose between the admin
istration and the New York leaders,
Conkling, Grant, Arthur. Morton and
the rest, whom, for the sake of gen.
eral name, we will call the New Y ork
leaders.
The country was informed that al
most as soon as the administration
was formed a state of hostile feeling
arose between it and the New York
leaders, but the country did not know
the cause, and rise and progress of
that unfortunate division, and its i'm
perfect information was much to the
prejudice of Senators Conkling and
Platt and Gen. Grant, Gen. Arthur
and the rest.
These letters show that relations of
amity were formed between Gen.
Garfield and the New York leaders,
through the agency of Senator Dor
sey, who had the confidence of both
sides, and through Gen. Garfeld's visit
to New Y ork, where a full under
standing was made, upon which Sen
ator Conkling and Gen. Grant agreed
to enter the canvass at such time and
place as Gen. Garfield deSignated-an
arrangement which was carried out.
The letters show that upon this ar
rangement Gen. Garfield wrote to the
Hon. l.. 2. Morton and Gen. Arthur
freely with regard to the campaign,
particularly in Indiana, which he re-
garded as the turning point and that
he called freely on Mr.. Morton for
money, of which Morton, at one time,
had advanced $4,000 out of his own
pocket. Senator Dorsey, who was
looked to as the chief manager of the
campaign, called also freely on Mr..
Morton for money.
1t is shown that one part of this
amicable understanding was that the
place of secretary of the treasury
should be assigned to New York as
the chief state, aud that it was PROM
Used to Mr.. Morton. But after the
election Gen. Garfield RECONSTRUCTED
this matter. 1t appears that at first
this took the form of objections to
Mr.. Morton as abanker, and that then
he deliberated much on Judge Folger,
and called him to Mentor and talked
over financial affairs with him, as he
had before the election with Morton,
and now Judge Folger and the New
York leaders expected that he would
be the secretary.
But at length this developed into an
objection to making any New York
man secretary of the treasury, and the
offer of the attorney generalship was
sent to Judge Folger, and declined.
The offer of the secretaryship of the
navy to Morton had the same fate. 1t
is obvious that the New York leaders
regarded this as going back on pledges
The letters also make plain that the
cause of this was that Gen. Garfield
had now decided to make Mr.. Blaine
secretary of state.
The relations existing between Mr..
Blaine and the New York lead
ers were such as to make his
appointment appear hostile to
them. Furthermore, Mr.. Blaine
is so sanguine, bold, able and aggress-
i've leader that he could not be mere
ly subordinate business member of
the cabinet, but would be its leader,
and would give it his character.
While this affair was thus developing
gradually from the New York ar
rangement to a Blaine cabinet, with
all which that implied, Senator Dor
sey wrote number of strong letters
to Gen. Garfield against going back
from his arrangement with the New
York leaders, against breaking with
them, against calling to advise him
men who had no representative or Re
publican character, and urging him
to call in the strong representative
men and the natural leaders.
These letters were powerfully writ
ten. They alone would stamp Senator
Dorsey as man of great ability.
They were for good faith as well as
good policy. In the light of subse-
quent events they appear prophetic in
their craftsmanship and foresight.
But they were in vain. Gen. Garfield
had concluded TO make Mr.. Blaine the
head of his cabinet and it is evident
that he now leaned as much on Mr..
Blaine in forming his administration
and its policy as during the election
canvass he had leaned on Senator
Dorsey.
The ssequel is pretty well known.
Mr.. Blaine took that leading and ag-
gressive part in the administration
which was to be expected from his
abilities and sanguine nature. There
gathered around him faction, includ-
ing several conspicuous editors who
had been most prominent in accusing
both him and President Garfield of
corrupt conduct, who seemed to regard
the present term as only canvass for
| Mr. Rlaine'S accession To the Dresiden-
cy. To force the fighting with the
New York leaders was Mr.. Blaine's
policy, for which they became trump
eters.
Unquestionably the New York lead
ers considered themselves i'll used and
their state treated with contumely.
They, however, made no war; but they
regarded the removal of Collector
J Merritt to put in Robertson, whose
] chief merit was that he contrived to
/ break the New York delegation to
Chicago for Blijne. as declaration Of