The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-08-15
PLEDGES OF GARFIELD.
An Abstract of the Budget of
Stephen w. Dorsey.
How Garfield Secured the Nomination for
President-The Story Of the October
Election In Indiana.


and Arthur lodged, and in COnkling's
parlOr, that a noteworthy conference
took place. Attorney General MacVeagh
represented the President, and 1t was al
his request the conference was held
Mr.. MacVeagh had soft side for New
York Senator, and desired his friendship
and support for the Administration OF
which he was member. A few days
before RObertsOn's appointment as Col
lectOr Of New York, the President eX-
pressed to MacVeagh his desire that
COnkling should be on good terms with
the Administration. To this MacVeagh
answered that he thought terms might
be arranged, and that he would under
take the negotiation on behalf of the
President, provided the latter would
give him authority TO state to Mr.. Conk-
ling precisely what was intended; what
the Senator might expect in the way of
patronage and also in the way of disap-
pOintment, and especially that there
would be no change in the New York
Custom House, and that neither Robert
son nor any other bOlting Halfbreed
who had disturbed the Chicago cOnVen-
tiOn should be left unrewarded. Gar
field authorized every statement that
was afterwards made by MacVeagh to
the three representatives of the New
York Republicans. He went to the con-
ference at the Fourteenth street house
as a minister plenipOtentiary. He was
sent on his mission by the President
with exuberant expressions of joy, and
with the hope that he was about to
bring to an end very uncomfortable
state Of affairs.
On the Friday night before the New
York nominations were sent to the Sem
ate, Mr.. MacVeagh and Mr.. James went
to Mr.. COnkling's room. They found
there the Senator and Vice President
Arthur, and the negotiation began al
most Immediately. Mr.. COnkling was
not in a pleasant frame Of mind. He
had begun to expect four years that
would bring a repetition of his expert
ence with the Hayes administration, and
he had been in opposition to the head of
the Federal power quite long enough.
MacVeagh had uphill work for time,
and 1t began to look as though he could
not coax COnkling into friendly rela-
tiOns with his chief. Finally he took
other ground, and In a rather severe
tone, which was intended to mean busi-
ness, he said: "Mr. COnkling, you must
change your tactics. You must recOg-
nize hereafter that there Is an eXecu-
tive branch of the government. For the
last four years you have recognized the
Legislative branch Of the government
because you are a member OF 1t, and the
judicial branch because you sometimes
practice before the Supreme Court. But
you have constantly ignored the execu-
tive branch"
COnkling was walking up and down
his room as MacVeagh spoke, but he
stopped as though he were rather
pleased by the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS bold
ness. 1t was the kind of thing he liked.
When MacVeagh had finished he smiled,
and said: "Why, you don't consider that
any part of Hayes's administration con-
Il kdxra hwo - hn
ernment, do your" COnkling then sub
mitted to be negotiated with about the
future. At first MacVeagh spoke In
general terms, promising in the name
of the President that COnkling should
be consulted in the making Of the New
York appointments, but that none but
proper requests should be granted, and
men who were friends of the President
should not be punished simply because
they were enemies Of COnkling.
To this Mr.. COnkling responded with
a demand for the particulars. He want
ed to know precisely what the President
intended to do with the cases under i'm
mediate consideration.
MacVeagh was very frank with the
Senator, because he thought that the
President was behind him, and he knew
that he was promising nothing that Mr..
Garfield had not authorized. Therefore
he told Mr.. COnkling that he might de-
pend on the reappointment of Stewart
l.. WOOdfOrd as District Attorney, for
which the Senator did not care a cent,
and on the other appointments that
were actually sent to the Senate on the
following Monday, with the exception
of Clinton ID. MacDOugall as Marshal
for the Northern District of New York
Mr.. MacVeagh said that this was what
had been determined on, and that the
President had given him authority to
say 80 to Mr.. COnkling ami to Mr.. Arthur
and Mr.. James.
Mr.. COnkIing at once protested against
the refusal to TeappOint MacDOuRall.
"Why," he said, ''MacVeagh, do you
mean to say that the President refuses
to permit me to name the Marshal in my
own judicial districtp"
Mr.. MacVeagh assured him that that
was about the Presidents determine
tiOn, and that he must expect no favOrE
except such as seemed right to the Presi
dent to bestOW.
OF course there was a storm at this
but no impression was made by the three
New York men who were In negotiation
with the administration.
Finally some one asked about the New
York custom house, and whether the
COllectOrship was to be given to Robert
son as q reward for what MIR. COnklinE
considered his treachery to Grant a
Chicago. Mr.. MacVeagh in Response
gave the most solemn assurance that NJ
change should take place in the custom
house, and that no Important appoint
ment should be made without a consul
tatiOn with the Vice President, the Post
master General and Mr.. COnkling. H
said that he had enforced upon the Pres
ident the necessity of taking this posi-
tiOn IL there were to be friendly rela
tiOns between the New York Stalwart
aud the administration, and that Gen
Garfield had been particular In assent
ing to the suggestion that no change a
ali should be made without first con
sulting the New York leaders, for 1t wa
not the intention Of the administrator
to anger the men whose friendship
sought by giving the first Office In tn
state to their most prominent and OF
fensive enemy.
This announcement was very satisfaG
n H. I2aw ~