Year: 1879

bune.


One OF the most extraordinary and exciting
executive sessions held for years took place to-
day over the New York nominations, resulting
in their confirmation, the majority for Merritt
being nine, and for Burt twelve. The doors
were closed at l o'clock and not opened till
after s, and for the entire seven hours the
Senate chamber is described as scene of
great excitement, at times approaching a
general uproar. Conkling was busy from the
hrst moment to the last, and Voorhees, on the
Democratic side and Spencer and Patterson on
the other were his active aides de-camp. The
debate opened on the main question and contin-
ued about two hours, when from the drift Of
the sentiment on the Democratic side, Conkling
ana his friends, after a consultations, became
convinced that confirmation would take place
IT a vote was reached. To prevent this


A DIVERSION WAS PLANNED,


and the advantage Of it quietly explained among
the Democrats. It was, that to send the case
back TO the committee would carry it over the
4th OF March, and really give their side control
OF the New York custom-house. IN other
words, it was clear and almost undisguised
determination to sell the whole case out to the
democrats rather than have the administration
succeed. The idea of securing coutrol of the
matter was at tlrst quite popular on Ethe Demo-





to the effect that this was


EXACTLY THE THING


and the best thing to do Mr.. Voorhees, was
particularly pleased with the proposition. A
vote was about to be taken on the subject.
when Mr.. Conkling rose and committed suicide
by cutting his throat from ear to ear in the fol-
loving manner: The roll had been ordered to
be called on the proposition to recommit the
subject for full investigation, when Mr.. Conk-
ing arose. prefacing his remarks with the state
ment that it might be the last chance he would
have to address the Senate on this subject and
he would improve it by


FREEING HIS MIND


to certain extent in regard to the whole mat
ter. He then began speech lasting about two
hours, which proved to be an effort by the side
of which all previous speeches of Conkling's g
lie IN the direction of bitterness are declared
by good judges to sink into insignifcance, and
were made to appear as the very essence of
mi!dness and suavity. In the midst of his at
tack on the ad ministration he took out large
bundle OF private notes, written by several
persons in and about the administration, some
from secretary Sherman, some from assistant
secretary Mccormick, some from Mr.. Rogers,
asking that certain persons named be appointed
to places for various reasons This part of the
performance was evidently


ARRANGED IN ADVANCE,


for as Conkling proceeded to read off these
notes he was continually asked to repeat One
asking an appointm ent for Justice Bradley s
son in the proper way was thus explained sew
eral times, Conkling taking great delight in ex-
planning what Justice Bradley wanted, and dis
gushing good many, too, by insinuations
against this member of the bench: but he
seemed perfectly oblivious of the fact that he
was rapidly turning Senators against him, and
Went on with his most intense, extraordinary,
and, to say the least, exceedingly unsenato1ial
style OF attack, for nearly two hours. He


SAT DOWN GREATLY EXCITED,


but having apparently fully freed his mind.
To his great surprise he found Senators demand
ing on all sides that the vote should be taken
at once, not on the motion to recon nit for in
vestigation, but upon the main question. All
attempts to change this determination were
futile. and so vote was had resulting in con-
trmation by nine majority for Merritt and
twelve majority for Burt


An attempt was next made to throw all the
proceedings open to the press. This caused a
long debate. 1t was contended by the Demo-
Gratis that this should include the most remark
read to the Senate.


THEY BAD BEEN PRODUCED


in violation of all rules heretofore observed in
regard 10 sucn papers, but they had been read
to influence the Senate, and it was only proper
that they should be regarded as belonging to
record. Mr.. Conkling, however, took possession
OF them and declared they should not be made
public. The Senate could not help itself. and.
after considerable discussion, it was fnallv
agreed to remove the injunction of secrecy from
the votes. In regard to the mass Of letters he
produced, a number Of them will appear as very
indiscreet, but Conklings construction Of
many of them was forced and unworthy of the
Senator. His friends now threaten loudly that
the Senate shall at once institute iuouiry into
the means used by the administration to secure
confirmation. There has been general excite-
ment over the whole subject throughout the
evening.