7] This ended their relations.

[Footnote 1247: Conkling's speech, New York _Times_, July 24, 1872.]

Subsequent appointments, however, did not meet with more favour.
Fenton declared them fatal to party harmony, since some of the new
officials, besides holding confidential relations with Tammany, had
been friendly to the Philadelphia movement in 1866 and to Hoffman in
1868. Bitter criticism especially followed the nomination of Thomas
Murphy for collector of New York in place of Moses H. Grinnell. "The
President appointed Murphy without consulting either Senator," says
Stewart, for thirty years a senator from Nevada. "Grant met him at
Long Branch, and being thoroughly acquainted with the country and
quite a horseman he made himself such a serviceable friend that the
Chief Executive thought him a fit person for collector."[1248] The New
York _Times_ said, "the President has taken a step which all his
enemies will exult over and his friends deplore."[1249] The _Tribune_
was more severe. "The objection is not that he belongs to a particular
wing of the Republican party," it said, "but that he does not honestly
belong to any; that his political record is one of treachery well
rewarded; his business record such that the merchants of New York have
no confidence in him; and the record of his relations to the
government such that, until cleared up, he ought to hold no place of
trust under it."[1250] Yet Murphy bore endorsements from men of the
highest respectability. "Of those who in writing recommended his
appointment or confirmation," said Conkling, "are Edwin D. Morgan,
George Opdyke, Henry Clews, John A. Griswold, Charles J. Folger,
Matthew Hale, George Dawson, and others. Their signatures are in my
possession."[1251]

[Footnote 1248: William M. Stewart, _Reminiscences_, p. 255.]

[Footnote 1249: June 17, 1870.]

[Footnote 1250: September 19, 1871.]

[Footnote 1251: New York _Times_, July 24, 1872.]

Nevertheless, Conkling preferred another, and until urged by his
friend Stewart to secure Murphy's confirmation "to avoid the possible
appointment of a less deserving man," he hesitated to act. "I told him
that the struggle to confirm Murphy would enlighten the President as
to the political situation in New York, and that he would undoubtedly
accord him the influence to which he was entitled. Then, to force the
fight, Conkling, at my suggestion, objected to further postponement."[1252]
The contest came on July 11, 1870.