pposition to Merritt
and Burt. Such a course commended itself to the judgment of a large
majority of the New York delegation in Congress as well as to many
stout legislative friends; but re-election seemed to have hardened his
heart, and when, ten days after that event, he rose in the Senate to
defeat confirmation he exhibited the confidence of the man of
Gath.[1636]

[Footnote 1636: New York _Tribune_ (correspondence), February 1, 1879.]

Prior to his re-election Conkling had not voluntarily moved in the
matter. To him the settlement of one thing at a time sufficed. Early
in January, however, the Secretary of the Treasury, on his own
initiative and with the skill of a veteran legislator, had addressed
the President of the Senate, setting forth that Arthur's conduct of
the custom-house was neither efficient nor economical. To this Arthur
answered, denying inattention to business or loss of revenue, and
affirming that he had recommended a system of reform upon which the
Secretary had not acted.[1637] After the reception of this letter
Conkling demanded immediate action. But the Senate, by two majority,
preferred to wait for Sherman's replication, and when that statement
came the Senate again, by a vote of 35 to 26, put off action until the
document, with its many exhibits, could be carefully examined.[1638]
These delays augured ill for the Senator. It appeared that a
Democratic member of his own committee had left him, and on the day
fixed for consideration other Democrats, while calmly discussing the
matter, disclosed a disposition to desert. Alarmed at their loss
Conkling suddenly moved to recommit, which was carried by a _viva
voce_ vote amidst shouts of approval and whispered assurances that
further action should be deferred until a Democratic Senate convened
on March 4. Then some one demanded the yeas and nays.

[Footnote 1637: _Ibid._, January 28.]

[Footnote 1638: These exhibits made a document of 423 pages, of which
308 were extracts from the testimony taken by the Jay Commission, then
published for the first time.]

Believing the matter practically settled, Conkling, to improve the
last chance "of freeing his mind," he said, unexpectedly took the
floor, and for more than an hour, with a bitterness and eloquence not
excelled at Rochester, assailed the President and those associated
with him. To illustrate the insincerity of the Administration's desire
to reform the civil service he read several place-seekin