If the restoration of Arthur is insisted upon, the
whole liberal element will be against us and it will lose us tens
of thousands of votes without doing a particle of good. No man
could be a more earnest Republican than I, and I feel this political
loss as much as anyone can. It will be a personal reproach to me,
and merely to gratify the insane hate of Conkling, who in this
respect disregards the express wishes of the Republican Members
from New York, of the great body of Republicans, and, as I personally
know, runs in antagonism to his nearest and best friends in the
Senate.

"Surely men like you and Windom, who have the courage of your
convictions, should put a stop to this foolish and unnecessary
warfare. Three or four men who will tell Conkling squarely that,
while you are his friends, you will not injure our party and our
cause, would put a stop to this business. Arthur will not go back
into the office. This contest will be continued, and the only
result of all this foolish madness will be to compel a Republican
administration to appeal to a Democratic Senate for confirmation
of a collector at New York. It is a most fatal mistake.

"I intended to call upon some of the Senators this morning, but I
am very much pressed, and will ask you to show this in confidence
to Senator Windom, as I have not time to write him.

"Very truly yours,
"John Sherman.
"Hon. W. B. Allison, U. S. Senate."

I wrote to Senator Justin S. Morrill a much longer letter, giving
reasons in detail in favor of confirmation and containing specific
charges of neglect of duty on the part of Arthur and Cornell, but
I do not care to revive them.

Conkling was confident of defeating the confirmations, and thus
restoring Arthur and Cornell. The matter was decided, after a
struggle of seven hours in the Senate, by the decisive vote in
favor of confirmation of Merritt 33, and against him 24, in favor
of Burt 31, against 19. From this time forward there was but slight
opposition to the confirmation of Hayes' appointments. The reforms
proposed in the customhouse at New York were carried out.

This termination of the controversy with Arthur and Cornell was
supported by public opinion generally throughout the United States.
I insert a letter from John Jay upon the subject.

"N. Y. C. H., 24 Washington Square,}
"New York, February 3, 1879. }
"The Honorable John Sherman.

"My Dear Sir:--Allow me to thank you for the two papers