Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/255

CHESTER ALAN ARTHUR 211 of the New York republican state committee. The result was a plurality for Garfield and Arthur of 21,000 in the state, against a plurality of 32,000 in 1876 for Tilden and Hendricks, the democratic candidates. Vice-President Arthur took the oath of office March 4, 1881, and presided over the extra session of the senate that then began, which continued until May 20. The senate contained 37 republicans and 37 democrats, while senators Mahone, of Virginia, and Davis, of Illinois, who were rated as independ ents, generally voted, the former with the repub licans and the latter with the democrats, thus mak ing a tie, and giving the vice-president the right to cast the controlling vote, which he several times had occasion to exercise. The session was exciting, and was prolonged by the efforts of the republicans to elect their nominees for secretary and sergeant- at-arms, against dilatory tactics employed by the democrats, and by the controversy over President Garfield s nomination, on March 23, for collector of the port of New York, of William H. Robert son, who had been the leader of the New York anti-third term delegates at the Chicago conven tion. During this controversy the vice-president supported Senators Conkling and Platt in their opposition to the confirmation. On March 28 he headed a remonstrance, signed also by the senators and by Postmaster-General James, addressed to