[123] Garfield ultimately appointed a Stalwart, Thomas Lemuel James, to be Postmaster General, but the cabinet fight and Arthur's ill-considered speech left the President and Vice President clearly estranged when they took office on March 4, 1881.[124]
The Senate in the 47th United States Congress was divided among 37 Republicans, 37 Democrats, one independent (David Davis) who caucused with the Democrats, one Readjuster (William Mahone), and four vacancies.[125] Immediately, the Democrats attempted to organize the Senate, knowing that the vacancies would soon be filled by Republicans.[125] As vice president, Arthur cast tie-breaking votes in favor of the Republicans when Mahone opted to join their caucus.[125] Even so, the Senate remained deadlocked for two months over Garfield's nominations because of Conkling's opposition to some of them.[126] Just before going into recess in May 1881, the situation became more complicated when Conkling and the other senator from New York, Thomas C. Platt, resigned in protest of Garfield's continuing opposition to their faction.[127]
With the Senate in recess, Arthur had no duties in Washington and returned to New York City.