The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-03-26

1eu A1Vin t1e pt1VlloRo OF CanOl0aCy
might give rise to personal dissension
at home which would endanger the pas
sage Of the bill. You will, therefore
| am sure, upon reflection, perceive th'
improperly Of embarrassing a public
measure so important to a large portion
Of our constituents by invidious persona
conditions, and I trust you will find il
public considerations grounds enough
for giving the bill your cordial support
withuot exacting in advance pledges fo'
the benefit Of particular individual
which are neither proper to be asked OF
given. Should the bill become . law
| shall be happy to confer with you o.
any one interested 10 relation to ap
pointments under it. You are, however
we'll aware that since Mr.. johnson
turned his back on the Republicans,
have not had, and do not now have
any other influence OK control over nom
nations than that which indirectly re-
suits from the negative Of the Souat.
upon appointments which arc disap
proved,
Very respectfully, your obe1ient
servant, ALEX. RAMSEY.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
March 9th, 1868.
Hon. ALEX. RAMSEY.
U. S. Senate, Washington, d. c.
DEAR SIR: I am in receipt of your
letter Of the 7th instant, mailed to me
on tho 9Th instant.
The date Of my letter to which yours
just received is reply, was, as stated
therein, the 18th Of February. It was
written At that date, but remained in
my desk during my absence in New
Hampshire. The delay was caused by
my desire to send a copy of it to each
Of the parties named in the list con.
taioed in 1t. But during my absence
the. St. Cloud Democratic paper, moved
thereto, I understand, by 4 Republican,
published copy Of a letter IN reference
to the Land Office, which I had sent to
the parties named, and sought to put
upon it an Interpretation which it did
not properly bear. This has compelled
a publicity which I did not desire, but
from which l do not shrink whom it is
made necessary by tho acts Of others.
am glati6ed at the elevated tone
which is manifested throughout your
letter. You seem to ignore, however,
the great fact that both you ard I hold
our places here by tho suffrsges Of the
Republican party, and that it is our
duty to protect the interests Of that
part, not alone from motives Of gratitude,
but because its success involves the
well-being Of the whole country, and
that We should not for ono moment con-
sent, to any action which viii impair in
any wise its strength. It il within the
poesibilities that the electoral vote Of
Minnesota may decide the coming pres
idsntial canvass, and for one shall re-
sist to the utmost any increase Of the
patronage Of the bold. had man, who
now occupies the Executive chair, until
that canvass is terminated. l am con-
ident that the Republicans of Pope
and Douglas counties would prefer to
suffer for few months longer the in
conveniences they now endure than see
Democrats placed in the valuable and
lucrative Offices Of register and receiver
Of the new land Office. These incon-
veniences would be greatly ameliorated
if the Senate Will pass the bill which
has already passed the House to enable
settlers on the public lands to make the
af6davits required by the homestead
and pre-emption laws before the clerk
Of the County Court, instead Of making
long and expensive trips to the land
Office.
The people of that section Of our
State have seen an earnest Republican,
General H. z. Mitchell, removed from
the position Of postmater at St. Cloud.
because Of his fidelity to the Republi.
can party, and they h,ve seen an OK.
treme and active Democrat, Reuben NJ.
Richardson, appointed postmaster.
They have seen the appointment Of that
Democratic appoiatee Of Andrew John
son twice sent to the Senate for con-
6rmation or rejection, first on the 18th
of February, 1867, and again on the
18th Of July, 1867, and they have seen
this appointment thus twice brought
before your attention, not acted upon,
nor rejected, as it should instantly have
been, but returned to the Post Office
Department without any action; while
Mr.. Richardson has continued to hold
the post Office and receive its valuable
emoluments for nearly two years; and
I now learn that yourself aud Mr..
Norton have united in q request that
the appointment Of Richardson be not
again sent to the Senate, so that you
win not be driven to tho necessity of
rejecting or confirming him. IL fact l
find, upon inquiry at the Post Office
Department, that upon questions of ap-
pointment the whole State is farmed
out between you, and Mr.. Norton; and
that Andrew Johnson's Postmaster
General directs his clerk to consult with
Mr.. Norton as to appointments and re-
movals in the first congressional district,
and with you Is to appointments and
removals in the second congressional
district.
With such state Of facts before mo,
l think I may we'll hesitate before in
creasing the powers Of patronage used
to place aud keep Democrats in places
Of trust and profit.
You are kind enough to say, that
"sheuld the bill become nv, I will
confer with You, O any one interested
in relation 70 appointments under it."
I am sensibly touched BY this eonde-
scension. e..
There was time when I controlled
oil the appointments in my district, and
I then conferred With You, and in every
case followed your Suggestions. There
came = subsequent period whom . rec
reant President refused to hear nv
voice, unless should sacri6ce the prin-
ciples I believed in and to rerresent
which had been elected; and when
vnn as Senafnr ,,o..o..ol ~. $1,000,