New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-25
WASHINGTON.
A CONSPIRACY UNEARTHED.
SENATOR sCIIURz's PART IN THE RETRENCH-
MENT RESOLUTIONS.

WASHINGTON. Dec H.-SO much has been
sad OF late the Senate and out OF IT, and especially
by a NewYork Administration newspaper, about the
"deepaid plot" entered into by certain independent
Republicans to strike blow ct the Administration,
through the introduction in the Senate OF Mr. Tumbuls
resolution 10 revive the Committee on Retrenchment,
that correspondent Of THE TRIBUNE resolved 70 go 70
the Of matter and ind out the names OF the
ploters when and where the scheme was 1ormeo ano
what its real object For this purpose No caed.
this afternoon Senator Schurs who has been reported
to OF the leading spirits In the plot to ascertain
what he knew about 1t. The conversation was o ops
one and covered the whole ground. After calling "
the fact that Senator Schurz arrived here only ne
night before the meeting OF Congress- from somewhat
extended lecturng tour and had therefore met very
few II any, Of the leading men OF tho country the con
yersation proceeded substantially "a follows:
Correepondent-It has been said in debate and re-
peated some Of the that there wa before
the meeting of Congress, some secret understanding
| among the Independent Republicans and that IL was
known In Washington six months ago, that the nrst
against the Administration was to be the re-
vival Of the Committee Retrenchment with you at ts
head. Do you know anything about 1t
Senator schurz-The story set afoat by New
York paper that there understanding between
Senator Trumbul and myself to move the restoration OF
the Committee Rerenchmenf, and to have me Chair
Of II, and then to publish damaging reports shortly
before the Republican National Convention 20 as to pre-
Correspondent-Did not Trumbull tell you OF bis In
tended motion.
| Senator schurz--No I did not know anything of his
intention to move tho restoration OF that Committee IN
caucus and he told afterward that the Thought mad
occurred only that morning. He did not consult me
when he moved in the Senate In fact 1t escaped my
attention altogether when he did 40. and first obtained
knowledge of 1t from him time during the after
noon.
Correspondcnt--would you have consented to be ap
pointed Chairman OF the Committed
Senator schurzf nybody had proposed to me to get
on foot such movement. with view OF making Inc
Chairman Of that Committee should have told him ~
once that IT could not be accomplished
Corrcspondent-You were Of that before the de-
| bate beean1
Senator schirz-Yes Last spring when the resolution
TO revive the Committee had been introduced by Sena-
tor Patterson happened 10 drop into group OF sen.-
discussing the matter In the Senate Chamber ana
one Of them who figures among the particular friends OK
the Administration said to my face The Committee was
originally organized be used against Johnson II We
continue 1t you will be chairman OK ny rght OK
seniority, and yOnr relations now are 1t would look
like an act hostile the Administration, and thatwould
not do" 30 know perfectly we'll thata scheme to pus
such Committee into my hands II anybody had under
taken IT, would have been absolutely in vain. did not
Of for moment and there was notthe least pre-
concert between Tumbu and myself IA 70 the resolu'
ton introduced by him and the debate that happened
concerning it.
Corresponds nt-Do yOu know II IrumOuli to!d any
body elise Of his intention
Senator schurz-I AIN positively sure that he had no
understanding with anybody else when lie introduced
| the resolution. He has told me 70.
CorrespondentIs there any truth in the report that
there has been difference between Gen. Grant and
yourself concerning appointments BY which your per
| sonal relations were disturbed
Senator sohurs-There was anything OF the kind
think my recommendations were treated by Gen.
Grant with much consideration rs those OF any me
Der Of the Missouri delegation 1 don't remember now
whether ever made recommendation for an ohce In
my State without the support Of OF least several men,
beers OF that elegation. think did not, and never
had any reason TO be dissatisfied as to the treatment
they received There WAS between the President
and myself the least controversy about an appointment
| Correspondent-Did not the President slaughter
great number Of political friends little moro than
q year agoi
Senator schmz-He removed a number or Officers VINO
had taken part In the liberal movement which resulted
III election OF Gra Brown but that was OF course
after the split In Missouri and 1t would be absurd to
assume that the split and what other differences followed
we're the consequences Of the removals never cared
much for the patronage anyhow, and should have been
the last man quarrel about It had there been any
prov ocaton The whole story is q weak invention OF
:hose who, whenever criticises the Adnnistra-
ton. accredit 1t to disappointment in the matter OF
patronage, SO to throw suspicion upon his motives
COrTespOndent-Wtre you ever ia ue naoit Va "ahips
| many recommendations
eenator Schurz-I notice that The Times says that
have In ade ~ many recommendations any Senator
within the last three years. have thought Of introduce
Ing resolution INTO the Senate calling upon tho depart
ments 10 report what recommendations had been made
BY each Senator since tho incoming OF this Admnisra
ton. 1t would DO very interesting exhibit, and 1t
would probably turn out that Sumner, TrumDuu and
have made fewer recommendations than anybody else
during the came time but, on the whole, the general
| tableau would be- instructive one.
Correspopdent-Do you know anything OF the invcst
cation conducted 10y the Retrenchment Committee in
the Custom House, you know has been SAID o have
been unfairl
senator schurz-I was not a member OF the Sub. Com
mtee that conducted the Gust IN House invesugnton
but know Senator Patterson well enough to vouch for
the integrity OF his character and have participated in
| 20 many Of the Investigations OF the RetTenchment
| Committee that,I am sure there never have been
| ,nyestiCatons conducted with more tmpartaltty,
| with less personal partisan bias, or with Q
| purer purpose to correct abuses ana 10 promote
the public good. am, therefore, quite sure there Is
absolutely nothing In the charges brought against
Mr. Patterson In TIE Tnes 1t perhaps not surprising
that the paper should to such charges unfounded
and Immoral % they are when 1t was 90 excessively
short of argument just - the abuse heoped upon
ru1nbul and myself and the suspicion thrown upon our
motives may be looked upon a. the ast resort OF BAD
| csuse.
Correspondent-Did read the article printed In the
last number Of HdrpGs ReekIyJ
| senator schurl-Yes and must say that was o
little astopished when found Geo. wm Curtis lending
bimself 10 such things bad supposed him TO be above
| such tactics.
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
NO CHANGES CONTEMPLATED IN THE CABINET
THE CASE OF Mr.. sCHENCK-IuE CUSTOM.
| x,nr-or INvESTIGATION.