The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-31
Grants Corrupt Use OF Patronage.

10y
for the furtheranoe OF which Gen. Grant
sacrificed the dignity of his Presidential
office to become mere lobbyist to Con.
gress, is fruitful OF woes to the great re.
nominated. In his speech at st. Louis,
on the 22d inst, Gen. Schurz expressly
charges that he was approached by two
different individuals in intimate relations
with Gen. Grant, who assured him, as
upon authority of the President, that if
he would favor San Domingo annexation
in the Senate. or would agree, at any
rate, not to oppose it, he should have
complete control over the distribution of
official patronage in his State. Senator
Schurz stated that if the charge was au-
thoritatively denied. he had the requisite
documentary evidence in the shape of
letter from the gentleman who made the
proposition, which he would produce
Gen. Grant is reported as having posi-
lively denied the allegation, and now the
proof is in order. Gen. Pleasanton is
understood to be the gentleman to whom
Schurz refers, as having made the pro-
position in regard to San Domingo. He
stated to Schurz at the time he first
made the offer of unlimited patronage,
that he had full authority from President
Grant. To olinch matters, however,
Sohurz subsequently wrote to Pleasan-
ton. asking him directly if he spoke with
authority from the President in the pro-
position he had made. To this Plea.
santon replied in the affirmative by let
ter, and it is this letter which Schurz
relies upon to substantiats his charge.
Sohurz thought seriously Of disclosing
the whole matter last spring, in the Se-
nate, when Oonkling, in his defence of
the Administration. alleged that the dis
affection of the Liberal Repu blioan Se-
nators was attributable to their dissp-
pointment in securing from the Presi-
dent that command of patronage which
they expected. Bot he was dissuaded
by his friends at that time. upon the
ground that Oonkling's charge was by no
means personal to him, but was aimed
rather at Trumbull. Gen. Grant has,
however. since the opening of the po-
litical campaign, in an interview which
was had with him by a reporter OF the
Herald, charged directly upon Schurz
that his opposition was prompted by his
(Grant's) tusal to satisfy the greed OF
Schurz in g matter of the official ap-
pointmen. in the State of Missouri.
The Administration organs, too. either
from want of ability to comprehend or
aa intoa:;ons! purpose to ignore the
real causes of the Liberal movement,
have sought to found it upon personal
and selfish grounds. With them, every
Liberal Republican. no matter what may
have been his previous high character
and position and influence in the Repub.
lican party, ia now. because. and only
because, he does not approve OF the
conduct OF the Government under Gen.
Grants administration. and opposes
continuance of the same, a sore-head
and greedy office-seeker. But it is the
Presidents false insinuation, especially,
which has decided the great Missouri
Senator, in justification OF himself, to
disclose the disgraceful and corrupt
proffer which was made to him to pur-
chase his support of the San Domingo
annexation project. and which he indig-
nantly refused at the time. Since
Schurz's disclosure. it has leaked out
that the same shameful proposition was
made by Grants go-betweens to ex-
Senator Fowler, of Tennessee, and Se-
nator Upton, and it is reported that
several other Senators of unimpeaohabl
veracity were approached on the same
slbject.
Gen. Grant denies having authorized
any one to make any srch offer, and says
that the Senator was ''imposed upon"
It is question, then, Of veracity be-
tween Grant and Pleasonton at present.
Pleasonton claims that he has the advan-
tage Of Grant, Of never before having
his veracity questioned. He has another