The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-27
scHuRzs CHARGE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT
Letter from Carl schurz.

u Letter from Carl schurx.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
SIR-The statement made In my speech at st.
Louis concerning the patronage in connection with
the st. Domingo business has been represented
as incorrect in despatch Of the Associated Press,
apparently inspired by the President himself 1t Is
now proper that should give my authority for what
said. The letter quoted in my speech as coming
from the gentleman who had with me the converse
ton referred to, was addressed to me by General
Alfred Pleasonton, late Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue. 1t was written In reply to note from
me, OF the contents OF which have memorandum,
which reads as follows: - rttl r..I n.ef f.E
Ask P. whether ne remembers conversation he
had with me concerning st. Domingo, in which he
said that II ! would support Pres. could have all
the patronage wanted, &C. And ask him whether
he was authorized by Pres. to say So rgg sl GEe3
General Pleasonton's letter in reply to this is
quoted in my speech, and Is as folows:-
..s.,,.. .s.v, NEW YORK, Jan. rs. 1872
Regarding the conversation you refer to in your
note, remember 1t was with the knowledge and
consent and after had a conversation with him
the conversation You SPOKE or nv impr e
at this time Is, that the President desired your
to be on such terms with you that your support
could be obtained. do not now remember any
eot ans s w@ the
justice by attempting to quote from memory but
the impression made upon my mind by the inter-
nu NJ a.Ha A. PLEASONTON.
have since received rom General Pleasonton
the following note:-
NEW YORK, July IS, 1872.
DEAR GENERAL-Of course have no objection to
your giving my name to the public. In explanation
OF the facts, would say that, being friend OF the
President as well as ofyourse desired you should
be on good terms. and you should understand that
there was no personal feeling In the way OF relations
mutually satisfactory Your statement is correct
st. Domingo scheme, and that you could have
had the patronage Of the government for giving i.
Gated it to You at the time II the President posi-
regret it. may console myself with the reiection
that this Is the first time that any statement Of
had occasion before this dsrust the accuracy OF
= 'o~''0'''' - 49, A. PLEAsoNToN.
In Justice to General Pleasonton must add that
the DRIFT OF what he said to Is correctly stated In
his note. When he found that had conscientious
objections to the st. Domingo scheme he urged me
no further to support it, He desired me to go and
see the President to which replied, that II the
President wanted to speak with me on public busi-
ness, should consider it my official duty Sena-
tor to respond to note from him requesting me
to call. And that was the end Of It, My recollec-
ton is that General Pleasonton intmated to me at
the time that he spoke with the knowledge and
consent OF the President. inquired about 1t
afterward in writing, for the purpose Of either
strengthening or correcting my impression con-
corning that fact.
Although the President recently condescended in
an interview with a HERALD reporter to say that
my opposition was owing to an unsatisaed desire
for patronage, or words to that effect l had as
will not now be denied, some excellent reasons to
think that II 1 wanted patronage had very good
chance to obtain it at the expense Of my convic.
lions Of duty. Truly yours, 9. SCHURZ.
NEW YORK, July 20, 1872