The Republican journal., 1872-08-01
Grant BEARING Gifts.


we publish an abstract to-day, will be
read with great interest 1t is the first in
stance, we believe, in the history of the
government, iii which a President has
been charged with attempt ut bribery by
the person who was approached The
charge IS made squarely, directly and I'M
equivocally, that person came from the
President with the Information that pub
lie patronage would be at his disposal, If
he would cease opposition to the San Do
mingo scheme There is nothing in the
character of the Senator which cause dis
trust in his declaration. He is a high
toned, honorable man, whose record-in
every particular is white as snow He
lett the administration party only when
obliged TO, because its reckless course had
lost it the respect OF all good men, and
because his sense OF patriotism would no
longer permit him to sustain it.
The President saw fit to make general
and particular denial Of the assertions OF
Senator Schurz, and Conklin made it the
main point in his recent speeches. 1t was
as indiscreet as it was untruthtul on the
Presidents part. or course Schurz had
fortified himself before making the state
meht. and he now produced his evidence.
The following despatch tells the whole
story
New YORK, July 2G.
Carl Schurz in a letter to the Tribune
says the letter quoted in his St. Louis
speech concerning patronage in connec-
ton with the San Domingo business, was
addressed to him by Gen. Alfred Pleason-
ton, late commissioner of internal reve-
nue.. 1t was written, says Mr.. Schurz, in
reply to a note from me, OF the contents
OF which | have q memorandum, which
reads rs follows
Ask PIe;sonon whether he remembers a
conversation he had with me concerning san
Domingo in which he said that ii would sup
port the President could have all the patron
age | wanted, &C., and ask him whether he
was authorized to do so"
Gene"al Pleasonton's letter in reply is
quoted in my speech. have since re-
ceived from Gen. Pleasonton the follow
ing note:
NEW YORK, July %, 1872.
DEAR GENERAL OF course | have no OBJ
lection to your giving my name to the public in
explanation of the facts. | would say that he
ing friend of the President As we'll As your
self, desired you should be on good terms, and
you should understand there was no personal
1teilng III the way Of relations mutually salts
factory. Your statement is correct that the
President wanted your support ior his san Do
mlngo scheme, and that you could have had The
patronage OF the government tor!giving it. That
was the distinct impression the Presidents con
Versatlon made upon my mind, aud communi-
Gated ii to you at the time. FTHE PRESIDENT
POSITIVELY DENIES HAVING HAD ANY SUCH
CONVERSATION | REGRET If. | may console
myself with The reflection that this il the first
time that anV statement Of mine has been
questioned, while the President has had occa
SION before this to distrust the accuracy Of his
recollectons. Yours truly,
(Signed) A. PLEASONTON.
This appears to tell the whole story
When the public has the story Of bribery
attempted, testified to by the bearer and
of the proposition, and denied only by
him who made the shameful proposition,
no one can fairly deny where the weight
of evidence falls The story is true and
Gen. Grant is a guilty man. 1t will add
a heavy weight to the overwhelming tes-
tmony that is. dragging him down. To the
titles of the Great American Gitt-taker
and Relative Appointer must now be
added that OF the Baffled Briber of the
White House.