The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-07-23
ITnp0rfant Correspondence Isefrcex
Carl Scisnrz and Mr.. Grccfey--TI.a
s latter DcsiHes His Ciyu service rtea


Importnnt Correspondence ysetrcsI
Carl SchuFz and Mr.. Crcefey. Tl,a I
s Latter DcflHes His Ciyu service rtsa
form Views.
ST. LoEIs, July 22.-Ihe following eorre-
sbondence was read by Senator schnra In
his speech tonight
ST. LOUIS, June %, 1872. s
Dear Sir: In your letter of acceptance
you promise thorough reform OF the, civil
service in general terms. Thequestion how
the problein of rivii service reform presents
itself to your mind Il one OF great interest.
aud would suggest, IL it be consistent with
your views of propriety, that you give ma
such explanations aswill put your intentions
in this respect in clear light
Yours truly, G.. scHURz,,
The following Is Mr.. Greeley's reply: (,
"NEw YoRK, July 5tl, 1872.
Ny Dear Sir,-Yours OF the s6t1 ultino
only reached me three days ago. ] respond
as promptly as may. The problem of civil
service reform is rendered difficult by an al.
lance between the executive and legislative
branches Of our Federal franchise govern
ment. Those members of Congress who
favor tue Administration habitually claim.
and are accorded, q virtual monopoly OF the
Federal offices in their respective States or
districts, debating appointments ard re-
moyals as interest or caprice may suggest.
The. President appoints at their bidding.
They legislate in subservience to his will;
often in opposition to their own convictions.
Unless all history is unmeaning, this confu.
sion of executive and legislative responsible
ties and functions could not fail todistemper
and corrupt the body-politic. mold the,
eligibility of our President to reelection the
main source of this corruption. a Presi-s
dent should be above the hope Of flu
ture favor or the fear of alternating power:
full and ambitious parts ns. lie! should
be the official chief not Of a party, but
Of the Republic. He should dread
nothing but the accusing voice of history
and the memorable judgment Of God. He
should fully realize aud never forget that
Congress, in its own sphere, is paramount
and in no wise amenable to his supervision,
and that the heartiest good will to mis- Adj
ministration Is perfectly compatible with the
most pointed descent from his inerIlcations
in the very grayest questions in finance or
political economy. 1t Is the first step that
costs. Let it be settled that Il Presidents not
to be reelected while in office, and civil
service reform is no longer difficult. Hewiil
need no organ, no subsidized defenders. He
will naturally select his chief counsellors
from among the ablest and wisest OF his emf
nent felow-citizens, regardless alike Of the
shrieks of locality and the suggestions of
selfish policy. He will have no interest
to conciiiate, no chief of a powerful clan
to attach to his personal fortunes. He
will be compelled to appoint, as will none
deny that he should appoint, men of ripe eX.
| perience in business and eminent mercantile
capacity to collect, keep, and disburse the re-
venue, instead of deXterous manipulators OF
primary meetings and skillful trafflckers III
| delegates to nominating conventions. He
| will thus transform the civil service of tho
country from plrty machine intoa business
establishment. No longer an aspilant TO
place, the President VIII naturally aim to
meet and deserve the appreciation of the en-
tire people, but especially of the eminently
wise aud good. AS to the machinery of
boards Of feXaminers, &C., whereby the details
OF civil service reform are to be matured and
perfected, defer to the Judgment OF Com
gress unpervcrtcd by the adulterous COM
mrrce in legislation appointments which
/ have already exposed and reprehended.
Up to this time our experience OF the doiDgs
of boards in this direction has not been en-
couragcd, and this, am confident, is not the
fault OF the gentlemen swho lave tried to
serve the public rs commissioners. Insofar
as they may have failed, the causes OF their
ill.succcss must be extensive. had they
been accorded Il fair field, | am sure
they would have wrought to better
purpose. a thinker has observed that
the spirit in which we work Is the chief
matter, and we can never achieve civil ser-
vice reform until the interests which demand
| it shall be more potent in our councils, than
those which resist even while seeming to
favor. That this consummaton Is not dis.
tant, / feryently trust. Meantime, thanking
you far your earnest and effective hbors TO
this end, remain,
| Yours,
HORACE GREELEY.