Year: 1862

[From the Cincinnati Commercial Rep)


The Buffalo Democrat, Of recent date
copies letter written by Carl Sehurz TO
Mr.. Butz, Of Chicago. and originally published
in the Illinois Stats Zeituug. in which he ex-
plains as follows the motives which induced
him to abandon the diplomatic service for q
military position;


You viii probably have read the attacks
which different Republican journals have pub
lished against me, on account of ny prospect
i've entrance into the army. Can these people
then, not see the political motives upon which
this step is based 1t is an evil-threateuing
fact that the army is in the hands Of the pro
slavery elements. 1t is also certain that the
army will throw heavy weight in the scale
by solving some of tie burning questions Of
our time.


Could our friends not comprehend that the
anti-slavery mixing in of the army Tor the
introduction OF the abolition element into the
army is the more necessary. the more the
military problem approaches its solution >
Have none of the gentlemen thought of it,
that l make great sacrifice in exchanging
more considerable civil position for an incon-
siderable military one, in order to serve cause
which is common to US all? Why attack me
for taking step in which cbould have been
more supported by all who entertain political
views Identical with niue, than in any other
The idea that my obtaining this position would
be an impeachment to the promotion of other
officers is foolish. In the new position would
be able, undoubtedly to do more than l could
have done in my old one"


So by his own acknowledgment, Carl Schurz
goes into the army from political motives"
His business is not to coDdact campaign or
look after the welfare of brigade but to
preach an anti-slavery crusade.





We wonder why Gen. Schurz, whose solic-
citude on the subject of mixing the abolition
element into the army is so great and who
casts himself in as an ingredient, did not apply
for the command-in-chief. His modesty we
should think equal to direct application for
the position of Lieutenant General. What
can he do as brigadier, if he is not given a
chance to issue a proclamation Is he not
aware that brigader is only subordinate,
and that his declaration that he enters the
army from political motives, will earn for him
the contempt of every honest soldier in the
army? The plain obvious truth is, that
Schurz has lately exhibited an astonishing
want of common sense. He is man of high
scholarly attainments and brilliant powers as
an orator, but when that is said there is an
end to him.


He degraded himself in the first place by
long and loud personal importantly for for
eign mission, and his urgency for a military
appointment, and his advertisement of his mo-
tives, tapers him off to a very small point
His appointment as brigadier is a wrong to
the German officers who have earned promotion
in our service, and he is in their way, and is as
incapable of exerting any army influence in
their behalf as if he were in Spain. Why
should Schurz who is not military man, be
made general and Which remain a colonel
Schurz, and those who apologize for his weak
nesses may be assured that his appointment
has produced general feeling of disgust
Neither soldiers nor officers require any doctr-
nal Instructions from him, and his proposition
to enter the army as a political missionary, is
sheer impertinence or a freak of insanity.