Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 2.djvu/21



 &emsp; . . . After I had introduced my resolution yesterday, Drake's nomination [as Chief Justice of the Court of Claims] came in and was, as is the custom when a Senator is nominated for something, at once confirmed, to which of course I raised no objection. But we have an understanding that he is not to accept the office, until our debate is over.

You will find my speech [on Political Disabilities] calm in form and pretty strong in substance. I thought it advisable to take a wide range, in fact to go over the whole ground. I have considered everything very carefully. You may think, when you read it, that I have not assigned to the tariff question sufficient prominence, but I am convinced that the opinions I express about it are substantially correct, and I think at the present moment it is best to put things just so, and also to go in my criticism of the Administration just as far as I do. If there are things in my speech which do not come up to your expectations, do me the favor to think coolly about their bearing before expressing an opinion—I see you smile,—but you know what I mean.

Do me the favor to disbelieve all you read about me in the reports of interviewers. I authorize you to contradict