Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 3.djvu/365

Rh not a Know-Nothing when my political associates generally ran off after that ephemeral party.

P.S. I need hardly assure you that if I ever have charge of an Administration this whole assessment business will go up, “hook, line and sinker.” 



&emsp; I meant to meet you at the depot yesterday, but was prevented. It is now too late to speculate on results. I shall find many things to console me if defeated. I feel more than ever satisfied with having written a square letter. Very little occurs to me that I could have changed during the canvass. The hard times with the consequent desire for change, and the opportunity which such times give for the corrupt use of money by our adversaries have greatly affected the strength of parties.

In any event I am exceedingly gratified by what you have done in the canvass, and shall always remember it with thankfulness and satisfaction. 



&emsp; The complications in which we find ourselves involved at present are well calculated to impress two facts upon every candid mind:

1. That the result of Presidential elections may depend upon a very small number of electoral votes, these votes to come from States in a disturbed and abnormal condition; and

2. That the Constitutional method of counting the electoral vote, of deciding questions of legality connected