The Writings of Carl Schurz/From George F. Edmunds, January 27th, 1882
FROM GEORGE F. EDMUNDS
| U. S. Senate Chamber, | |
| Washington, Jan. 27, 1882. |
I have yours of the 24th with accompanying enclosures. I do not think it at all probable without some more specific statement than appears in newspapers, if you—a newspaper man—will pardon my saying so, that the Senate would order or admit any investigation of the kind you name. You of course have it entirely in your power to answer public complaints by a statement of the facts and a reference to the sources of information, and you have a right by a memorial addressed to Congress to implore an inquiry, if you think the matter of sufficient consequence to do so. On such a memorial doubtless the Senate or House would direct an investigation. But if you or any other prominent man commence the practice of appealing to Congress for investigations every time you are assailed in the newspapers, you will have a pretty busy life; and to appeal once and not afterward in some similar case raises an implication that you cannot bear an investigation in the second. On the whole I should advise you to fight it out as far as you like in the public prints until something more definite should be stated against you in one house or the other of Congress. I was sorry not to be able to see Mr. White at the time he called, and he could not wait until I should be at leisure.