The Writings of Carl Schurz/To George F. Edmunds, March 18th, 1886
TO GEORGE F. EDMUNDS
Many thanks for your letter received to-day as well as for the documents you have had the goodness to send me. If I am not taxing you too much I should be obliged to you for copies of all speeches delivered upon your resolutions. I take very great interest in the matter.
I have not forgotten the difference between papers bearing upon the conduct of public affairs and discussions in considering nominations. But I do not think the discussions in the Senate upon nominations can well be put upon the same level with discussions in the Cabinet. The relations between the President and the members of his Cabinet are necessarily of a far more confidential nature than the relations between the Executive and the Senate.
As to the “kindness of heart” which would lead one to “dislike to express unfavorable opinions about the fitness or capacity of particular gentlemen for particular offices,” I judge from my own experience in the Senate, and I would appeal to yours. I cannot remember a word I ever said in executive session about any nomination that I would not be perfectly willing to utter in public. And I have no doubt it is so with you. But even if there should be some inconvenience of that kind, how great is the mischief that would be prevented! Would such a thing as the confirmation of Dement have happened, had the proceedings been public? You know as well as I that even much worse things have been done at one time or another which would never have been done but for the secrecy enveloping them. And as to suspensions, would not the discussion in public nominations made to fill the places of suspended officers, which would involve the justice of the suspensions, be far more effective in preventing unjust ones, or in exposing them when made, than what is now going on? And the Senate would not need the papers now withheld, for it would always be able to investigate the conduct of the public business with regard to any particular office, and it could easily get all the evidence required to determine its own and the public judgments.
In addition, let me repeat, for it cannot be repeated too often, the Senate has been for some time, and is now, suffering terribly in public estimation in consequence of its secret proceedings on nominations. And this, it seems to me, is a consideration of an importance infinitely greater than any inconvenience that might arise from publicity.