The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-22
The war Upon President johnson.

The extreme men Of the Congress are
bent on doing something to diminish the
power Of the President. The clause in the
Post.ofsi Appropriation bill crippling him
in his power Of removal and appointment
TO Office was rcconsidered and stricken out
by the Senate after the bill had been sent
to the House. This was done because II
was ascertaincd that the bill could not be
passed over the veto Of the President, more
than one leading member Of the majority
having expressed his disapprObation Of in
cooperating such measure into the Appro-
priation bill. Mr.. SHERMAN was one ofthcse.
he, however, expressed his appreciation OF
the object desired by the amendment, ana
suggested that it might be better accom-
plishcd by on independent bill !; intimating
that he would vote for such one.
Last week, Mr.. HENDERSON, of Missouri,
acting upon this idea, introduced bin
putting such limitations upon the power OF
the President in relation to appointments
and removals as to put him entirely at the
mercy Of the Senate. The bill is worse
than the clause in the Appropriation bill.
1t declares that any person whose appoint
ment to any civil Office has been confirmed
by the Senate shall not be removed at the
will Of the President, but shall hold his
office "until his removal be consented to
by the Senate" excepting members of the
Cabinet, and that "the President shall not
"during the recess of the Senate, appoint
cor commission any person to fill up va,
"cancy in a civil Office under the Gov.
"crnment unless such vacancy shall have
"happened during such recess by death
resignation, expiration of term, or other
casualty not depending on the will or ac-
"tion of the President"
This would put the power entirely into
the hands of the Senate and make Mr..
JOHNSON mere automaton, to work at
their bidding. 1t is true he could not be
made 80 turn out men obnoxious to the
Senate; but he could not remove any that
were obnoxious to himself.
The patronage of the Government has
been a means Of corrupting the whole
country. 1t had more than anything
else to do with bringing on the late war.
The Offices and their emoluments, the ia
vors and fat contracts of the Federal Go
vernment, were the great allurements to
the ambition and cupidity Of the country.
1t was for these that the party wars on a
scale Of unprecedented bitterness, and We
hemence, and dishonesty, have been car
ried on, and men have been driven to the
expedients for electioneering which in
volved the rights and peace of communi-
ties and the very life of the nation. For
these sordid objects corrupt politicians and
their partisans were willing to sacrifice
anything and everything. We verify be-
lieve that these struggles for the spoils OF
the public Offices and the robbing of the
public treasury led to the dissolution Of
the Union and the terrific war which fol-
lowed it.
1t was great mistake in our ancestors
that, in framing the Constitution, they had
not made appointments to office for life.
1t would have saved a world of trouble
and avoided endless frauds and corrup-
tions.
1t would be well at any time if the Con-
situation could be so amended. But what
do the ultra Senators propose now? Not
to amend the Constitution-not to make
such an alteration in that instrument as to
put an end to the strife for office at every
Presidential election, and to put the i'm
mense power Of the official patronage out
of their own control as well as the Presi-
dents. No, they propose nothing of the
kind. They only desire to hold Mr.. JOHN
SON in check during his term, and, calcu-
lating upon party triumph for themselves
at the next election, they leave the matter
Just where it will then give no trouble.
They can either repeal the law or let their
President do as he pleases. His revenge
will be theirs; his friends to reward,
theirs also.
There is, therefore, no desire to protect
the public interests, no motive to purify
the elections and improve the public vir-
tue, in what they propose. Resentment
for the conservative policy and vetoes of
Mr.. JOHNSON inspires them. To cripple
him, and reduce him to nominal autho-
rity in the Government, they arc exerting
all their power and ingenuity. Ifthey sue
coed, Mr.. JOHNSON will be greatly shackled
and INSTRUCTED in his policy, and the Exc
cutive Office for the time be reduced in
dignity. But whether they succeed in this
or not, they are destined to be ultimately
swept from authority by storm of public
indignation such as has probably never
been witnessed in this country.