The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-05-08

them here had the power 70 pass the Necessary law,
Al any time. He IMr. 8. was utterly opposed 10
tseking there condition. 70 appropriation bills.
He had opposed u whom Mr. Pierce was in power,
and when Mr.. Buchanan was In power. Ths
President might sign this bill with this amend.
ment, and II Il passed he Mr.. 8. hoped no would
Suppose, however, the President did not sign IL.
What would II lead to. Either the whole ma
chinery Of the Government must stop, or the Prssi
dent must forcibly scife on the treasury and lille.
gnlly and unconstitutionnlly take the money. The
post once 10 something that comes home to every
citizen. The effect OF this amendment will be that
In the Of Congress the President cannot turn
out Of Office man who has enjoyed Il for four or
ave years and put In a one-armed or one-leggsd
soldier that IT, the soldier cannot draw his pay
I'll Congress meets. The amendment does not pro.
hibit the President from making removals, Il only
hurts the poor devil whom he may put In. The
amendment, therefore, falls Of Its effect. This
whole thing can be settled in another way. Such
thing as expecting President TO carry on the
Government with Cabinet ministers not In accord
with him 10 ntoerable, Hostile eepates have often
confirmed the Cabinet officers Of the President for
tho very reason that Il was necessary for him to
have those who participated In his councils to hold
the same opinions. The President should have the
power TO remove these and other high officers, but
there very large class Of inferior officers over
the appointment Of which Congress had absolute
control
The Senator from Illinois [Mr. TrumbuiII said
tho President would appoint rebels TO ofhes
Mr.. Trumbull said he did not say the President
would, but that he might
Mr.. Sherman said It was unnecessary TO antici-
pate any danger Of this kind. Let Congress seek
no controversy, confident Of their ability and power
to control the matter. IT. after the Senate ad.
journed this summer, the President did appoint
rebels TO ofioe the people would punish him Tor It,
and when they met next winter they could apply
the remedy. The whole ground Of his opposition
TO this amendment was that II was unwise and I'M
neea Nv M lie nd In
Mr.. Stewart said that 90 far as he understood
this amendment, II was to prevent the President
from using bis patronage In support Of his policy
and that the policy OF Congress being the better II
that before inaugurating this thing IL would b,
better to wait until the plan Of Congress was de-
veloped. He [Mr. s. confessed he did not know
what the plan OF Congress wasn't was the most
difficult thing to ascertain that he knew. He had
sometimes acted with Congress. and sometimes with
the President, and supposed he should continue to
do so in the future. There wero some things 10
the Presidents plan which he did not approve Of
Congress wanted security for tho future, and so did
he; but how was II to be obtained? He had told
his constituents before he left home that whenever
he became convinced that negro suffrage was neces
sary security for the future he would 20 for it.
He had maturely considered the subject, and had
come to the conclusion that amnesty and suffrage
were the only way to get out Of troubles; that
all the ills that bad had grown out Of the fact
q,
and political rightsj that this violation Of demo-
cratic principle bad brought on tho rebellion.
lie Mr.. s. had introduced resolution providing
for universal amnesty and impartial suffrage. He
was satisfied that this was the only plan. He knew
Senators said punish tho rebels but this disfran.
chising Of people inevitably led to dsspotism. He
was convinced that the only safe plan, and one to
which they must come was universal suffrage and
universal amnesty. The present position Of Con-
gress was not strong ore The plan Of the Com.
mittee on Reconstruction then criticised by Mr..
s., and pronounced to be partial and unlair. He was
unwilling to spend their strength In contest with
the President until they had platform Of equal
rights for all upon which they could stand. Their
principles would fight for them at the polls. The
committee call upon the Southern people TO vote to
disfrsnehise themselves. Any man who would vote
to disfranchise himself was less than q slave and
should be sent to penal colony at once.
Mr.. johnson said that he agreed freely with the
Senator from Ohio [Mr. Shermanl rs to the power
Of Congress In regard to all the inferior officers Of
the Government and their right TO prevent removals
Of the same by the President.
Mr.. Howe would DO very reluctant to SEQ this
vote reeonsiderod to see the amendment rejected,
as he cousidered II very necessary and expedient.
The Senator from Ohio Mr. Shormanl comedies
our right to pats this amendment, but op.
poses it for fear Of creating a conflict between
the Executive and tho Legislature. In the earlier
days Of the Republic, which he almost believed
wero Drawer days than these, no such attempts
were made to intimidate the Legislature by pro-
voking fears Of a collision with the President He
lMr Ii. was opposed to introducing the usage
here Of going to the White House before passing a
measure to ascertaia whether it would meet tho
approval Of the Executive. The Senator from
Nevada Mr.. Stewart seems to be uncertain what
to do. lie is doubtful about leaving the service
Of the President and entering tho service Of Con-
gress We'll, he could commend tho prudence OF
the Senator, but he Mr., IL wanted to see the
time when all could sit here as Senators and act
conscientiousiy and wholly for the good Of the
country. The President has as much right to re-
move judge Of the Supreme Court as he has to
remove postmaster.
Mr.. saul.bury said this question seemed to be
one off war between the two wings Of the Repub-
lican party, led by the President Of the United
States and the other by the majority Of Congress.
lie Mr.. s. did not belong to either Of these par
ties but to party much older-to the Democratic
party, under whose rule this country had advanced
to honor and greatness. That party had given no
civilwar to the country. II had not brought on n
terrible conflict and Il had nothing to do with the
controversy which prevailed In this now distracted
Republican party The Democratic party had
no hing more to do with this controversy than In
spirit Of generosity to support the President In his
efforts under the Constitution to restore the Union.
Mr.. Stewart said bis position had been somewhat
miFstated by the Senator from Wisconsin, Mr..
Howe He should not seruple TO break with the
President or any one else when In his estimation
announced a plan, Congress had not The Presi.
dents plan did not meet his approval, and as Con.
grsss would stay here some time they would have
time enough TO mature plan which, was what he
desired.
Mr.. McDougall thes took tho noor In opposition
u the amendment claiming that 1t was usutping
the functions Of the oxeoutiye head OF the Govern
mont.
The queItion was then taken, "Shall the vote by
which the amendment was passed be rseonsid-
cred, =" and resulted as follows
Ayes-Messrs. Cowan, DaVis, DOolittle Ed.
munds, Fesseuden, Foster, Guthrie, Lane Of Kan
sas, McDougal Morgan, Nesmith Norton, Poland,
Riddle, Salisbury, Sherman, Stewart, Van Wrinkle,
Wiley, Williams, and Wilson-2l.
Nays-Messrs. Anthony, Chandler, Clark, Con-
ness, Creswell, Harris, Henderson, Howard Howe,
Lane Of Indiana, Morrill, Nye Pomeroy, Ramsey,
sPrague, sunner, Trumbull, Wade-lS.
The Chair then announced that the question
required on the amendment.
On motion Of Mr. Henderson the Senate then
adjourned.
HJUsE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MISCELLANEOUS AFFAIRS.
The Speaker laid before the House 4 supple mental
message from the>President, transmitting a letter
from our Minister to France In which he calls the
attention Of our Government to our representation
In the Ash raising and water-culture exposition at
ArchanA, France, to be held In July 1866. Our
Minister suggests that this Government should be
represented, and recommends that some specimens
Of American fishing smaoks should be sent. The