The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-04-26

wDen our people once get the opportunity 10
meet the question ON a fair and square issue at
the ballot box, that they will record an en-
dorsement OF President Johnson which Will
astonish the whole world, and administer q
blow to the radical disorganizers from which
they can never recover.
War Upon the Executive Powers of tho
President by a Radical Congress.
When the Post Office bill was called up on
Monday in the Senate, Mr.. Henderson, OF Mis-
souri,, proposed an amendment to limit the
appointing power of the President. Mr..
Trumbull offered an amendment to this, which
was somewhat differently worded, but with
the same object and nearly In the same terms.
No action was taken upon these, as the Senate
went into executive session and soon after ad-
journed. This last of the many sweeping radical
changes proposed in the government by the
present revolutionary Congress provides that
no salary or compensation shall be received
by any one appointed to an Office where the
appointment requires the confirmation of the
Senate until that body confirms the appoint
ment, except in the case Of filing vacancy
occurring after the Senate may have adjourned.
The proposition is not confined to appoint
ments in the Post Office Department, though
submitted as an amendment to the Post
Office Appropriation bill, but extends to
all those in every department of the govern
ment which require to be confirmed by the
Senate. That is to say it extends to the whole
patronage or appointing power of the Presi-
dent, except to the smaller Offices, such "a
clerkships, to which appointments are not
made by the President, but by the heads Of
departments. We should not be surprised if
this proposed sweeping change in the principles
and practice of the government should be car
ried through Congress; for anything that body
may do will not surprise
What in effect, will this change amount TO,
and what is the object of it? 1t amounts to
this, that the whole patronage of the govern
ment would be in the hands of the Senate and
that Senator'S intend to use this power to force
the President into their measures. We believe
the law which was passed by this same revo1u-
tionary party creating the office of Comptroller
Of the Currency takes away the power Of re-
moval by the Executive from that Office. That
was a step Of Congressional usurpation over
the time-honored aud constitutional preroga-
tive of the President. The present proposition
is q tremendous stride in the same direction.
We may expect to see next a movement TO
take the whole power OF appointment and
removal from the President and assumption Of
it by Congress. The statesmen of this country,
as well as those of other countries, thought we
had well balanced system of government.
1t has certainly been most successful one.
But the visionary politicians and radical disor-
ganizers OF our day presume to think otherwise,
or dare to break up this beautiful and success
ful system for partisan purposes. What do
these men want! Do they want to prevent the
President from removing Cabinet officers or
other officials who may be obnoxious to him,
and who obstruct the policy of his administra-
toni Tho manner in which the term Eva
cancy" is used in the amendments referred to
looks very much as IL it were intended to pre-
vent him making removals But If not, what
would be the use of removing officers ii those
appointed in their places could draw no sala-
ries without permission Of the Senate, The
consequence would be that either the President
nnuot conform 20 tho viahea of y dominant fac
ton in the Senate, however radical or revolu-
tionary, or the machinery of the government
would come to q dead lock.
The constitution, the principles and the
forms Of our government, all of which
operated so admirably, suffered q severe
strain during the gigantic war we have
just passed through; but they are in greater
danger now. We have, indeed, fallen
upon evil days. At time when we need the
highest order of craftsmanship not only to re-
store peace and harmony and to repair the
damages of the war, but to preserve the spirit
and letter of our institutions, we find the halls
of Congress filed with shallow, superficial
theorists, mere political partisans, and those
crazy TO make the most sweeping and danger
Gus changes We have had statesmen who
were the admiration of the country and tho
world and patriots who could sacrifice per-
sonal or party considerations for the good Of
the country; but where shall we find them nowf
There are few, and the voice OF those few liz
not beard amidst the clamor OF faction. The
radical majority in the present Congress ap-
pear ready to sacrifice everything that is good
in the government, to remodel the splendid
structure or 10 launch US on troubled sea i'm
another and an.unsaie ship; TO do all this and
MORE for selfish party purposes and to perpe-
tuate its power. II IL were not for our conser-
vative AID firm President our condition would
be more dangerous. lie stands as broakwa-
ter against the surging faction. Our only hope
is in him and In the common sense OF the peo-
pie when the issue shall be put fairly before
them at the next elections. In the meantime
we trust that those amendments changing the
power over appointments, and the hundred and
one proposed amendments to the constitution.
with all the other radical measures for sub