The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-23
The Senate-CIOso of the Extraordinary
Session.
From The Times.

From The Times.
There was a good deal of work done at the
extraordinary session of the Senate, which
came to a close on Saturday night. The greater
part of the three weeks of its existence was
taking up in manWuvres on the great Office
holding question; but even that matter was
dealt with in more satisfactory manner than
appeared possible at one time. The more
practical Senators, having seen that irreparable
damage result to the public service from an
lndiscriminate refusal to confirm the nominees
of the President, wisely concluded to confirm
as far as possible, instead of rejecting as far
as possible. 1t is true that there were not
few exceptions to this course, and
some OF them very discreditable to
| the Senate; but, nevertheless it NAV
be said, particularly during the last week, to
have formed the Senate's rule of action. A
few days before the ad djOurnment, Senator
Fessenden informed US that the Senate had
! confirmed eighty.fUe per cent. of the Presidents
nominees and although the confirmed parties
were not in every instance the first choice of
| President Johnson, yet it may be surmised that
! in all cases they were tolerably satisfactory to
him. 1t was certainly quite as natural that
the President should decline to make appoint
ments of men who were bitterly hostile to him
self and his administration as that the Senate
prominent in denunoiations of Congress. And
it seems to be a reasonable, even if it be not an
altogether accurate, inference from the position
of both parties, that the Offices would fall into
the hands of persons whose partisanship was of
the less violent order, and that thus the public
service would be benefited. This remark, doubt
less, requires modification, by the consideration
| that system of compromise, as regards in
dividual appointments, was established be-
tween Senators and the Executive. 1t is so
gratifying, however, that, through all difficult
ties and antagonisms, the practical work was
finally done, and many most excellent ap-
pointments made and confirmed, that we do
not feel inclined to be unnecessarily critical as
to the minor details of the business. The
sweeping charges of bargaining and corruption
made by the organ of Wendell Phillips are
not worthy of a passing thought.
Besides its struggles in the work OF appoint
ments, the Senate did most excellent thing
at this extra session in confirming the Seward
treaty for the cession OF Russian America. Il
was the first business which the President laiC
before it three weeks ago; and though at first {
large majority ofmembers were opposed to the
ratification OF the treaty, it only required I
weeks consideration to secure all but unani
nous assent. This action alone gives import
ance and significance TO the session; and thu
fact is already discerned that it has bearings
} which promise to be widely and deeply felt il
r times to come.
I There were no less than three proposition
Q from as many Senators during the brief ses
] sion in favor of the mediation of our Govern
: ment between the belligerents in Mexico
Q When it is noticed that these came from sucl
J. men as Senator Johnson, of Maryland Senate
}, Sumner, Of Massachusetts,, and Senator Hen
} derson, OF Missouri, it seems remarkable tina