New-York tribune., 1867-03-14
"M4t1GNANT LEGISLAIIQN'

One of the Pre5luenCs court JouinaiS III
Washington censures Congress, and especially
the Senate, for what it calls malignant legis-
"Iation.r By this it means the numerous rejec-
tions of Presidential appointments to office.
Let us look at this charge for moment.
President johnson came into office by the
gracious support of the Republican party
thereunto induced by much profession OF loyalty.
He found that party in possession OF the Gov
ernment To certain extent-we do not say
TO an unlimited extent-he owed it allegiance.
That is to say, where two capable men applied
for an office, one Republican and the other
Democratic, he was bound to appoint the Re-
publican Where there were no competent
Republicans, no one, of course, could object
10 Democrat. The Senate was generous
in this matter. When one of the
best offices in New-York was given to Mr.
Odell, a supporter of Mcclellan, he was con-
firmed and nothing was said, although there
were thousand Republicans in New-York
quite as competent and deserving. 1t came TO
pass that the President conceived "a policy"
1t was peculiar policy, in-begotten, mon
strous, out of parallel with nature 1t was
tenderly loved and reared. The nation
summed it. Office holders avoided it, and cx-
asperated His Excelency by declining to fol-
low his teachings. An occasional He ssian Ike
Mr. Randall, OF some poor, forlorn devil OF an
office -beggar and office broker like Slr. Weed,
indolsed it, Brave, good Republicans spurned
it, and the people sustained them.
Then came general prescription. Mr.. Den
nison was driven out of the Cabinet, notwith-
standing his iaunt to New York after the Presi-
dents celebrated speech. Mr.. Harlan and Alr.
Speed we're banisbed. A renegade was made
Postmaster General, another was placed in the
Interior Department. The Treasury was as
sailed. Men who had acquired knowledge Oh
tho intricate and perplexing revenue system
were suddenly thrown out, and ignorant ad-
venturers appointed. We do not think IL 100
much to say that ten millions OF dollars have
been wasted by these changes in the Revenue
In New-York we have seen the most dis
graceful transactions frauds In the GUS
TOMS in the excise, Ill the revenue col
lections. Two Congressional Committees
have been here. stirring around and producing
the most startling and disgusting revelations
In Philadelphia it was even worse; and as To
the West, we have heard nothing but complaint.
While Mr.. McCulloch was debasing the Treas
ury service. Mr. Randall was removing Post
masters by the hundred for political reasons"
Mr.. Stanton was sending the radical Terry out
among the Indians, and adding stars to the
| shoulders of Custer, and Mr.. Seward was ap-
! pointing such men as Mctinnis to represent us
abroad, and listening to the gossip of spies and
adventurers Treachery was. rewarded. Men
were honored for hypocrisy, and the vast pat
ronagc of this Government was hawkcd along
! 81. ou1 ont Ia rppgpuHe
| Republicans. Copperheads, and Secessionists.
| What remained9 Was the Senate tamcly to
submit 20 this degradation Was il TO allow its
| friends TO be punished for their opinions Was
! il, on higher grounds, To permit McGinns to
succeed Campbell-or n Cowan TO replace Mot
ley Was it tamely TO permit over thousand
postinasters to be driven out Of office because
they were not as easy of conscience as Mr. Ran
dallf Was it to ndorse Mr. Stewards Peepng
Tom and Dirt Eating Diplomacy
We say no. We honor the Senate for its in
trcpidity. There are individual cases where We
might have acted differently. If Gen. Couch
was rejected a. Collector in Boston. we do not
see why Gen. Dix was confirmed IA Minister TO
Paris. Still, on the whole, the Senate has done
well If the public service is deranged Presi-
dent Johnson and his Cabinet are absolutely
to blame. We trust that every Copperhead and
every renegade Republican sent TO the Senate
for confirmation will be rejected and again
rejected until the President comes 90 his senses
in the matter of patronage, and learns that the
offices of this Republic are for the good of the
people, and not a part of his personal property
To be given TO those who choose to be his
slaves.