The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-30

| VENDORS GEN. GRANT AND TUE foRrIETH con.
GREss AT oPEN IssUE--eRANr PUTS HIS FOOT
Correspondence Of the New York World
WASHINGTON, Dec. PAS A. NJ.
! The day ending this morning has been one Of
4 intense political excitement among politicians
| here. The cause of the excitement is the differ.
ence Of opinion between Gen. Grant and the
leading congressman in regard to the continuance
of the civil tenure law. The exclusive disclos
ures Of your dispatches of this difference are as
true as exclusive pains are taken 10 keep me
breach private In order to heal it,
THE FACTS ARE As FOLLOWS:
Gen. Grant has on three occasions since Tues
| Gay expressed his intention in terms worthy in
| emf basis OF Andrew Jackson, 20 have the cisil
tenure bill repealed. His first utterance of ths
kind was to Washburne, at his (Grant's) resid ence
on street, on Tuesday night after the receipt of
that days World containing the disclosures o.
Buters dodge to have the bill repeating the civil
tenure act lie over till after day long enough to
let Mr.. johnson pocket it with fatal effect, Gen.
Grant exciiedly asked bis friend: is there
anything in this i thought that such a game
was meant, | would"
The rest of the sentence ended literally in
smoke.
ANOTHER INTERVIEWER OF GRANT.
Yesterday morning a senator of the State of
Missouri just about to depart home for the re-
cess, called to pay his respects, and to say good
pye TO General Grant at his headquarters. The
conversation got on to politics, and the senator
"GeDeTal, think the civil tenure law has
worked badly, and will work worse"
=, TO this opinion Gen. Grant replied exactly in
the following words
'' i think so. too. 1 am glad you think so. That
law must be really repealed before begin"
Evidently Gen. Grant was resolving purposes in
bis mind, and was harboring suspicion there, too.
These suspicious found vent and these purposes
unwontedly emphatic expression that very after
noon.
GRANT SPEAKS HIS MIND.
Two congressman came 10 see him. One was
Mr.. Washhurne. The other is said to have been
Williams.
To these gentlemen Gen. Grant declared that he
believed purpose existed not to repeal the civil
tenure bill In good faith, and that Congress had bet
ter understand that, il there was any double dealing
designed there was another Congress TO fix things
straight. He had thought that the Forty-frst
Congress need not meet. further than an extra
session OF the Senate to confirm few appoint.
men's. II affairs went right this winter, the ex.
pense of another session of Congress would be
avoided, and be was opposed to unnecessary
expense. On reflection, however, be thought the
Forty first Congress had better meet in March.
That was his opinion. Therefore be supposed
that the bill repeating a continuous session had
better be dropped. II it was passed, he wanted
il understood that he would call the new Congress
together by proclamation, at a very early day.
words, is what Gen. Grant said to these two con.
gressmen yesterday afternoon. Gen. Grant said
:" he wanted II understood that he thought the
Congress OF ls69z7O must meet 10 March," Gen.
Grant said the same day that he wanted il
understood that the civil tenure bill must be really
repealed before he began"
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
It means that Gen. Grant believes the civil ten.
ure will be "Ieally" repealed by this Congress.
t means that he intends TO have the next Congress
meet aud really repeal il +" before he begins.r
General Grant demands that Congress shall back
free handed as Abraham Lincoln was.
WHAT Is THE SENTIMENT OF CONGRESS-
in regard to repeating the civil Tenure law. | will
Try to show that plain facts prove Congress to be
opposed to the repeal of the act. No one has
even proposed TO repeal it except Gen. Butler
He merely introduced the repeal bill without a
word of comment or statement to tell what the
bill wss. It's very title was not known till the
clerk read 1t out II was referred to the judiciary
committee CT the House. That committee is as
follows:
James F. Wilson, Iowa.
George S. Boutwell,, of Massachusetts,.
Francis Thomas Maryland.
Thos. Williams, Pennsylvania.
r. E. Woodbridge, Vermont.
VIM. Lawrence, Ohio.
John c. Churchill, New York.
Samuel :. Marshali, Illinois.
LLas. A. Eeridge, Wisconsin.
FEELING or TIN HOUSE.
Seven Of this committee are Radicals. Six of
them are Radicals Of the intense kind. One (Mr
Woodbridge Is a little less Radical, but A" be
will serve" Three of this committee were
n ansgers (prosecutors) of impeachment. They
were:
James F. Wilson, Iowa.
Geo. S. Rcuts ell, Massachusetts.
1hos. Williams, Pennsylvania.
IT. e gravsmen of impeachment was alleged
violation Of the civil tenure law. The burden of
impeachment speeches was glorfcation of the
law. Mr. Williams and Mr. Wilson made elabor-
ate arguments TO prove its constitutionaIity aud
policy, and insist that it be permanent part of
the government. This judiciary committee must
report the bill Butler offered If it be reported at
all. The committee met every day of the two
weeks session. During all these meetings, four
teen in all, the bill was never even named once.
Every day the committee adjourned for want of |
business, therefore they did not consider il their |
business to take up the bill. The committee are |
doubtedly follows the committee. business Ian |
guished every day in the House. Ben Butler was |
present every day in the House. Ben Butler |
never once asked after or for his bill. This |
proves he has no desire to bring it up now.
FEELING OF THE SENATE.
In the Senate not even motion has been made |
touching the repeal OF the law. 1t is regarded
a permanent part of the governmental machinery. |
1hiriyfve senators voted 10 convict the president
guilty Of violating this act. OF these thirty five
every one who made remarks justifying his vote, |
spplauded The law as not good merely for day, !
but for all time. These thirty five are one more |
than majority Of the Senate now. they have |
been reinforced by Southern senators who slavish.
ly agree with them. The Senate are committed |
to the law and cannot rescind it without stu flea.
ton. The repeal of the law would deprive the |
Senate OF what they believe or profess to believe
one of their constitutional prerogatives. The |
Senate very strict to adhere to the Constitution
AS they understand 1t. The law gives to the |
Senate the practical power OF appointment, and |
enables them to dictate the retention of whom |
they will. This power makes many senators rich. |
II is plain that the Senate will not repeal the law
" really" as Grant puts IL. But the dodge, as |
SEE n. was TO appear to repeal it, yet insure the
pocketing of the repeal by the president out of |
spite against Grant. The dodge has been expos |
ed. TIE result of the exposure lie that General |
Grant substantially issued yesterday the first pro-
Clsmation OF President Grant, convening the |
Forty first Congress in March with the express |
purpose Of having the civil tenure law really re-
pealed.
VIII 4 Tur ropry.prpaT CnxcprsS Tur ~ Il