The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-03-31
The Tenure-of-OAice Law.

The Tenure-of-o Office Law.
This law was cunningly devised to tie up
the President, and either force him into
entire submission to Congress, or provoke
him to some act Of resistance upon which
could be trumped up articles Of impeach-
ment. The Radicals who laid the trap
were delighted when they saw the victim
walking into 1t. When Mr.. JOHNSON re-
moved Mr., STANTON during the recess they
considered that the bait had elected de-
cided nibble;" and they bad only to
replace Mr.. STANTON, to catch the Presi-
dent. This they promptly did, and the
President, rs they anticipated, entered the
trap by attempting again to remove M.
STANTON It was a looked-for event. It
had been agreed on all hands (Radical)
that that should be the signal of impeach-
ment; and the moment STANTON was
notified that he must give place to General
THo2ls, he post-haste may, probably with
electric speed-informed Mr. Speaker COL
FAX, of the House of Representatives, that
the President had ordered him to surren-
der the War Office CoLFAx, with as much
haste, communicated the message to the
House, and the House, with delightful alac-
rity, initiated and hurried through articles
ofimpeachment.
From beginning to end the measure was
Especial "-intended for exclusive appI-
cation to Mr. JOHNSON. Yet the New
York Timss-which considers all the acts
of the Radicals monstrous, yet with skill
equalling that of the philosopher who ex-
tracted sunbeams out of cucumbers, dis
covers something useful in them all-sees
in this tenure office law valuable prin-
ciple. 1t reduces the power of patronage
of the Executive Office, which the Times
contends has been for long time grossly
abused therefore it is good. The Times ad-
vocates placing officers beyond the reach Of
removal by the President except for inefh-
cheney, incapacity, or criminal conduct.
This would be indeed wise provision in
our Government, and it ought to have been
originally o part of the Federal Constitu
ton, as 1t was part of the Confederate
Constitution. Ofice-hunting has been the
bane Of this Republic, and the patronage
of the Government as welded by the Pre-
sident for thirty years has done more In
jury to the public morals and the public
interests than, perhaps, any other one
cause.
But any man who accords to the Radical
party any such motive as that of putting
an end to this great evil is poor, deluded
Individuals green as the springing grass
of this season. They had no such inten-
ton. Their purposes were precisely oppo-
site to any such patriotic and Virtuous
policy. Neither patriotism nor virtue is
at any time part of the impelling incen-
tives to any of the acts of that greedy and
besotted faction.
The tenure of-office law was to prevent
Mr.. JOHNSON from using the patronage Of
the Government in his own behalf, and
also to prevent him from turning out of
Office the then incumbents who were Radi-
Gals. 1t was, furthermore, intended as
part of the scheme to evict Mr.. JOHNSON
from Office in case he resisted, and BY
that means to take to themselves the entire
patronage of the Government, and use 1t IN
the approaching campaign for their orn
benefit, aud to help IN the election Of their
nominee for the Presidency.
So the tenure of-office law being merely !
special and ephemeral-based on no gene
raj principle, but only to gain an advantage |
over the President-wil be repealed as
soon as its purpose is achieved. We have
no doubt that General GRANT has been
given to understand as much. He would |
not consent to be President under any
such humiliating restraint upon his au-
thority. AS we have before said, he will |
not occupy the position Mr.. JOHNSON now
occupies. Never! He it is who has saved |
the Republican party. He is the strong
arm on which they have latterly reposed,
and whose strength and potency have re-
vived their spirits and increased their con-
fidence and boldness in manner SO palpa- |
bic to the nation. AS the benefactor Of
the Radical party In so great a degree, he
Will not consent to be the subordinate Of
Congress and they will have to demolish
and hide away out Of sight every particle
OF the shackles and chains with which they
have fettered Mr.. JOHNSON. We repeat,
the tenure of Office law will die with Mr..
JOHNSON, and when General GRANT is
elected, he will take the place Congress
now holds, and that body will "eat hum
BILE pie" at the prison board left by Mr..
JOHNSON! ......-.,r
The Radicals were compelled to seek
the military arm in their revolutionary ca
reer. They found it, and under it they
will find their bloody instructions rapidly
returning to plague themselves.
y