New-York tribune., 1869-03-11
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT.
WHAT he THINKS OF TENURE OF OFFICE.
From The Washington Star.

From The Washington Star
An interesting conversation was had to-day
with Con- Grant by Senator opposed to a repeal OF
the Civil OnceTenure act The Senator was laying the
groundwork for sundry applications for office when his
attention called by the General TO the division In the
Radical party ON this TenureofOhce question. p" But
sir said the General is not the RESTRICTION opposed 70
our theory OF government The Judges mold once
for life, but the President and Members ol
It i proposed s 70 invest all subordnato Officers
with life interest In the position they hold
unless indeed charges are preferred agast tne' anu
trial had before the Senate the same tribunal before
which Judges tried. This certainly great stride
toward revolution in free system and IL only re-
qures another to make these offices hereditary" The
Senator made effort to combat the Generals position
his hand he returned them to his coat pocket and re-
tired It's understood that the General contemplates
INC from the hands OF the Executive the legislative man
acles imposed by tho Civil Office Tenure act.
From The Syracuse Journal
WASHINGTON, March lon Saturday even
ing Representative George W. Julian Of Indiana and
Gen. b. f. Loan OF Missouri called on Gen. Grant in pur
suance of previous engagement and had long and In
terestiDg interview with him. A friend, TO whom inc
chief points in the conversation that ensued were mar
rated. furnishes with some points, which give.
Mr. Julian, after the usual cOurtesies asked IN SUB
stance what Gen Grants policy would DC as 70 ,oca, a
pointments Mr. lincolus rule was to refer all local ap
pcatons for places, such as postmasters collectors
assessors &c. to the Representative Of the District and
bio with the Generals ideas Of prOprety he r Julian
would be glad what rule would bo adopted by
applications and If expected to give his views, would
like TO have time to examine fairly into each case
Gen Giant replied at once that, except I'm few cases
all over country, where he might desire 10 appoint
personal army friend, whose ability, &c ne hAd per
soual knowledge Of the rule Mr. Lincoln followed would
be his Representatives directly responsible TO the
people, and they the proper persons TO recommend
Mr. Julian then remarked: " Gencralt the case IS
little different now In Mr.. Lnc0ln's time we had no
Tenureof Office act shall have to defer to the
Senators more" ,,,. .,
Gen Grant replied speaking quite deliberately "Wen
gentlemen that matter can only say that tue law
is not repealed consider myself bound to enforce ~ lie
had told Senators conversation on the subject ne was
a citizen and bound TO obey the laws, which he should
do II the law is not repealed shall remove no man
Julian the fact, General that an ohce-hoder Us Dem
Ocrat and has been Johnson man, VIII not IN ltseI DC
sufficient for removal - NO., was the elnpato
response" shall protect Office holders who DO ther uuly
whatever may be Their politics. the law remals agalns
both Executive and senatorial interference. nave sa
this and the justice Of the view was ackno"
edged" 4, ,..,. -.
There was great deal Of quiet humor I'm the Genera'
manner when he said that, and he evidently seemed "a
feel that he had made point which would worry inc
anxious politicians into repeating the meduesOlne la"
gOOOd deal was said IN regard TO the law, ana Gen
Grant expressed his regret ~ differing with some OF MS
ator Howe OF Wisconsin He seemed also quite conf
dent that the law would be repealed by the fOrylrs'
| Congress -,
! Gen Logan who will be remembered as ono OF the
strongest advocates o remarked during the
conversation on tho Tenure-of Office act tat dd mol
vote for The law; my policy was TO turn johnson out"
! To this Gen. Grant answered, speaking slowly ahu
thouChtfuy. "Well, good many persons were AFRAID o.
upcac hmcnt and of tho effect Of u as precedent Dut
with emphasis, II they had known MI johnson as We
meu but seen that would have been just the thine
that ought have been done and made precedent o.