The New York herald., 1869-03-20
TAs reuure sf Once Law-Ths Struggle
IN the Senate.

TAs rss.rs er Omce Law-Tss Struggle
IN che Senate.
They have had an exhaustive debate In the
Senate on the repeal Of the Tenure OF Once
law, embracing some Of the ablest speakers Of
the body on both sides Of the question.
Morton, OF Indiana, has been particularly con-
spicuous as the advocate Of repeal, and Sher-
man. Of Ohio, too, has put In some trenchant
blows for the administration. But Garrett
Davis, Of Kentucky, who is ready at .
moments notice to speak on any question by
the day, and whose long harangues are often
superHuous, stands in this discussion ahead
even Of Morton and Sherman In grasping the
real merits of the case. The purpose OF the
law, as he understood it, was to degrade the
President and subject him to the dictation Of the
radical majority of the TWO houses OF Congress.
He Davis supported the repeal, not because
of his confidence in President Grant, for he had
none, but because he believed this law uncon-
stitutional and void. This is the true ground.
The law involves degradation of the Presi-
dental Office never contemplated by the
trainers Of the constitution, and General Grant
is right in holding the two houses Of Congress
and all their gangs of ofice-seekers rigidly to
the terms of the law and in declining to move
for their relief till he is relieved.
In favor of the retention Of the law as
safety check upon the President hereafter,
while ready for suspension to meet the
l:~x~ cfk kLa Ofno -oooIoro Mr.
Edmunds, of Vermont; Mr.. Carpenter, Of
Wisconsin, and Parson Brownlow, of Ten
nessee, have been among the most prominent
in this remarkable discussion. The new
Senator from Wisconsin, 1t is universally con-
ceded, distinguished himself in his speech in
support Of this obnoxious oface-hoiders' law,
and rose in this single effort to the position OF
one of the ablest and most pleasing debaters
of the chamber. But he upset his argument
in contending that, with or without the law.
the Senate, under the constitution, has the
powers conferred in this law. Parson Brown
low rested his argument upon the expediency
of the law He contended that it was good
thing and had long been wanted as check
upOu CAcCuhv0 u6uA Po0VAA0t OAAA sAASs S~s>s~
dence in General Grant was not sufficient
plea for repeal. He (Brownlow) had the
greatest confidence in General Grant; but in
dividual character was unreliable, life was
uncertain, and he could not forget that we
have had such Presidents as Andrew jackson
and Andrew johnson. Senator Sprague, Of
Rhode Island, took strong grounds in favor Of
repeal, and in reputation Of the lawyer
oligarchy in the Senate that was endeavoring
to sway the destinies Of the nation. The
reply Of Senator Nye, Of Nevada, impaired
rather more farcical than a dignided tone
to the discussion. A decisive vote was not
reached.
But the real difficulty in the Senate touch
ing the repeal of this law is, after all, want
Of confidence in General Grant, apd some un-
expressed fear and distrust Of him on the
part of the extreme radical faction. The two
houses contemplate long recess between the
close of this session and the beginning of the
next in December. The doubling radicals
apprehend, as we conjecture, that in this long
interval, with q full swing at the office
holders, General Grant may play the very
mischief With certain favorites mixed up with
the whiskey rings and other rings Of outside
spoilsmen, and possibly that he may adopt
such distribution Of the Offices as win de-
range the discipline Of the republican party
and give him the controlling hand over the
party managers. This will never do, when
these managers wish him to be their servant
or as powerless as johnson in opposing them.
In this view we find the strongest arguments
for the repeal. We want, and the great body
Of the American people want, to see General
Grant relieved from these shackles of johnson,
in view of reasonably independent admins
tration, as contemplated by the constitution
and according to the practice Of the govern
ment from Washington down to johnson.
Above all things this Tenure Of Office Law
should be repealed, in order to give General
Grant q fair trial for retrenchment and re-
form, regardless Of cliques Of spoilsmen and
party managers anywhere; and any bill shor'
Of an absolute repeal we trust he win veto, 50
that It may be distinctly understood that this
is the test question between him and the
Senate.
THE CoNsoRnPrroN RESURRECTION IN SPAIN
TIE NEW SPANiiH AMBAssADoR.-Our cable
advices from Madr'd, dated March 10, inform