The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-23
FIRST EDITlO N
THE CIVIL TENURE ACT.
Caucus of Republican Senators "A
Stormy Debate on the PrOpO-
sitiOn to Repeal-The
Bill Referred Back
Its Probable
Modification.

oil Ne6ter0ayLSaYs.-
The Republicans of the Senate, iftyslx in
number. convened this morning at 10 O'Clock in
caucus in response to call made by Senator'S
Anthony occupied the chair. Senator Edmunds
offered a resolution declaring that the repeal of
the law called the Tenure-of Office act ought
not to be made, and proceeded to support MS
position by saying that Senators should be in
no hurry to surrender material element OF the
constitutional power; that this law had been
found eminently useful and supplled the defect
long complained of, but never remedled
until the I'd of March, 1867, and that If it was
repealed now occasion might yet arise when 1t
would be sorely needed; but its reenactment
might then be entirely beyond their control.
Senator Williams offered an amendment that
the law be suspended until the 4th OF March,
1S73 and that all removals made by the Presi-
dent during the recess of Congress be reported
to the Senate within twenty days after 1T
assemblies, with all the reasons set forth for
each removal. On this amendment the debate
of the morning hinged, and occasionally grew
as warm as the proprieties OF caucus debate,
which were never very stringent, cou admit.
Senator Williams held that too much time had
already been expended by Senators in discussing
the subject. He had taken an active part IN
securing the passage of the original bill, and
feeling now as he did then that atnecessity existed
Tor 1t, he would be sorry TO stultity himself by
voting for its repeal The Senate had no more
power with it than without it, but it hal safe
guard against undue power on the part OF the
- -ecutive. Abolish the law and the offices OF
the country to the number OF 60,OO0 are laid at
the feet of the President, comforting a patronage
dangerous from its very temptation to misdirec-
tion and abuse.
Senator Conkling spoke in favor of the pro.
position to suspend for four years, and thought
it would be as satisfactory to General Grant as
il was to him. He did not understand why
there should be such disposition among Ger.
tain Senators to reject all compromise and
modification, and insist so obstnatey on repeal.
1t had been dinped into his ears that the State
Legislature of New York had instructed him to
vote for repeal; but he rejected the claim of
any Legislature, or of any man; to become the
keeper of his honor and conscience. He should
vote as he thought proper, not as the State of
New York thought, or the Senator from Indiana,
or any other man.
Senator Warner, of Alabama, said he was
astonished to find so many Senator'S of high
standing and reputation upholding the retention
OF a law which was unquestionaoly partisan in
It's character. He had as great respect for
the proposition TO retain the law because it was
good, as he had for the proposition to repeal it
because it was bad: but he could not see the
logic of those who held that the Law was wise
one, and yet proposed to suspend it for General
Grant. This seemed to him to smack more OF
subserviency to the will of the Executive than
the proposal to repeal. Besides, this suspension
would be regarded by the country, and Justly
too, as a mere matter of partisanship-as
suspendiDg a great principle according to
whether the President was Republican
or Democrat. Believing that the law was
evil in its effect and an unwise restraint on the
Executive, he was for its total repeal but was
willing TO provide that the President should not
nominate person who had been once rejected,
and that he should send TO the Senate for con-
frmatlon within ten days after the meeting of
Congress all appointments made during recess.
These things a good President would observe,
aud q bad President should be made to observe
them. General Grant had the onddence OF the
country, and the country expected us to trust
him. johnson was 1mpeached, and, he thought,
rightly, not because he violated good or bad
law, but because he violated law which was
on the statute book and in force.
Senator Sherman made few brief remarks
protesting against further dallying with the
subject, and calling for a decisive expression on
one side or the other. 1t was a shame, be
thought, to keep General Grant standing in the
White House for ovee two weeks with his hands
tull OF nominations and unable to send in
solitary one of any Importance, with this use.
less and obnoxious law blocking up the way.
Senator Morton declared himself entirely op-
posed to the caucus being held tor the purpose
designed. This was no time to be coming
together in secret, and binding men to vote
certain way when some OF these same men may
have already committed themselves IN open
session TO contrary line OF action. He thought
it no more nor less than an outrage on the in-
dependence of Senator's and he Indignantly
repudiated the right OF any caucus to bind him.
Senator Grimes supported the same view of the
case, and so did Senator Sprague.
Senator Edmunds said If gentlemen held such
an opinion of the caucus they ought to With
Senator Crimes replied that he certainly had
no disposition 10 stay. He attended before GU
call of Senator Conklng some weeks ago, aud
found nothing bat empty wrangling over the
same question that brought them together to-
". lb
Senator Couklng ostentatouslY announced
was to settle finally and forever the Tenure-ot-
Office law.
Senator Conkling disclaimed having made so
sanguine astatement.
Senator Crimes continued that as he had
already, some twelve months ago, given very
emphatic exuression OF his opinion In regard to
the Civil Tenure law, no caucus resolution
could at this late hour alter his convictions.
Here the three Standardization, Grimes, and
npragUe- Quilted the caucus in evident disgust.
Senator Morrill,, of Vermont, twitted the
members who voted for impeachment on the
change of position between themselves and the
antisim peachment Senators. Last year the
famous and unfortunate seven were thrown
into limbo but since then they have not only
come out OF 1t but pnt those In who consigned
them there. The anti-impeachers, after all,
ad ifeir revenge as ample as men ever had 1t.
AT this stage the caucus adjourned till two
O'Clock in the afternoon. At that hour II reas-
sembled, and Senator Morton proceeded to
make speech against the proprety OF calling
q caucus to decide question which had already
been under debate tor over a week, and upon
which he and other Senators b had spoken very
definitely in open session. He was afraid this
precedent would be found TO be extremely dan
gerous and calculated TO provoke dissension, il
not division, IN the patty. lie was as anxious
for harmony as any man. but he was unable IN
repress his disgust with the style of proceedinq
some Senators thought fit to adopt to carry Their
object He would remind them that this action
would undergo a sort of criticism anything bui
agreeable to honorable Senaters.
Senator Edmunds interrupted, and said ht
was unable 10 comprehend the motive OF al
this excitement. The remedy for the Senator
was easy. He could quit the caucus II hs
wanted to, and take away good deal OF troubl,
with him,