The New York herald., 1869-01-20

Offices, as they have held Johnson, under the
thumb OF the Senate. Now, this Tenure of
Office law is a new thing in party strategy and
tactics Many other new things in the expansion
of the powers Of Congress have resulted from
the late rebellion; but we have had none so
broadly and deeply cutting away the authority
exercised by every President from Washing
ton down to Johnson over his executive
subordinates as this Tenure of Office law. This
law was passed, in the late demoralizing and
costly struggle between ''the King and the
Commons" as a measure OF party safety
against the terrible Johnson. With Grant in
the place of Johnson, then, the question re-
ours, What is the object of the Jacobins in the
continuance of this law?
We may fairly assume that there are two
purposes in view-the protection Of the whis-
key rings and other olfice-holding leagues of
Treasury robbers, and the retention. to make
all sure, of wholesome party check in the
Senate upon the President in the general
division of the spoils and plumber. The de-
fence set up for President johnson concerning
the stupendous spoliations upon the Treasury
through frauds upon the revenue under his ad-
ministration is that the ofice-holdipg conspira-
tors in these frauds could not be reached by
him, protected as they have heen and are by this
Tenure Of Office law. Nor can it be denied
that there is too much truth in this defence to
Justify the continuance of this law as proposed
by Senator Wilson. Let the tree be judged
by its fruits. But why, on the other hand,
should there not be in the Senate a movement
to retain this law, when it is backed by
lobby rings whose pickings and perquisites
from the leaks of the Treasury run up to the
handsome figure of one hundred millions
year upon the single item Of whiskey? What
hope, under this law, is there for General
Grants sweeping ideas of retranchment and
reform, with such enormous resources Of active
capital against him?
Next, in regard to the retention Of the check
upon the President for the protection Of the
Office. holders in the absence Of the Senate,
the reason for it may lie in the fact that the
Vice President (Colfax), who will be President
of the Senate, will be more reliable radical
in this business Of parcelling out the spoils
than President Grant. Hence, no doubt, this
shrewd device of Wilson of making Colfax in
this business, as the head of the Senate and of
the radical faction, the real master of the situ-
alton. As one of the original supporters of
Grant for the Presidency while Chase was still
regarded as the embodiment Of radicalism,
Wilson, probably, has been put forward
In the defence of this oflice-holders' pro-
lection law in order to deceive Grant.
But whether considered in regard to faithless
Treasury despoiling oaice-holders or in refer
ence to safety check in the Senate upon
General Grant, this scheme of Wilson involves
an insulting distrust of the President cleo. that
has no precedent in the ups and downs of any
party in this country from l776 to this day.
Looking from Wilson to the league of Jaco-
bins behind him we apprehend that even the
passage of the half way bin which he proposes
is not contemplated, but that it is merely
designed as decoy. We apprehend that the
object is, by parliamentary tactics and delay,
to carry the Tenure of Office law through
to the 4th of March untouched, so
that the radical managers on the
incoming Presidents inaugural may be able
to deal with him as he may show his hand.
But has he not already shown his hand? The
Chicago platform of May last is the latest
official creed of the republican party. Among
other things it approves and upholds the re-
construction policy Of Congress, deplores the
death Of Lincoln, denounces Johnson as
usurper, who has corruptly resisted the au-
thority of Congress and perverted the public
patronage into an engine Of wholesale corrup-
ton, and justiies his impeachment. These
were the extreme tests of the party faith. Put
to General Grant he approved the proceedings
of the Convention, and said, in his letter Of ac-
ceptance 60 endorse their resolutions
What more do they want? In the face of this
endorsement of their paper is not this bit of
humbug of Wilson, this development of
design to hold Grant bound hand and foot, as
they have held Johnson, an outrageous insult
to General Grant as a man and a soldier,
whose word has been enough to the American
people?
We call upon the conservative men of both
parties in Congress, who honestly desire
retrenchment and reform, to apply themselves
to the task of bringing this Tenure Of Office
law to direct vote in the Senate during this
Congress; for il it goes over to the next
there is every reason to fear that the formid-
able rings Of Treasury robbers under the wing
Of this law, will still levy their tolls on the
taxpayers to the extent Of at least hundred
millions year. The Jacobins OF the Senate
are fighting to gain time. Bring them to the
direct vote, as they were brought in the House,
sothat their real position may be known.
LIE Nrxx YnpLr Cr,rra CL.x,.r. Dxx-Ix.-,rx.