The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-03-23
What Grant says About the Tenure-of-

what Grant Says About the Tenure-Of.
Office Act.
Dixon of the Boston Advertiser, excellent
authority, says that Cen. Grant in converse
ticn with several gentlemen recently express
seu himself substantially as follows
81 shall try to execute all the laws made by
Congress, and mean to be just as faithful IN
executing those l do not like as those 40
like. l should like to have the ure-of-omce
law repealed, for it stands in the way OF sever
al reforms we want to make, but II Congress
does not repeal it / shall execute IL .ne sanie
as if had signed it." One OF tne gentlemen
asked him if the law was CONSIDERED plndlng
when the Senate was in session, to which the
President is reported as answering: Certain
w there is nothing in it which says it shall be
in effect part of the year and not in effect
the other part. 1t does not say that office
holders may be removed at the pleasure of the
executive during the time Congress is in ses-
son while strong cause is required for their
suspension during the time Congress is not in
session. As citizen the law IS of no more
consequence to me than to any other person,
but as President it will prevent me from re-
moving many persons / think ought to be
removed. The President then mentioned by
name the head of one of the bureaus in Wash
lngton, and continued: 81 do not think he is
MT man for the place, and yet probably 1
could not make out case against him. If /
knew as much about his doings as he himself
does think 1 could, but as it is. if should
say to the Senate, Il believe he ought to be re-
moved, he and his friends-and he has a good
many-would begin directly to show why ne
ought not to be removed, and do not know
but the Senate would decide in his favor; L
have net anything in the world against MN
personally but am strong in the convictlon
that could put good deal better man In his
place, and i'll am TO be held responsible for
the conduct of that bureau L want man
whom know / can trust" There was some
further talk about this particular bureau, and
then one of the gentlemen present remarked
bureau in another department would be re-
moved. The President smiled and said: Well
now; only yesterday had some gentlemen
here who begged me to keep him in. 1 know
him well, and never heard but that he was a
good citizen; but 1 am convinced, that the
public interest would be benefited by putting
a man there who is not mixed up with things
of Mr.. Johnson's administration. Some peo-
pie say that he is honest and some say he is
not. l am inclined to think he is, but if I'M
dertake to put him out and put somebody else
in, he will rally against me all kinds of oppo-
sition. He and his friends would work
among the senators, and might convince
some of them that am very bad mani be-
cause do not think he is a very good man
| for the place he's got"
This remark caused some laughter, during
which the gentlemen rose to leave, one of
them asking, as he did so, if any nominations
would be sent in that day. Nothing of con-
sequence" said the President; "Pm going to
wait few days and see what Congress does.
If they repeal that law IN ready to make
good many nominations. If they don't repeal
it, we must 60 very carefully shall want to
make some changes, but if I'm liable to be
called in every case for charges and specifca-
tions and evidence, shall have to look over
the field thoroughly before begin.