The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-03-27
". J. Editor and proprioto,
THE CIVIL TENURE ACT,

Our views oil TINS law have been explicitly
stated In these columns, and we have reason
TO Know that they are consonant with the
opinions Of n very large majority Of the peo-
pie. That the people want this law uncon-
ditionnlly repealed does not admit Of doubt.
All argument In this connection to make this
fact palmer than 1t now Is would be super.
nuous, and We will therefore expend no
words in proof of what Is clearly admitted.
The Senate bill puts the question Of office
before the country In au entirely now phase.
IL gives the President power to suspend off,
Gals during the recess Of the Senate and
until the end Of its next session, and also to
I'LL the places temporarily; and he must send
the names of the successors to tho sus-
pended officers within thirty days amer the
opening Of the session. The Senate can re-
fuse TO confirm; and, moreover, il can also
refuse its assent to the Suspensions; and in
such cases the Offices revert at once to the
suspended officials. We cannot sec why this
hill of the Senate, If II become a law. docs
not In effect take away tho power of removal
from the President. To be sure, he eau sus.
pend the officials, but for brief period only.
The control Is with the Senate.
We cannot advocate any such proposition
as this If we did not believe In the uncon-
dition0u repeal, as demanded by the people
and ~ due to the President, that he NAV be
thoroughly clothed with that power which
the Constitution CUufcrs upon him, We might
possibly advocate the retaining of the law a.
1t Isl but to 20 for this Senate proposition
we cannot, GOrtLc simple reason that in our
Judgment ii takes from the President a
clearly defined constitutional prcrogatiyc.
We do not take any stock in the dis
patches which hIy- been sent abroad, that
tho President Is satisfied with the Senate
proposition, aud therefore VIC say let the
House reject 1t. The Senate may be nm
gracious. 1t Is in the habit Of manifestlpr
this quality towards the House at times. In
this matter the House Is backed by the coun-
try Let II therefore stand firm for the re-
peal of the existing law, and We guess that
at no distant day the Senate will Weld. II
may not do it gracefully, but it will do ii.
1t cannot maintain It's present position
against the people, tho House Of Representa-
ty cs, and the President for any considerable
time.
With this civil tenure act repealed. the
Senate does not and cannot lose It's power
and control over combinations. We do NOT
propose to shacklc the Senate, We only wish
to have the shacklcs removed from the PrcsI-
dent. Let him he free in the exercise of all
those powers and functions which the Con
stitutlon cOnfcrs, as was every President
from Washington to Andrew johnson. 1t
was this accidental President that Congress
was called upon to shackle. Whether wisely
or unwisely, 1t was done. Don't let us fear
to confess the deed, for II was demanded and
Is excused by the urgent necessities of the
case.
We do not confess nor argue that the civil
tenure law is unconstitutional. We simply
say that II Is not needed. With a Chief Maris-
tratG like General Grant, il is no more re-
quired than 1t would have been with Wash
ington. This Ia conceded; hut 1t is said We
may have q President when We shall need
1t. Our reply to this is. that sufficient unto
the day Is the evil thereof" II the time has
come when 1t is necessary to place the dis
posal OF Government patronage in the hands
OF both the Senate and the President, on the
basis of the civil tenure act, then let 1t be
written In the Constitution, and placed there
by regular process, and he made so clear that
none can doubt.
We again say, let the House stand firm.
remembering that it is backed by the country.
Since the above was written, the House
has voted to non-conCur In the Senate
amendment, SO there will probably be
committee Of conference.