Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-03-26
The Tenure Of Omee Act.

The bill to repeal the Tenure of Office act wa:
taken up The Secretary read the bill, with thu
amendment reported by the Judiciary Committee
suspending the act until the next session of Con-
gress. Mr.. Trumbul (Rep. III advocated the
bill, Mr.. Thurman Dem, Ohio) favored the bill
as passed by the House. This was Mr.. Thur
mans first speech on the floor of the Senate. Mr.
Morton (Rep., Ind. advocated the repeal Of the
act
Mr. Yates (Rep. of Ill., was determined to
give to the present administration his hearty
support until he should see some good reason to
withdraw it. This Tenure of Office act was an
obstacle il the way of the President and an in
cumbrance upon him in reforming the public
service
Mr.. Edmunds called the attention of Mr. Yates
to legal opinion, which he read from a book,
to the effect that the claim that the President
could create vacancies in public offices without
the advice and consent of the Senate was absurd.
Mr.. Yates could not agree with that opinion.
Mr.. Edmunds said that what he had read was
the opinion of one Of the judges in the impeach-
ment trial-Senator Yates, of Illinois. (Laugh-
teri
Mr.. Yates insisted that all that he had said
upon that occasion was good law daughter
He did not now, however, propose to 90 into the
question of law He had voted for the impeach-
ment of President Johnson, and, under the same
circumstances. he would vote so again and if
President Grant should at any time 60 back on
his party or on the principles on which he was
elected, he Yates would be the first to der ounce
him The present President had indicated his
right to the peoples confidence on a thousand
battle fields and although he (Alr Yates was
not one Of his tlyorites. yet he was anxious that
the President should have air chance.
Mr. Fesseuden, (Rep.) Of Ne. sad that he
would vote for the repeal Of the law. He had
opposed the law from the first and had foreseen
and foretold that its operations would do more
. evil than good. lie had not opposed the law be-
. cause he thought it unconstitutional lie thought
that the Senate had already sufficient cheek on
the action Of the President in the power to with
hold its assent from his nominations He had
been unable to support this law at the time Of its
. enactment, because, although it seemed to be de
I mande1 for that particular occasion, be had ne
yer been in the habit of framing his legislation
for particular occasions.
The great evil which had attended the opera
tou of the law was that il bad transferred sub
stantn.ly the power Of appointment to office
from the Executive to the members Of the House
Of Representatives. This transfer, be thought,
had been attended with very bad results his
vote would not Doe given for repeal ou the ground
that TO vote Otherwise would Indicate "a want of
confidence IN the President q did not think
1t necessary or dign'hei TO be continually au-
nolucug the confidence Of the people and of
Congress in the President. The people had bat
recently elected and 1t was 10 be presumed that
they had confidence i'm him. He thought it was
not necessary or ia good taste go ue continually
slaveriug the President with praise and taiking
ABOUT his battles and victories. General Grant
ha ceased to Doe General and had become rre-i-
den Of the United States. and was likely to have
hard tim. Of it. (Lau-htcr.) lie Mr. Fes-
-euieul expected to stand by the President, 20
approve ot his official c0uduc, that seemed 20
him good, as be expected most Of it would be,
and excuse all that was mistaken; and the Pre-
ldeut would he more than mortal il be dj not
make some mistakes lie would vote for the re-
peal Vi ibis law only because IL was "a bad one,
and not with regard to its e..e upon any person
. or persons.