The New York herald., 1869-03-20
THE TENURE OF OFFICE ACT.

The Tenure OF Once act should be repealed; sus-
where compromlse is not needed. with the outgo-
ing OF Andrew Johnson the necessity Tor the act mas
passed away. The United States have been punished
1t Is impossible that the nation can be twice SO afct-
ed The hands Of the new administration should not
be tied. During the war General Grant showed that
he knew how to place the right man in the right
place. No general OF his selection ever failed OF
doing well the work assigned to him. The selections
of the President for oficers OF the civil government
will be made with the same care OF fitness Tor the
place. The appointments already made show this
The retaining this law Is Objectionable In many
ways The refusal of the Senate to repeal 1t alter
the almost unanimous action OF the House can
wishing to trammel the hands q the administration
at the 0utstar.; II shifts the responsibility from the
Executive to the Senate; the anairs oI tne gov
proper officers to carry out the plans OF admlnStra-
tive reforms Is ready and unanswerable excuse In
case OF a difference OF opinion between the Executive
and the Senate as to an appointment the appointee
OF Mr.. johnson will remain. This will raise up
arrogant or position and responsible to no one. The
Senate will also be under the charge OF favortism;
that they are actuated by desire to retain the hold
on patronage for the benefit Of their personal friends.
In view OF the many objections against theract. and
the very few arguments IN its favor the repeal seems
most desirable. At the present time there much me-
cessity OF strong and economical government; that
the whole direction or affairs should be placed In
the hands OF the Executive, he should be MADE to
assume the whole responsibility. From this respon-
sibity general Grant will not shrink, nor does he
wish to share II with any man or body OF men,. In
his hands the government Is to be administered for
the beneiJ OF the country, and not for individuals.
Give to him the proper means. and the record OF the
General brilliant as 1t Is, VIII pale beside that OF the
civillan.
[From the Cincinnati Gazette rep.), March 1871
We believe the House OF Representatives, In
repeating, by an overwhelming majority, the Tenure
OF Oiice law fairly expressed the sentiments OF the
people. II we had unreasonably favored the law
when II was enacted that would not prevent us from
has proved failure. II was intended to
prevent Johnson from filing offices. with
tK.... ata4.f tch nnaf tuf Sls.l
not Tie business OF the government could not have
suffered TO any greater extent If Johnson had been
able To do lie pleased IL Is not surprising that SEN
ators should desire 10 continue the law Senators are
but men, and men do not often willingly relinquish
power.
But Grants policy in regard TO the administration
Of the government Is honesty and economy In this
line tue people expect much Of him. Without
honest men IN all the important offices he cannot
succeed and unless he shall be free to remove at
pleasure he not be fairly held responsible for the
We have already learned that Grant does not hes-
tate TO change HIS purpose in regard to appoint
ments, for causes satisfactory to himself. This, II
lie would succeed in the work Of reform, he must
be free to DO IN all cases. ONCE nolders,tn they
know nat thsr OF 0Se g depends soey
feel that the Senate stood between them
and the guillotlne. Let Grant be free remove at
pleasure ard then the country viii know who to
mold responsible for the work that is to be done.
up between the President and the Senate. We be-
leve the country would have gained, even under
Johnson, III the tenure OF OlLce law nad not Oeen
passed. The people are willing TO trust Grant. In
the business OF purging the government OF corrup-
ton he VIII do better without than with the aid Of
the Senate.
From the Chicago Tribune (quasl-Grant organ,
March Ill
We edono OF course, believe that they the Senate OF
the United StatesI intended deliberately TO insult Pres
ident Grant but unfortunately their proposal, II we
rightly interpret IT, bears that construction, and for
that reason, II for no other should never have been
made Senator Trumbull, we observe, In speech
yesterday favored the unconditional repeal OF the
act. We infer. therefore, that IN reporting the
e Sa 30 ong oacay as s ebarnan
but that lie agrees with that such a
method Of dealing with the matter is hardly respect
| iul 10 President Grant We little surprised.
moreover, that committee Of the Senate should
think II wise, Just now TO provoke any further dis
cussi0l upon this subject Underlying the whole
question IS an assumption, on their part that they
are peculiarly qualified TO st In Judgment upon all
executive removals, and that the power to control
them cannot properly be entrusted anywhere but In
that august and dIgniled body Modesty at least II
nothing else, should teach them that the moment Is
not favorable one for them To provoke exaInn-
alton OF tina; assumption.
From the Washington Intelligenccr (spos organ,
March l9J
We have desire 10 see the President embar-.
rassed by bad law, although It was passed by his
own party for sinister purposes and II he
VIII only SPEAK out ne VIII get his wishes accom-
hunters who now Infcst this CITY, Is there anybody
who doubts that Jefferson, Jackson or Polk would
have sent In message TO Congress asking repeal
and giving good reasons for itr
IL Is noteworthy tnat the question now ceases to
be one OF the relative powers or the President and
Senat., whether this law works to protect
good officers TO the operations Of the wns-
Key thieves: whether even II was q mere party
eXpedient and trick, which, having served the pur-
poses OF its authors, ought now to he abandoned
IRON respect to the public w All these fair
topics OF inquiry and discussion but the decision il
To no on. Il seems, on an lssne less reputable, and
denotlg merely the greed and rapacty OF the party
In power. The decision ~ TO turn on the question
OF feeding the hungry oficcseekers and expeng