Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-03-08

Senate, l am free to say that l think
there ia great need there and large op-
portunity there for any man governed
solely BY principles. A Senator should
have profound convictions OF his own,
aud unbending moral and physical
courage. too, to maintain them. For
such men there ia crying necessity IN
the Senate, and such men could not
only in time bring back the sway Of the
constitution, but would make their mark
as benefactors of the country upon the
history of the future In many respects
think that Senator of the United
States has the highest opportunities OF
any officer in our government, for while
in sense he represents State, III
larger and better sense he represe its
the country as whole. By his longer
tenure of office he survives the petty,
stormy issues which bennially change
the House, TO a degree, and by
his more expanded representation
he can and should rise to the
plane of craftsmanship end tolerasce.
When remember my first entrance into
| Congress, / recall as contemporaries
Clay, Webster, Wright, Calhoun, Benton,
Douglas, Clayton and Hayne; and such
men as being yet above even the average
of their times, yet raised by attraction
that average to near level with them
selves. / think that 1t is more than q
coincidence that the evils which afh ict
this country have dated from and have
continued along with the deterioration OF
the character of Congress, individually
and collectively considered. Small men
brought on great evils and great evils
have continued small men. The dawn
of better times will be signalized by the
advent of better men.
Correspondent-"M Mr.. President, have
you heard what Wilson really said in the
caucus of Radical Senators the other
day
The President" No, sir. Whatf"
Correspondeut-"H said that be
thought it unwise to consider the Tenure
of-Offce bill this session, because, though
persuaded that it would be repealed if
brought to vote, and though convinced
that you would sign the repeal, he yet
thought that along with your approval
you would send in message which would |
rasp Congress more than it would be able
TO bear at the present time"
The President" That's just like VIII |
son. He has not enough sense to tell q
thing in words which do not give his party |
opponents handle. The other day be |
blurted out that be was against submit
ting the suffrage amendment to State
conventions instead of existing Legisla-
lures, because conventions would have
to be voted for, and if folks had a chance
to vote on the amendment, it would be
lost. This confession ought to be suffi-
cient 10 kill the amendment though if it
kill even Wilson it will be wonder.
However, neither he nor any one else
need fear / would send in anything but
nv name at the bottom of bill repeating
the Tenure of-Ofiice law vetoed that
bill, and, of course, | would approve its
repeal, to be consistent, as have been
consistent all through. Nevertheless, if,
instead of repeal, Congress should send
me bill modifying the Civil-Tenure law,
or even mitigating it, would not approve
of il, as | am against the whole principle
of the act, believing it to be uncoBstitu-
tional." |
Correspondent Mr.. johnson, the
Senate will not touch the civil tenure law,
10 my Judgment, till General Grant shows
his hand, and not then if he displays the
least sign of independence. As things
stand, and as they tend, it is improbable
that the Senate will relisquish single
feature of the lay, for the Senate fears
and does not trust your successor"
The President-"I have noticed, sir,
that you have made much of the question
in the World. Il was right The whole
of the administration hinges upon il.
tits the one thing which prevents Pres
ident from being President except in
name. All the corruption of the service
is owing TO the existence OF this law.
II would be useless to suspend men and
have their friends and supporters 10 the
Senate pass upon their cases Besides,
corrupt officials cover up their tracks so
as 20 make it impossible directly to prove
their guilt in evidence, however strong
the moral convictions or suspicious you
entertain of their guilt. Then, too, there
are hundreds of officials who, without
being corrupt, are inefficient. Ineficiency
is a matter Of Judgment, not evidence,
in most cases, and charges based upon
such allegations, however clear TO an ex-
ecutive, are hard to communicate to such
G number of men as constitute Senate.
Above all, the Tenurerof-Q bill makes
suspension disgrace 10 a man, whereas,
before, removal was no disgrace. Re-
moval, too, or the apprehension Of II, is
the beat weapon an executive has to in
sure honast administrators let an off,
cial only know that the President eau
remove him without notice, and that op
crates more powerfully to keep him in
good behavior than all the bonds be
could have subscribed 10 his favor, My
experience here h. s convinced me Of this
that no President can administer the
government IS it ought TO be admins
tered with such a law upon him. My
very literal compliance with it has de-
Gensirated its inefficieDcy. No man who
cones after ne can get along with it.
General Grapps denanig for its repeal
shows that he understands this, and thp
exertions which his friends make for its
repeal sAow that they understand it.
They vindcate my veto OF tho lay and
my protests against it, and they acknowl-
edge their mistake in passing 1t. For
my part / would be glad to see that mis-
take sscti6ed. To be sure the repeal OF
the law would 40 ne no good now, but as
a patriotic man, desirots Of beylng an
honest civil service, ] would be glad to
see tins lsy wiped out of the statute
book"
Correspoadent-="Mr President, don't
yon think il General Grant inheriis oil
the burdens ppi upon yo1, that from
your knovledgs Of bis character there
would be trouble"
The President" Neither Gen. Grant