North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-02-24
VOLUME XIII---N0. %

| VOLUME XIII---NO.
The "spoils.~i
The scene Of disgrsceful turbulence which
characterized, last Wednesday, the count,
ing Of the electoral votes in Washington,
in the "presence Of the Senate and House
Of Representatives" is not without it,
moral. Apart frsm all discussion of thu
concurrent resolution" its character and
effect, rejecting mind may see in the
angry dispute which then arose and wal
80 energetically followed up the next day
by Messrs. Butler, Bingham, Colfax, and
others, that the two Houses of Congress
are no longer a practical unit in their
views of the philosophy of partisan gov
ernment. It is clear that the House Of
Representatives regards the Senate as dis.
posed to usurp the whole functions of gov.
ernment; and it looks as if the House,
while not objecting to such usurpation
per Sc, is violently opposed to any usurpa.
tion in the profits of which it cannot enjoy
an ample share.
The common saying tells US; "When
rogues fall out honest men get their own -
May not this quarrel, therefore, between
the two branches of Legislation, ultimately
advance the general welfare? May not
Providence, in it's wisdom, have decreed
that these two Houses, which have so long
and 90 defantly overawed the Supreme
Court, trampled on the executive authori-
ty, laughed the federal constitution to
scorn o. an ''obsolete idea," monopolised
the purse and the sword, and dictated the
course Of the country entirely by party
rules and party necessities--may not Pro-
violence have decreed this quarrel over ''the
spoils' between the two grand conspira-
tors against q constitutional administra-
ton of the government, in order to afford
the incoming administration righteous
opportunity to do it's patriotism justice?
Few people will deny that the federal
government, as at present administered
by Congress alone, for Congress monopo-
lises the supreme authority now, is a
reeking mass of corruption. With i've or
six hundred millions of dollars year to
be manipulated by an army of ofice-hold-
ers chiefly selected on the score of party
services, cupdity has so completely got
the better of all nobler impulses, that
popular opinion finds it difficult to recog-
Mise official integrity except in rare and
isolated instances. This ieplorable state
of things most men are satisfied can be
corrected by General Grant soon after his
inauguration as President of the United
States, provided he can have the power
provided he can be placed in possession Of
that authority which is bestowed by the
Constitution but seI6shly withheld from
the executive Office by act of Congress-.
The unconstitutional Tenure-Of-O Office
law, which robs the President of all capa-
city to dismiss rogues from Office, stands,
we all know, in the way Of any occupant
of the White House who may be disposed
to contemplate his inauguration oath as
more than an unmeaning cere-
money, and may be anxious to administer
the government on honest and economical
principles. This mischievous law the
House Of Representatives has finally con.
sented to repeal. but the Senate has not.
The House has concluded to put faith in
General Grant, and to waive its share Of
the ''spoils Of Office in order to invest the
new Hercules with the means of cleansing
the Augean stable. But, having done
this, the House is indignant because the
Senate will not make the same sacrifice on
the altar of public good. The Senate re-
fuses to surrender the "thieves in Office
to the tender mercies OF a man, like Gen.
eral Grant, pledged to reduce taxation by
The advocacy of every species of retrench-
lnent, and avowedly hostile to every phase
If official depravity and official extrava-
sance.
Senator Sumner has said, we find it
stated, that 1.-THE Senate is the govern
ment." Other Senators have substantially
tha same opinion. Hitherto,
The Senate has, however, permitted the
House of Representatives to aid it in
running the government machine"
Now, the Senate proposes, as far as the
seventy thousand federal Office. holders are
to run that machine" alone.
1t viii, not restore to the Presidential Office
its constitutional rights in the premises,
and it snubs the pretensiOns of the House.
This is the real basis of the existing con-
flict between the two Houses. Can it be |
:ailed one that any patriotic mind, aside |
from all partisan feeling, may note with
Indifference? We think not.
However, as republicans or democrats,
we may .avor particular men and oppose |
particular measures, we are all Americans, |
We ali seek the prosperity of our common
country. We all believe in that which |
advances the strength, the good name, the
glory. the dignity, and the perpetuity of
the American Union. The simple question
IN all our minds, then, is this: Is the
course of the United States Senate correct |
IN thus throwing the @gis Of its protection
around the rings" winch it is admitted
rob the national treasury OF ut least a
hundred millions of dollars u year? Can
it be justified under General Grant, (be>
.ause apparently justified under Johnson
IN arrogating TO itself the functions of the |
federal executive? Are we not, one and
Ill, sick to inetiahie disgust of the demo
we have witnessed under this |
anomalous rule of Congress? Or are we
20 much in love with It's debasing aspect
and influences as to prefer, for its sake, to
emascuiate. in advance, the administration |
IF General Grant of all its capacity to re-
store to us happy and peaceful coun- J
try p Chicago Times.
JoHN RANpoLPH.-Randolph was in
lavern. leaning on a sofa in the parlor, wait,
ng for the stage to come to the door. A
landitied chap stepping into the room,
with whip in his hand. Just came from !