The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-24

FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
The Tenure-oE-Omce Act - Butler and
Schenck- When Thieves Fan Out
Omce-soeIkers and General Gfant-The
Mission to Mexico.
The Washington correspondent Of the Balti-
more Gazette writes under date Of the 21st
instant: 4@
At the risk OF being considered prolix, it is
necessary again to refer to the Tenure-of-
Office act. 1t is the topic, excluding all others,
discussed in political circles here to-day. Some
Conservatives deem it best. even in O party
sense, to get rid Of the law altogether re-
peal at once-supposing it out Of the question
for the Radical party to have the efrontery to
offer to re-enaot it in case Of their Toss of the
executive three years hence Vain hope
The Senate is sure to be then Radical; Grant
will be OF that time in Office and cutie al Will
ing to favor it's re-enactment as hs,was to push
through ths original bill, and eeandestineIy
enferoe it's provisions (as In the ease of Stan
toni BY hook and by crook the Radicals may
also have majority in the House. u Upon this
particular point The Washington Sunday Her
aid contains short article this morning, which
append. The Herald is an appendage Of the
Intelligencer, and the article was written by
change has taken place in regard DO this mat
ter in. the minds of prominent Conservatives
here during the past twenty-four hoursl
lam fully aware that Conservative senator's
look upon the law as it stands AS unconstitu-
tional, and if they votea all would dprobably as
yet vote for a direct proposition "a repeal it.
1t Is suggested, however, that the decision of
the Senate. as eomprehended in its repeal,
will In no wise Affect the constitutional ques-
ton. That the gist Of the matter. lies in the
fact that the whole question is q judicial one,
and not to be settled, one way or the other, by
Congress. No President untrammelled BY
Radical and revolutionary Influences would
regard it for an instant as binding upon him.
One way for Grant to rid himself Of his fetters
is to appeal to the courts: When the people
shall have returned to their seiises, not only
this law, but the series Of :" Isconstruction
cal acts of Congress passed during the last
eight years, will be swept out Of existence as SO
many cobwebs, or pass out OF operation into
instantaneous IN and quiet nonentity. as not wor-
Mr.. Jefferson totally ignored the very being of
alien and sedition acts. It is now reduced to a
certainty that il the Tenure-of-offiee act is re-
pealed, 1t will be done by Conservative votes.
before intermeddling in this matter. There is
no principle involved in the action Of the Sen
ate at ALL tor the plain reason that it will settle
nothing, and manifestly cannot settle anything.
be the vote for or against the continuance Of
the law.
A few days ago the busy Butler promised to
expose Schenck's sims aud OUTS" am told
that his revelations will be deleetable. Unlike
the Irishman's wife who felt aninterest in the
tussle between her husband and the bear, I
cannot help taking sides in all great squabbies
OF this kind. In the present emerg enoy r am
on the bears side (that is, the Beastsl, and
hope no weak-kneed Conservative newspaper
will vociferously endeavor to gat up q sympa-
''hands off," "fair trial, and such like neutral
stuff. General Butler, let me feil all such peo-
PIE; is no political hermaphrodste, and having
gencer remarks, sin telegraph offices and at
banks. it is supposed that his threats OF expo-
sure Of rotten public men have basis other
than idle gossip. Butler evidently intends to
turn 'sinformer" on o gigantic scale. .M
The ofi1ce-seekers here are put to their
trumps for terms Of aduIation Of the new Pres
ident. Witness ON anectote told by the Ch1on-
lcle seene,-a train about to start from Alex
andsa sonthcaEs t time lss4a lsdy and
.Grent 10 especial car" solus, smoking cigar
the outsiders are invited In: Jenkins-
without q moments deIay however, Grant
flung out. and thus sacrificed two-thirds Of his
Designio on the altar OF politensss Remen-
ber this was his special oar, that smoking was
allowed on that and every other military road;
that Grant was then practically monarch OF
al he surveyed and had right royal liking
for o good Cigar yet in this little incident:the
gentleman spontaneously breaks out in the
conqueror." '> Ig ,-49
Your readers will doubtless be surprised to
learn M that George Wilkes, the great umpire Of
the sporting Ring will probsbly be our Min
as follows: ~
1T is generally believed that the Mexican
mission hos been rendered or will be rendered
to Major General Daniel E. Sickles. Should
he decline the mission strong effort will be
made TO induce the appointment OF George
Wilkes, ESQ.,, Of the New York Spirit of the
Times.'' x.
t'H = ~
From the Washington Herald of the 2lst instant ]
The Radical senators that propose, upon
Executive men zee to repeal the Tenure-of-
Office act. do so, not upon considerations OF
principle or Difference to law or Just policy or
from contrition for the perpetratIon Of great
wrong. With them the point is simply one Of
party convenience in the respect Of friends that
should be rewarded and enemies that shccia
be punished. Aud the enemies are not Demo-
cra.s. for Mr. johnson declined for a long
period back to appoint snch, because they
could NOT bs confirmed. They are Republic
fallen short, in the estimate Of the fiery dra-
gon OF Yanatical rage and hate, Of the full
measure ofs seething hot partisanship.
In this aspect Of the case, the issue is not
one Of repeating the law for the purpose Of car
the spols," but rather, as WAS once expressed
by Governor Marcy, "pillaging their own
camp" It is an intestine family war.
: Therefore, we ask, should Conservative or
issue. upon no consideration OF principle, by
the Radical senator's. who desire to propltiate
Executive regard or favor, but simply for the
purpose OF enecting feathering Of their own
Republican party? So considered, why may
not the latter settle the thing among them
selves ~ ~
Suppose the law repealed by the votes OF
tialeleotion should result in the election Of q
Democrat would not both the SenAt0 and