The New York herald., 1869-03-29
TME TENURE OF OFFICE LAW.

WASHINGTON, March %, 1862.
II .his session OF The Forty-nrst Congress should
be extended month longer than the legitimate
business OF legislation requires 1t win be all owing
to the perverse action of the senate in relation to the
Civil Tenure law. We have already had sufficient
evidence Of the disposition which prevails in the
Senate TO subordinate every other question to the
maintenance OF their power over Executive appoint
ments TO Office, and having gained this object in their
own body as fully as could be desired by the
most ardent advocates OF the law, they win
hardly recede altogether from the position they
have assumed at the renewed bidding OF the
House OF Representatives. Yet II IL far to assume
the latter will maintain the attitude In which they
placed themselves yesterday evening, OF non-con-
curronce In the Senate bill or amendment, and
conflict between the two branches Of the Legisla-
ture is therefore contingency not unlikely to occur
The temper OF the repealers in the House has been
sorely tried by the conduct OF the Senate. The
secret of the vote recorded yesterday in favor
OF the Senate bill was an impression many
members received that General Grant would be
satisfied with modification Of the law II
total repeal could not be conveniently accom-
plsned. There was likewise q disposition felt
by snch men as Bingham, Schenck, Farnsworth and
sss sa to ayGd an apple Of ascSra
can party. There was a third motive which OF late
appears to be growing In tnnuence-namely an aver
sion to be controlled and handled by Ben Butler
aud perhaps fourth cause might be assigned In the
reluctance OF members to enduring the delay and
annoyance which rejection OF tho bill Is sure to en-
tai II Is pretty quarrel as 1t stands and affords
Intense comfort TO the democratic iookers.o on who
with the traditional instinct OF human nature.
feel entire compaccncy at falling out among
Toes. IL may be safely asserted that Grant
i anything but satisfied with the amended
form OF the Civil Tenure bill True, 1t relieves him
ffon the necessity OF having to give his for
every removal; but IL fails to relieve him from the
uncertainty OF having his appointments rendered
secure and decisive ON the whole the amended
shape OF tne bl ls regarded on all hands, save by
the senators who supported It. as even worse forin
than the original, as saves the Senate The trouble
OF investigating charges against suspended officials
ana permits them the option OF restoring their friends
against the VIII OF the President and without being
hampered by damaging exposures The old bill in
tnis particular was or much more cOinmcndalo
chaFeeter. IL Imposed OH the Senate the duty OF
lnvestlgatIng charges or corruption against sus-
pended oihcehodefs, and II these turned out 10 be
0l nagrnnt nature the reputation of the senate
was directly involved by the action II might take I'm
the premises This risk s now avoided aud the mos,
consumma'e scoundre, " he have friends enough In
the senate can maintain himself ia ON &c 10 the end
OF ms term without ever epprehendng an oflcial
exposure OF MS character. MANY members
OF the House failed TO understand exactly the
skilIul sheratlon witch the adopts IN legal
gave TO the bill, and voted under tho i'm.
preston that, as the first and second soc
tions were stricken ont, there was little
harm 10 what was leit. Even the astute Morton
overooked the nature OF the manipulation and
seemed TO take II for granted that the bill was
emasculaied to o shadow by the extraction of the
nrst two sections. Now, however, that IL has been
pulled mp suddenly IN the House, q spirit OF more
exact inquiry has been aroused and the sinister de.
sign Of the Senate will undergo more rigid scrutiny
than has hitherto been accorded H. Tho debate on
Friday 10 the House was remarkable one In many
respects Ben Butler, as usual when any auestion
of importMge before the BODY stood Vu -