The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-27
GRANT AsD THE RADICAL SENATORS.

haste to vote away the power which is given
to it by the tenure-of-ofice law. Forty Radi-
cal members of the House voted against the re-
peal of the law, and in SO doing confessed
themselves to be forty congressional con-
federates of forty thousand Radical thieves,
who infest the internal revenue and other
branches of the civil service, and fatten of
the depleted treasury and the oppressed in
dustry OF the country. Moreover, by the
same course, they proclaim their want of con-
fidence in the partisan loyalty of Gen. Grant.
They fear that he will pursue an executive
policy inimical to the vital interests of their
party-that is to say, to the vast system of
corruption and proaigacy, spoliation and
knavery which is identical with the history
and synonymous with the continued ascend
ency of the party. But these considerations,
which were not strong enough in the House. to
prevent majority of Republicans from vot-
ing with all the Democrats for the repeal of
the law, are reinforced in the Senate by others
that appeal still more forcibly to the selfish
ness and ambition of the Republican sena-
tors. by the tenure-of-ofice law a majority
OF these senators may keep the entire admins
tration OF the government under their thumbs
by permitting none but their own minions to
| fill the offices.
1t is plain that, Individually or collectively,
they can make their own terms with Office
holding leagues, whisky rings, treasury rob-
bers, and the like, without mourning any spe-
cial responsibility or hazard AS most of
them, after the manner of Chandler, Came
ron, Morgan, have bought their seats, they
very naturally expect to draw profit from
the investments. Is it not preposterous, in
deed, to presume that senator who pays
roundly for his place will not sell his vote,
upon occasion, for price equivalent to rea-
sonable per cent upon cost? 1t would not
be more absurd to suppose that Spectator
would buy plantation for the purpose of
giving away its crops, OF house for the pur-
pose of giving away its rent. To the COM
mercial mind the notion is simply abhorrent-
positively unthinkable, in fact.
The great and peculiar interest which the
selfish and ambitious caucus of Radical sena-
tors have in the maintenance of the tenure-of-
office law, whose other name is the treasury
thieves protection law, is very evident, there
fore, to any one who will take the trouble to
examine its intents, tendencies, and actual
workings The Senate amendment to the
House bill repeating this law makes a pre-
tended concession which involves no relin-
qulshment of power over executive action
now held by this body. Should it be adopted,
Gen. Grant could make no removal, outside
OF his cabinet, without the concurrence of the
Senate, and his suspensions would last only
during the recess of that body. This is as
clearly an expression of distrust with respect
to Grant, as the passage of the original law |
was with respect to Johnson. The authors of |
the amendment in the Senate have no idea |
that it will be accepted by the House. Their |
object is to maintain the law until the 4th of |
March, so that Grant shall be compelled to
commence his administration under it. and so |
that the Radical caucus in the Senate may |
thereafter be able to deal with him accord |
ingly as his language and conduct may be |
subservient or contradictory to their views
and designs.
1t is plain, for the rest, that a crisis is rap |
idly approaching in the relations of the incom-
ing President to the Radical majority of the
Senate and to the Radical extremists and cor
ruptionists of the party that elected him. 1t |
must soon be decided whether he is to be |
President or a cipher. Should he effectually
assert the fullness of the presidential charac-
ter, as the tribunary representative and cham
pion of the whole people, that moment the
hour would strike for the dismay, confusion
and downfall of the present combination of
Radical conspirators and plunderers. But if
ne is not to be President in this sense-if he
is to sink into cipherhood under the shadow
of this combination, and into servile instru-
mentality to a senatorial caucus representing
it, then heaven help the country