The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-03-18


by no means compromised as yet by the
country at large
SCRAP OF LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
FOR seSents-eight years the government
was admlnstcred without the PRONUNCIATION
OF inc doctrinc that the senate have co.eqnal
power with tic PrcSii'nl In r''"o"i'J from
once The constitution aeeords that
eo-eluah'y 10 them IN the matter OF making
appointments to ONCE, but until 1867 1t was
not claimed that their consent was neccs-
lsary to create vacancies In offices.
WHY ruy rESuRE-oP-oPPIcg LAW WAS En-
ACTED.
Ipresume that not one man In q thousand
Is so Ignorant as not to know that II was
distrust Of Andrew Johnson--not the dis.
coyery Of new duty devolved BY the Con.
sttution on the scuate-that caused the en-.
actment of the tenurc-of-ofilce law. The
writer Of these letters was among those who
cordially approved the stretch Of the power
OF Congress to enact that law; recognizing
II as questionable whether, under the strict
letter Of tho Constitution. II was really law.
full to enact 1t. The idea that Il was dui.
of the SENATE TO pass on the President's re.
moyals, was not broachcd or even dreamed
OF in the enactment nr the law, at least nc
| Senator or Representative made that claim
/ during its consideration. Tho right to check
Andrew johnson In his mad career, h,
stretching the scnate's power was, In effect
| the only point made In the bills consldcrn
lion, so fnr as the question of tho authorit,
for passing the bill was concerned. It's Gu,
| actment was judged necessary for the ten.
porary safety of the State, for the public in,
terest. Heucc aud hence only It's passage.
usrESABLE PREMISES.
The main ground on which its contiu.
uance on the statutc-book Ia defcndod-that
Il Is the d,iy of tho Senate, under the Con.
stitution. to participate in making tho 70.
moyals "A well AS the appoiutments-wiu
carry no weight whatever with the country.
It will-more especially In view of the Judi.
elary Committce's offer to waive the dis.
charge of what they claim to be the sepote,s
duty. by way of n compromisc with tho
President. the House and tho co,,,,v
strILe tho nu,,Ic mind ,nos, ,,c,,or.,I,.
thcrc surcIv oyIsts M u,arrar, Il, ,ho r.,
s,i,r,io, rndor which tho sora,o o., 49,.
e"tu''oh uuuer "h'eh tue senate eah' law
luliy, waive tue aiseharge oil any duty thus
TUvo,n,r,vvx
This dch,,o Illustrates mos, ,oro,,,,. ,h,,
human ro,rro Ia tho sor,o % 4, t.,
has been. That no advancement in man
| condition, and no alteration Of the politlCa
circumstances surrounding him, can cradl
cate the old lcayen. ! refer to the reluctance
with which men give up power, more cspc,
cially If 1t be irresponsible power.
Az Attribute OF HUMANITY.
At no period of the worlds history, aut
under no circumstances Except when volun
tarily laying down all power OF which Their
nave been repeated instances) has ruler
or legislature or branch OF Legislature
ever been known TO voluntarily lay down
portion OF their power, however acquired o
however mIschieyous Its lodgment or exer
else In their hands may have proved, or ma!
threaten 10 become
""h"E THE 'ENcHt-of-off''I la" PLACE
""NNf'
49, -. IT,. W." ,,. s"' " w plao'u u!
- I.nn,oa ,.non.I. w. ~! WV" ~"
a,nn,rr ,ho non.o anu ,no 49, Wv, ,,, ,,'. VI
.,,,-i'p,,,, '..t.',..' Ie''' Wv" mus
spch InJIynItv heinz indeed mon him +.
most prcpostcrous idea. To ho,J ,hIs Ior
in Allowance over him il lint nroclaimlng hi,
unGtncss, in the scnate's op,nIon, to h,
trusted in the Presidency. potwItb.,ondIr,
public services. There is no earthly wov of
| nrcvcpting this corc,us,o, rror, ,orroi ill.,
iho nan,,,,, - 70 ~ .'s',,I Pc "u,s
'n' PoPu'a, '''"", /" '"o substitute rather
than the House bill be passed. While 1t Is