The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-25

from each State taking charge Of those within
that State. The refusal to repeal the Tenure
Of Office law, which WAS passed solely because
the President and the Senate were not in po-
litical sympathy-not being of the same party
and the obstinate maintenance OF that law,
now when the two branches Of the Govern
ment are in sympathy, aud when there is no
pretense OF a reason for it based on any differ
ence Of political views, shows this oonolu-
sively Itis designed as y measure of ooer-
oion-as q means Of inducing General Grant
to surrender that portion Of his executive
functions which involves the appointments to
Office into the hands OF the party majority Of
the Senate.
We have already more than once shown
how fatal such course would be to all the
hopes of reform in the civil service which
General Grants election has inspired through
out the country. But the change proposed
would also destroy everything like vigor and
efficiency in the Executive administration of
the Government at all times and under auy
circumstances. 1t is not possible for large
body like the Senate to perform Executive
duties with efficiency and success. The ex-
pertinent has often been made, and has always
failed, as 1t always must fail whenever it is
tried. This whole subject was debated with
great ability when the leading administrative
departments of the Government were or
ganized, and when direct attempt was made
to removals, as well as appointments; and il
was maintained by Madison and by all the
ablest and soundest men of his party, and de-
cided by Congress, that as the duty and re-
sponsibiity Of executing the laws devolved
exclusively upon the President, II followed of
necessity that in order to perform it, he must
have the prompt and summary power to re-
move incompetent, corrupt, or inefficient off
GERS for causes short of official misbehavior
N aly Of
from him, or to hamper him in its exercise, is
to destroy and render impossible the prompt
ness and vigor indispensable to q proper per
fOrmance of executive duties.
This Is precisely what the Tenure Of Office
bill does. Its original enactment was justified
solely by the plea that the political hostility
between President Johnson and Congress rem
dered their harmony of action impossible, aud
made 1t certain that the President would use
this power, if left in his hands, in hostility to
Congress. And yet, even in this case, its
practical operation has been of doubtful
utility. AS matter Of fact, more corrupt and
dishonest officials have been kept in Office than
have been kept out, in consequence of it.
Senators have used the power it gives them
for the selfish and dishonest purpose of keep
ing their own personal or political friends in
Office, rather than with any regard to the public
good; and SO they will continue to do, 30 long
as 1t is suffered to stand. Not single Instance
has occurred since it passed in which the
Republican majority OF the Senate have re-
moved single man of their own party, no
matter how hagrant his corruption or inefi
cheney.
So long as this law stands we shall have a
feeble lax, and inefficient administi alton of
the civil service, no matter who may be Presi-
dent. 1t is utterly impossible for such body
as the Senate to investigate, with intelligence
and to any purpose, the reasons for the re-
moval of public officer; aud individual Sena-
tors will always be too much under the con-
troll of personal interest and favoritism to do
it fairly, even if it were possible to do it at
all. II they are to act i'll the spirit of the
caucus resolution and recommend the Presi-
dents appointments, what possible chance
will there be of securing their assent to the
rcmocaL of those same appointees
The whole thing is preposterous and alb
surd. 1t depriVes General Grant of all ability
to do the very work which he was elected to
perform, and which the people expect at his
hands-the publication of the public service
from the corruption and imbecility which
have disgraced and degraded it 80 long. If
the Senate had any proper sympathy with
this demand of the people, and any due sense
OF the necessity of this great reform, it would
repeal this obstructive and unwise law, and
leave to Gen. Grant the means of performing
the duty imposed upon him by the COnstitu-
tiOp, to take care that the laws be faithfully
| executed"