The New York herald., 1869-04-22
WASH IN TON
THE SENATE IN OPEN SESSION.
---.-~>~~>~~~~~~~~~
Interesting Debate on the Distribution Of
the Federal Offices.
Senatorial Rights Of Patronage
Undermined.
The Advice and consent OF the
Senate" Mere Tradition.
>c.>o~~>~o~~<~O>~--~o~-~
Discussion On the Claims of
Sanford.
Confirmation Of AIinor Foreign Ap-
pointments.

An Interesting Day in the Senate-The
Breach in the Republican Ranks Widen-
ing-Leading Senators Express Their Dis
satisfaction with the Administration.
The pent up dissatisfaction which is known to
exist in the Senate concerning the distribution Of
the federal patronage by President Grant broke out
to-day for the first time, In open Senate Hereto
fore whatever has been said on this subject by
Senators has been kept from the public through
the secrecy Of the executive session. Sometimes,
indeed, few words have leaked out, but
nothing to show how deep the feeling is
among Senators on this important subject The oc
casion Of the debate to-day was resolution offered
by Senator Carpenter. Of Wisconsin, calling upon
the various heads of departments for information as
to the number Of clerks in their several depart
ments. where they are from, when they
were appointed, who recommended them.
&C. This had In reality, no reference
to the general patronage Of the gov
ernment. In the discussion, however, the
clerks were almost entirely lost sight or and the in
terest of the debate centred almost entirely in the
recent nominations made by the President. Pome-
roy, of Kansas, with good-natured smile upon his
broad face asked Carpenter to amend his resolution
to ascertain how the heads OF departments, the
Cabinet officers, obtained their places. He would
like TO Know he said, and he thought the public
would like TO know too, who recommended the
members Of the Cabinet for appointment. There
was trine OF sarcasm in this, a sort of an acknow-
ledgment Of the ruthfulness Of the charge brought
by the democrats that Grants Cabinet was selected
In hap-hazard way from the list Of his own per-
sonal acquaintances, who were not so well known
to the American people as they were to
himself. Carpenter had no desire for that
kind or Information, and 30 he refused
10 adopt Pomeroy's suggestion. Sherman, of Ohio,
Uh fc tn have n m mhar
OF his friends In the departments, did not see the
OF the resolution, though he doubtless saw Its
point. Carpenters intention is to get reply to his
resolution, which will show that some States have
monopoly Of the appointments In the depart
ments here, while Others have none at
all, or very few. 1t would also show just
what Senators and members solicited the
appointments, ana ultimately the reason why they
did 1t. This would be an expose not altogether
pleasant to some Senators. 1t would show, among
other things, who has succeeded in getting 80 many
women OF questionable repute into the Treasury, and
at the same time throw some light ON the object OF
their appointment. Fessenden, who, like Sherman,
has the reputation of taking care of his relatives
and friends in the government service to an
extent bordering on nepotlsm, was also opposed to
the resolution II all that is said Of him by other
Senators and members be true, the appointments
from Maine would figure largely In the list. "
might come out that he had divers brothers and
brothers-in-law and sundry nephews and cousins In
good fat berths. Trumbull, Of Illinois, who seems
to have been ignored by the admnstra-
ton In the distribution Of the federal patron
age In his State, launcned out from the beaten
track pursued by Sherman and Fessenden, and
spoke with some warmth OF the general appoint
ments To interpret his speech properly 1t is neces
ary to state that the other day. in conversation with
ha had rain nnfh tpox that bn
asked for from Grant, while all his friends in Illinois
had been removed. Probably the same cause
which operated with the President against
Ross, of Kansas has had something to
do with Trumbull's want OF success with Grant, to
wit, his vote against the impeachment OF Johnson.
At any rate he has been distanced by Yates and Lo
gan, according to his own confession, in the matter
OF receiving appointments 1t Is not at all wonder
fu therefore, that in his estimation the whole sys-
TEN OF removals and appointments is wrong and is
sappng the very foundation OF the govern
ment. AZ long as he cannot get anything he
scorns 10 hang around the doors aud loaf in the
anterooms OF the heads OF departments. Like the
servant In the "Black Crook" he says 20 himself,
"whats the uscS ?, and does not make the attempt.
Trumbul not only favored Carpenters resolution
but he was willing to go further. He would, he
said introduce q bill at the next session making it a
penal offence for members OF either house to
solicit appointments from the heads OF de-
partments. IL he cannot get Offices himself
for his friends he Is resolved to play the
dog In the manger and Keep everybody else away.
Senator Cameron, OF Pennsylvania, was more bold
than his colleagues and gave his opinion quite
freely OF some o! Grants appointments lie has an
old-fashloned idea about the manner OF obtaining
Offices. lie would sit quietly In his room and allow
the President to send for him and consult with him
ut,
This was the custom, ho said. In the pamy
days when he first came to the Senate. He
announced that 80 far "a his own state was con-
cerned not single appointment had been made by
the present administration at his solicitation. With
the air OF a man who In hard fought game has eu-
chred his antagonist he said that nInetenhs OF all
the persons appointed TO offices in PENNSYLVANIA
were, after ALL his friends and then az II every re.
publican In Pennsyivanla was included in the long
list Of his friends, he added, with triumphant shake
" his head, that would be difficult for the admin.
| uraton to appoint republicans TO once from Penn
=, 'iyaDia without appointing his friends Some of
Or ants appointments, however, are manifesty not
Cal ocron's friends. BY way OF exposing the blum.
ders which the President and his Cabinet have made
In th err selections from Pennsylvania without
consul ting the Senators from that state
he said that constitutional drunkard
had bee nominated, for an important foreign
mission, while constitutional thier' had been
nominated for a consulatc-all from Pennsylvania.
Cameron WIS evidently hitting at the State Depart.
meut tits sod that on at least one occasion he was
nncoremoniou ely snubbed by Secretary Fish, ana
this is the first chance he has had TO get eyen The
"Old Man." a. h& friends familiarity term him, "a
hard tighter ana never forrcts to pay back those
who either inJure or insult him. Mr.. Fish Will
doubtless have occasion TO know this before bis term
IL out II he does not make peace with Cameron.
Abbott of North Carolina, offered an amendment to
Mr. Carpenters resolution, 30 to ascertain whether
the patronage In the departments was equally dis
iributed among tue States Tho secret OF this ia
that the reconstructed States nave scarcely any op
pontmens in the departments. This naturally
called out Mr.. snuuer. who remembering the nun.