, 1869-02-09
TIE QFFICE-TENURE ACT.

AE AuQ5E I4l2 %kNAtAAk %AR ~ III ~
Tenure act is before the 6enate. It has
been reported by Mr. Edmunds, Of Yer
mont, with substitute. IN which he at |
tcmpts to enlarge the Jurisdiction and give
some degree OF dignity to the Police Court
Investigation which the law requires the
President shall ms ke before be can dts
miss an incompetent or dishonest public |
officer. The substitute does not permit
the President after holding his court to
pass Judgment; it requires him, after the
manner Of q WRIT OF certiorar;, to send
up the papers ID the Senate, that Mr. Ed
muuds and the other, members of.that
body may pass upon the case. We see
that there is considerable quibbling about
how far this substitute shall relax the
present law, but We hope the Senate will
waste no time upon that point, Let them
repeal the law, or let It sand. The con-
ttnuapce Of the law is q national reproacb.
1t was the result Of an unprecedented
necessity, and should not survive that
Necessity an hour.
There Is no logic that can be framed by
which the Senate can be supposed to have
any authority In the original selection OF
public filcers. The power to nominate
officers Is as exclusively within the power
of the President a. is his power to sign
bills, or veto them, Or to graut p2rdons.
The power Of the Senate begins when
that nomination is submitted TO it, and ID
confined to lis rejection orapproval.' The
original act was demanded to prevent 8
dishonest President removing public
cf1lcers to make room for the
men engaged IN stealing the revenue. On
that ground, nnd that alone, the people
SUSTAINED Congress In passing the extra
ordinary act.
But Atdrew johnson and General
Grant aru two different persons
Tie American people would not lnve
elected Central Grant, nor any Other
person. President, If they thought Ii
would havc to be restrained by any aucl
questionable legislation as the ON &C
Ielu u1e act. They elected him that tll
country might get lid OF the necessity fol
having such an act on the statute book
aud any attempt by Mr.. Edmunds O
ott ct Senators to raise any question g.
TO The wisdom of the people in that dc
cssicn is entirely uncal|cd for, and purel,
cfl1cious. The Same people who cloctc'
Grant demand the repeal Of that Ia Y, an
Senators who act themselves up agatus
the popular Judgment ogerestimstc thci
consequence officially and In tho publ
estimation. In 1866, when the stril
between Congress and Audrc'
$ JohEs3n took place, the pcop
sustained CONGRESS. and condemn
the President. They continued to do :
until the cIl. But Andrew johnson
S rsce is rum the people have sclectt
! Giant, and not Congress, to be his succc
q aor. A President sustained BY the PEI
I pie and q President condemned by Il
. people, are quite different persons. Co
IL eress triumphed in its struggle vii
johnson, not because Of q particular T,
q spect the people had for the Ill embc
J, plrs- -nally, but because it Was sustalat
T. by the people, In fact, it was conte
o between The people and the President.
II which Congress played the part Of t!
q Sheriff IN executing the popular deere
+ Had the people agreed with the Pres
y dent thty would have swept Congress 9
y Of his way without the 1caat regard
10 this personal or Official importance OF 8
II Of the members.
4e 1t is iIl.advised ard extremely indce
e rtus for any par: Of the Senate to assul
D. that they ARE any more than creatures
lie the popular will, who can br disrobed
at easily as they have been clothed with 0
N cial rank. To prolong the unseemly cc
% test with the office Of President is IN
III sumption of Senatona1 importsl
~. wholly unwarranted. 1t eau have i
" one e1d. Il must terminate as the ps
OK pie direct. Mr.. Edmunds, and those n
II. agree with him, may undertake to pl
&C. tue manRcles upon Grant that the peo
IN placid upon johnson, but by so dol
us they will soon discover how very lit
IN after all. The people care for Senators
lla other Off ,ials who presume upon th
OF place to play part not set down
pie thtm.
gu Let the Senate drop all discussion
~ to how fsr the Once-Tenure &c. shall
Is nc1i6ea, and let the plain, broad issu
'en its unconditional repeal be met fauly
70 squarely. Let those who wan. to fe
no the President that they may dictate
ose him, take one side, and let the repres
slal tatiyes Of the popular will take
The other. II the Senate fail to do rig
ur- then the people must do for Cong
and what they did in 1SG6for Johnson-as
}! q their will, and appoint the agent:
Iose execute it.
Tier