Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-03-25
From UvdshinOtOn.
WAsHINGToN, 24th.

Editor Transcript :
The telegraph has been your best in
formant Of the progress of matters here,
of political nature and those OF less
interesting character have not usually
been of enough importance to draw at
tention. But now, while the country is
waiting for final action on the impor-
tant Tenure of Office law, it may be
worth while for me to put in word
edgewise, for the passing notice of your
readers.
The aforesaid law, which Congress is
now considering with view to modlh-
cation or repeal, is a source of much an
xiety to many people just now; for if it
remains in force, how are they the
many to get into office If they were
only in, the desire for the repeal of the
law would be lessened, so far as they
are concerned. But the office seekers
are much more numerous than the
Office holders, and consequently
majority are in favor Of "untying y tle
hands of the Executive. 1t is the opin-
ion of many that the President has
shown less wisdom than is his wont in
insisting on the unconditional repeal OF
the law. 1t is presumed by many,
though not by the wonderful Chronicle,
that many of the Senators had deep
er object in view in passing the bill
than that of tying the hands of Andy
johnson. They had convictions OF the
necessity and justice Of such a law, in
and of itself. They reasoned, you will
remember, in this way {: We have to
consent to appointments by the Presi-
dent before they become valid, and why
not, therefore, to revocations or remoV-
ais j.? Those who looked at the matter in
this light are now 10th to reverse their
action, and thus stultify themselves. If
the law was good one, it was good
without any reference to the character
or politics of Presidents.
The Chronicle of this city seems to
think, however, that the law derives its
right to live only from the power it had
to tie up Johnson, and prevent a whole
sale political slaughter. And this NOR
ming it puts forward the idea that the
Senate will so modify the law as " to
practically ignore its efficiency and
leave President Grant as free in the ap-
pointing power as though the Tenure of
Office act was not upon the Statute
book" 1t is safe to predict that the
Senate will do no such discreditable
thing. lit should it would be worthy
of contempt. The law may, and prob
ably will, be modified so as to allow the
Executive to make removals during
recesses, and report the causes on the
meeting again of the Senate, but what
ever is done in the matter will not lg-
more the efficiency of the law, as it may
finally stand. The Senate has too much
character to use ony such make-shift.
No final decision will be arrived at till
day after tomorrow probably, and none
merely for the sake of pleasing any par
ticular individual, however exalted.
There is a great deal of anxiety here,
In and out of the Departments, but
especially in hem. Not many changes
have yet been made in the working
forces, and in the mean time every one
Is laying his wires or biding his time.
Merit usually comes out ahead where it
is strongly backed up by influence, and
so does demerit. Where the two clash
money is not to be thought of. Let
the young man who has living bust
ness, a good farm or fair field, Sin the
open," snap his fingers, whistle any
thing cheerful and be contented. He is
happier. than he knows; he Is indepen-
dent, if not rich
The steady going department of Agri-
culture is the least affected, so far, by the
political mutations. 1t will experience
no change to speak of in its manage
ment and ii should not, for it is doing
quite we'll for the farming interest 1t
would do better with more liberal
means. 1t has this year imported and
distrib lted through designated channels
some valuable seeds, though only able
to purchase in small quantities compare
ed with the purchases of other years.
AS examples, it has recently sent out to
such Agricultural Societies as report
regularly to it, oats weighing 81 lbs. to
the measured bushel, and yielding from
so to 80 bushels per acre on the same
ground where common oats yield 80 to
so. The benefits of the distribution OF
this article, in one year, would almost
pay, perhaps quite, the cost of the De-
partment for the year. Only the best
seeds are imported for testing and dis
tribution.
One little bag of musk melon seed