The New York herald., 1871-03-31

II NEW Yc
ner's persistent opposition to the repeal OF the
Tenure OF once law. Almost the first demand
made by President Grant upon the repupii-
can Congress was the repeal OF this law,
winch. it was understood, had been enacted
solely for the purpose OF checkmating Andfew
Johnson. The Presidents demand was positive, II
not absolutely mandatory, and 1t would douptiess
have been obeyed had not Mr.. Sumner interposed.
The immediate advisers Of General Grant urged upon
him to force this issue, placing it upon the ground
that to retain this law upon the statute book was
synonymous 10 declaring q want Of confidence
In him, which he, as o military man and
the recipient OF the Presidency could not tolerate
General Sherman, it Is charged, took this view OF
the SITUATION and aided by the influence OF conf-
dent oflice seekers, raid upon Congress was made
to ensure the repeal OF the odious law. Mr.. sum-
ner met these advances by insisting upon the
homely adage that "What was sauce for the goose
was sauce for the gander," and that the
status OF General Grant as republican
had not been 80 completely settied as
to warrant the surrender OF the safeguard heid
by the Senate; that military men were ambitious
ana Jealous. and perhaps the President might be
surrounded and caoled 10 his injury by the military
co.erie and that 1t would be well to defer the mat
ter for future Developments The influence OF Mr..
Sumner defeated the proposition for the absolute
repeal, but a modification OF the law was
made which the President has always thought was
begging the question In hts message to the second
session OF the Forty-hrst Congress the President
again demanded the absolute repeal of.ths law, but
no notice whatever was taken OF II, Summers opp0-
siton still continuing unabated in force and vigor.
The annoyance Of the President was aggravated by
vxyh1 obofr- nf
mittee on Foreign Affairs, to the confirmation Of
Mr. Kramer as Minister to Denmark. Mr. Sumner
kept back his report this nomination until forced
by the Senate to return IL at executive session. He
justified his course by asserting that Mr. Kramer,
the Presidents brother in-law, was utterly unfit for
the position, recounting his Lelpsic assault and
cowardly demeanor on that occasion as evidence OF
the fact. Then the St. Domingo imbroglio heaped
fuel on the name which, receiving this additional
material Of combustion, threatens to burn up the
republican party.
Debate In the House ON the Ku Klux Bill
Strong Speech by Fernando Wood.
The debate in the House to-day on the Ku Klux
bill was more spirited probably because some Of the
heavier guns engaged in 1t. Beck, OF Kentucky,
made vigorous speech, denouncing all legislation
of the character now proposed and showing that 1t
was dangerous In the extreme to coDade such power
In the Executive as win allow him to march troops
into every State at his mere whim. Beck was
| followed by Blair, Of Michigan, who read
| long and rather heavy speech in support OF the
| bill. Fernando Wood, Of New York, took an en-
larged and comprehensive view OF the whole ques-
tion He showed by the bill itself tnat 1t proposed
to confer upon the President the power OF military
| dictator who could war 1t without responsibility
and at will and that the only excuse for the dele.
cation OF such vast powers was the alleged
| outrages in the South, and the onl
| authority OF the fourteenth amendments, as under.
stood by those who projected and defended the mea
sure As to the grounds OF justification he said the
only evidence that could rghtfuly be received as to
| the true condition Of the Southern States was
official, and not by rumor. To show onlcia
| evidence he quoted from the last messages Of
| all the Governors Of the States lately In
rebellion, delivered to the Legislature within a
few weeks. These uniformly spoke Of the peaceful
orderly and loyal condition Of those States To this
he added the statistics to the cotton tobacco and
rice products, showing an increased production
over that OF former years. From these he argued
that people could not be IN state Of anarchy who
were thus Industrious ana productive, that this was
the best proof OF the security OF property and
the true state OF morality. He insisted that II
the laws were not enforced there the republican
party was to blame for It, because that party had
tn possession OF that section since the war, having
OF government but the officers to execute the laws
BY the military reconstruction and the other Con-
gressiona laws all the civil power had been fur.
nished the Southern people by the party In
power In Washington, and the men to enforce
and execute these laws had been sent down from
the North and West, SO that 1t was true, stated,
that such q condition OF things really existed the
party in power was alone responsible. Kelley, OF
Pennsylvania, came in for his share of the respon
hi -
| the persons who went among the colOred peo-
| pie to excite and inname them to hostility
to the whites, and quoted from the speech
| of Kelley made In the House on Wednes
| day, where lie had threatened the domo
| cratic party with war Of races. Mr. Wood further
| pointed out the true duty Of Congress in view o.
| the present condition Of the whole country. III
said, while the evils sought to be remedied by this
| bill might be one OF the worst there were many
| others common to the whole Union which
should be attended to by Congress He re
ferred to our sunken commerce with foreign
nations depreciation OF the public credit enormous
taxation pronigate expenditures, boarding OF golt
! in the Treasury, severe exactons upon productive
industry and general neglect OF the material inter
| ests OF the people. He called upon Congress Il
legislate upon these many evils rather than to re
| vive sectional excitement and again reproduce
| disturbed and divided country. Horace May.
nard, OF Tennessee, closed the de.
| bate for to-day In strong speech In
support OF the bill. proposition is on foot to 0iel
as an amendment to the bill general amnesty
measure. This, however, Will probably be ruled out
on the ground that It requires twothrds vote L
pass an amnesty bill. Should the bill now before
the House, something like It, pass and be followed
with beneficial results al the South, 1t is the inten
tion Of General Butler to follow up at the next ses
sion with a general amnesty bill. The general i'm
| preston is tnat vote Will be reached on the Ku
| Klux bill next Wednesday. ~
u The st. Domingo Commissioners.
| The President gave private dinner to the ST.
Domingo Commissioners tonight at six O'CLOCK al
which were present Messrs. Wade, Howe and
White and Senator Chandler and two Indies