Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-12
Forty-second Congressional Session.
WASHINGTON, d, G., Jan. II.
SENATE

WAsml,ILNGToN, D. G., Jan. II.
SENATE.
Senator Trumbull presented a great variety of
petitions from different sections collected by the
taxpayers union, praying for the reduction of
duties on IRON, salt coal, etc
senators llamlin and Wilson also presented a
large batch Of petitions from Maine and Massa-
chusetts, asking for the abolition of the duty on
salt.
Senator Sumner presented the petition of the
radical reform club Of Philadelphia, asking that
women be allowed to vote.
senator Conkhng took the floor after the BUSH
ness hour. lie commenced by abiding TO the pres
ent movement for reform OF the civil service and
then proceeded to criticSe Mr.. Summers one
term amendment. Mr.. ConkIing regarded tine
exclusion OF man from office because he had
held 1t for four years blow in the face of civil
service reform. What is this amendment thus
introduced at the beginning of the present can.
vass One must be a dull student who does not
see IN this an opposition to the reelection of
Gen. Grant. 1t does not openly apply to the
coming election, yet it is an eectioneeering doc
umcnt.
MIR. Conkling went on to ask if this PROPOSE
tlon was necessary TO defeat a candidate who
could not be defeated otherwise. General Grant
Is not the hrSt one who has been assaulted by
poltlclanS, presses and intriguers Forty wears
ago patriot and soldier was asSailed on the
eve OF his reelection, and Mr.. Lncoln's admin
lstfaton was revlled by men and presses who re-
VIE General Grant now. Mr.. Conkling then con-
Sldefed the merits of the proposition, what it
says ana where 1t is silent. Senators and repre-
sentatlYes ask the people to prevent the re-eec-
ton OF president, but do not object TO being
themselves reelected, while they thus dispose of
some one who blocks their way to the presidential
chair.
MIR. Conkling claimed that the country is on
the eve Of civil service reform We are about
TO divorce appointments from patronage and ia
yorlusm, and to try a withdrawal Of political
patronage from politics. He argued against
any amendment to the cOnst ution forbidding
reflections to the presidency. 1t was unneees-
Sary as means Of getting rid of the peril to
which the old appointing system was open, but
Whlch tue new system is especially designed to
remove We are in the act of providing that
the presidents shall not be re elected by bad
means, and we are told that as a part of the
same act, we must provide that presidents shall
not be reelected by good means. We are root
ing out the great alleged evil of re-eligiblity to
second presidential term, when we are told we
must not leave re-elgibility standing in the con-
shtution, even after its alleged evil has been
taken away
We are stripping a thing of the one objection
to 1t, and are told that the thing itself must not
exist after the objection is gone. This seems
very odd. common mind sees it N the other
way. 10 me the two things seem OF only dis
tinct, but to contradict each other Il we were
engaged in preserving the present s, stem of ap-
pontmcnts could see the fitness of removing
dangers, real or supposed, belonging to that sys-
tenn Bat, when we ale bringing in new svs-
TEN, do not see the need Ola constitutional
anathema aimed at the departing. he evils
and abuses are baushed with the old system
and superseded and prevented by the new; it
would seem not to require further action, GER
family not to require action warning on reason
IN other respects. Proceeding with his argument,
the senator urged the inconsistency of claiming
that removals should be "only for cause" and
then iorbddng the reelection of a president
who has won such public confidence by four
years OF faithful service that he can only be got
rid OF by the imposition of a legal disability.
He claimed that the pending proposition was
simply an eXpedient to prevent the reelection
Of General Grant. For, if adopted, it would be
claimed that Grants denomination, in the face
OF it, is ndecOrous; that if the dogma is right
and so declared by congress aud the people, it
must not be trampled on now. But why not
provide as well against the reelection of the vice
president or senators? Are not they as likely to
be tempted to an abuse Of their patronage and
power?
Mr.. Summer-'I shall not undertake now to
follow the senator in his elaborate speech, nor
at any time shall undertake any reply TO the
destinations and inuendoes he has SO freely
strewn in his path. | leave him in the full en-.
Joyment OF what he has done. In in
Producing this proposition, have sim
ply discharged contentious duty. Taking
cOunsel OF experience, following the testimony
OF the best minds OF our republic, have felt il
u duty TO give the senate an opportunity of de.
Gliding upon the question. | say, taking counsel
of experience, aud does not experience confirm
the conclusion at which have arrived? Isitnot
sustained by the best authorities of the repub-
lie' Who, in our history, has arrayed himself
on the side that the senator from New York rep
resents to-dayP What eminent statesman has
placed his name on this question against the
names Of Andrew jackson, Henry Clay and
Benz. +. Wade2 Who is the statesman I
know him not. Do you know him2
"rhe senator from New York opposes these
illustrlous characters; but, in his opposition, he
mistakes the whole foundation OF the arau-
ment The object is, to guard against tempta-
ton; TO see that the president shall not be
placed in position where he may be tempted
10 use bis powers improperly. The argument
Of the senator says: Let him be tempted Nav,
he goes further, and says; The people ought moi
to be restrained in the choice of their chief
magistrate
"He figures against restrictions upon the peo-
pie. Sir that argument is an assault upon con-
stisuioDal liberty. It is by restriction on the
people, assured by constitutional law,--that
liberty Is maintained. What is the great object
OF civilized government, but liberty regulated
by law-li5erty and the safeguards OF the con.
eli nf,..f.