Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-03-24


There is much in this chapter reievar
TO this particular feature OF this eontrS
yersy which l should like TO read, but q
not desire to take the time to do IL
will, however, read the closing paragraph
which I commend to those who aided
the enactment of the lev Of 1867 ana .
soon after participated in the enactmen
of the law Of 1869. Concluding psssag
on that subject, Mr.. Blaine says:
Cast eff all political DISCUSSES asd pei
sonsl pretepses-" VT
And why should we not do that! J"
ought to do it hers; we ought 10 do 1t no"
so that we may understand this matter pre-
cissly as it is
Cast of all political DISCUSSES and per
sonal pretenses. the simple truth remain
that the tenure of Office law was enacted
lest President Johnson should remove he
publican ofice-holders too rapidly; and
was practically repealed lest Presiden
Grant should not remove Democratic ONCE
holders rapidly enough"
Laughter
The Senator from Vermont was in Con
gress when both those laws were passed
BE gave his very active adherence TO the
proposition of the first one, and then pro
pose to suspend for eight months the act
of 1867 by the act Of 1869. He 1t was, !
think. who made the motion to recommlt
the bill providing for the suspension, and
it was recommitted, and the bill reported
was rapidly passed with only slight
amendment. Iwant TO do that Senator the
Justice, however, TO show you to-day the
consistency, the absolute and perfect con-
sistency, Of his support of the act of 1857
and his support of the modification IN the
act of 1869 Referring to the debate in
1867, find him making this declaration
But the committee have recommended
the adoption Of this rule respecting the
tenure of officers as permanent and sys-
tema,ic and, as they believe, an appropri-
ate regulation of the Government for all
administrations and for all time"
This was in 1867
FOR ALL ADMINISTRATIONS AND FOR ALL
TINE"
administrations" you see, were not
broad enough to cover it, but for all
time" the law was 10 be enacted; and still
that PROPOSE ion was not broad enough.
The Senator, on another day in the course
of the debate, made use Of this language:
Il do not, therefore, choose to submit to
the inputation for single moment that
there is. either in this bill or out OF it, in
respect TO the spirit in which it is proposed
any attempt to advan ?e anybodY's political
views whatever, or to aid anybodYs
friends "
That was IN 1867. Now, in order that |
may not be misunderstood, want to read
the last clause over again
Il do not, therefore, choose to submit to
the imputation for single moment that
there is either in this bill or out Of it, in re-
spect to the spirit in which it is proposed,
any attempt to advance anybody g political
views whatever or to aid aDybodys
friends"
read now from the Globe 70; March,
1869, page lO7, and
FROM SPEECH BY THE SENATOR FROM
VERMONT,
in which he said:
NOW, what do we propose 10 do? We
propose, in order as We mad hoped to meet
the views of our own political friends, who
had seen or thought they had seen, prac'
teal difficulties in administration under
this law, to give, by an act Of generous
confidence in the present Executive, to
him during the next recess of Congress
complete power to sweep out OF office the
persons who now hold it.
assert without the fear of successful
that the Senator from Yer
mont was perfectly consistent in both dec
larations, for he was working for his politi.
cal friends like Turk in 1867, and like
beaver in 1869, and that is the whole spirit
and the meaning and effect of this contro'
versy here today. Let this country under
stand that party which commanded q
msiority in both Houses in 1867 passed
for Andrew johnson q law which afterwsrd
being repealed is proposed to be substi-
tuted now, in the absence of a majority in
the other branch OF this Congress, by the
performance oil committee CT this body.
composed of a majority from that side on
this floor, and enforcing the behests Of a
caucus,
will read few lines from the sct5 Of
1867 and 1869. and submit to an honest
lawyer in or out of this Chamber whether
that law now is in any form whatever to
embsrrass the Executive from suspendiDg
during vacation, except through such OBJ.
as the arbitrary will of majority
on this floor may interpose.
TIE SECOND SECTION OF THE ACT or 1867
provided:
SEC. 2. and be ii further enacted
That when any officer appointed as sfore
ssid-That is appointed by and with the
advice and consent OF the Senate, except
ing Judges Of the United States courts,
shall, during q recess of the Senate, be
shown, by evidence satisfactory to the
President, to be guilty of misconduct in
office, or crime, or for any reason shall be-
come incapable or legally disqualified to
perform its duties, in ouch case, end in no
other, the President may suspend such Of
Gcer and designate some suitable person 10
perform temporarily the duties of such Of
flee until the next meeting of the Senate, al d
until the case shall be acted upon by TIE
Senate, and such person so designated
shall take the osths and give the bonds re.
CURED by Law to be taken and given By
the person duly appointedto fill such Office;
and in such case it shall be the duty of the
President, within twenty days after the first
day Of such meeting of the Senate, to re-
port to the Senate such suspension, with
the evidence and reasons foI his action in
the case, and the name OF the person so
designated to perform the duties of such
Office. And if the Senate shall concur in
each suspension and sdEisa add consent
to the removal OF such ofiicer, they shall so
certify to the President, who may thereupon
remove such officer, and, By and with the
advice and consent Of the Senate, appoint
another person TO such office. Buff the
Senate shall refuse 10 concur in such sus-
pension, such officer 50 suspended shall
forthwith resume the functions CT his office,
and the powers Of the person so perform
ing it's duties IN his stead shall Geese, aud
the official salary and emoluments Of such
officer shall, during such suspension, be-