The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-28

Johnson afforded more satisfaction
than the same process applied to a
friendly President like Gen. Grant.
1t was therefore determined by the
Republicans to escape from their en-
barrassment, even at the expense OF
an Inconsistency which could but
prove humiliating to them. On the
oh OF March, just five days alter An
drew Johnfon bad left the Presidency,
Gen. Butler introduced in the morn
ing hour of the House a bill OF two
lines absolutely repeating the tenure
of.ofiice ACT, for a constructive viola
ton of which he had ten months be-
fore urged the impeachment OF Preei-
dent Johnson aud his expulsion from
Office. The standing committees had
not yet been announced, and, there
fore, without reference or a moments
debate or consider alton OF the meas
ure, Gen. Butler demanded the pre-
vious question, which was sustained |;
and under a call of the yeas and nays
the bill was passed by 1873 TO l6 The
small minority was composed OF Re.
publicans. The Democrats who had
solidly voted against the tenure. Of
Office bill two years before voted now
with entire consistency for its repeal,
and with them also, in solid ranks,
voted the men who, in the preceding
Congress, had clamored most loudly
for Johnson's decapitstion.
When the bill reached the Senate,
there was disposition on the part OF
some leading members OF that body
10 pass IL as promptly as it had been
passed by the House. Mr.. Morton
urged that 1t be put on its passage
without referring il; but the Senate
was not prepared for such Taste, aud
ON motion of Mr.. Trumbull tho bill
was sent to the Judiciary Committee.
That committee reported it without
delay to the Senate, with an amend
ment in the form Of a substitute. The
House bill was q simple repeal IN the
iewest possible words. The Judiciary
Committee now proposed that instead
of an absolute repeal the tenure Of
office act "be and the same ia hereby
suspended until the next session OF
Congress.
This was lame aud impctent con-
clusion, and did not command the
support or even the respect OF the Sen.
ate. Mr.. Thurman, member Of the
committee who reportedit made haste
TO announce that he had not approved
ii. He treated the proposition for sus-
pension az a practical confession that
the tenure oi-ofiice act sis TO be en-
forced when IL will have no practical
effect, aud 10 not TO be enforced when
IL would have practical effect" The
chief defenders OF the proposition to
suspend the act we're Mr.. Trumbull,
Mr.. Edmunds and Mr.. Schulz, Mr..
Edmunds, pressed by Mr.. Grimes to
furnish good reafon for suspending
the act, replied that lowing to the pc
cuiar circumstances that have at.
tended the last administration, it Is de-
siiable that there should be an imme.
diate and general removal OF the office
holders Of the country as a rule; and
as an agency for that removal, subject
to our approval when we meet again
in confirmation of their successors,
these bad men being put out, we are
willing TO trust this executive with
that discretion"
Coming from Senator OF the
United States, this declaration was re-
sarded as extraordinary. The "bad
men" to whom Mr. Edmunds referred
were the appointees Of President
johnson, and every one OF them had
been confirmed by the Senate of the
United States when the Republicans
had more than two.thirds Of the body.
II these appointees were "bad men,"
why, 1t was pertiuently and forCibly
asked by the aggrieved, did not Mr..
Edmunds submit proof of the fact to
his Republican associates aud procure
their rejection2 He knew, the &C.
cused men declared, as much about
their characters when their names
were before the Senate as he knew
now, when he sought, behind the pro-
lection OF his privileges, to brand
them with infsmy. To permit them
to be confirmed in the silence and
confidence of an executive session,
and then in open Senate, when their
places were wanted for others, to de-
scribe them as "bad men," seemed to
them procedure not to be explained
on the bIold principles of statesman
ship, or even ON the common law of
fair dealing.
Mr.. Schurz was as anxious as Mr..
Edmunds to give the President full
power 10 romove the office.holders.
He declared that he "would be the
last man 10 hamper the President in
the good work Of cleaning out the
Augean stable, which he is now about
TO undertake" He was sure that "the
rings must be broken up;" that "the
thieves must be driven out OF the pub
lie service" He eulogized President
Grant as especially fitted for the work.
1--WE have" said he, "a President who
is williug to do what we and the
country desire him to do" Mr..
SchuIE expressed at the same time his
heartfelt concern" regarding rumor
that the President was very sensitive
touching the proposition reported by
the Judiciary Committee, and that "he
will make no removals unless the civil
tenure bill be repealed, instead of be-
ing suspended" Mr.. Schurz was sure
that ION all the great questions of
policy tue President and Congress
heartily agree" and he condemned
"the attempts made to cow the seeds
of distTust and discord." 1t is some.
what amusing, as well as nttructive,
to recall that, in little more than two
years from that time, when nearly
all the appointees CT President
johnson had been turned out OF
office, Mr.. SchurE began work again at
"the Augean stable" now locating IL
in the Grant administration, and
demanding that it should be cleaused;
that "the rings" should he broken up,
thlt "the thieves must be driven out
of 'hs public service" He imputed
10 President Grants administration
even greater Corruptions than he had
charged upon the administration of
his predecessor, and from his ever
teeming storehouse lavished abuse
with even more generous hand upon
the one than he had upon the ether.
The amendment Of the Judiciary
Committee providing for a suspension
Of the law unit Congress should meet
sgain-s period of about eight months
was 80 o. ieetionable that il won no