Year: 1869

Caucus of Republican Senators the Tenure


OF Once Bill-Stormy Debafe-Senators


Morton, Grimes and Sprngue Refuse TO be


Bound by Caucus Resolutions-The Bill


Finally Referred Back TO the Judiciary


CommIttce-Probabie Modification Of the Bill.


The republicans OF the Senate, ffty-sx in number,
convened this morning at ten O'Clock In caucus in
response to Q call made by Senators Edmunds, Will
liams and Howard. Senator Anthony occupied the
chair Senator Edmunds onered o resolution de-
caring that the repeal Of the law called the Tenure
Of once act ought not to be made, and pro-
ceeded TO support his position by saying that
Senators should be In no hurry TO surrender a
material element or the constitutional power;
that this law had been found emnently useful
and supplied the defect long complained Of but
remedied until the I'd OF March, 1867 and that
II 1t was repealed now occasion might yet arise when
tt would be sorey needed; but its re-enactment
might then be entirely beyond their control Senator
Williams offered an amendment that the law be sus-
pended until the 4th Of March. 1873, and that all
movals made by the President during the recess OF
Congress be reported to the Senate within twenty
days after it assemblies, with all the set forth
for each removal On this amendment the debate
Of the morning hinged, and occasionally grew as
warm as the proprieties OF q caucus debate,
which were never very stringent, could admit.


Senator Williams held that too much time had
already been expended by Senators in discussing
the subject. He had taken an active part in secur-
ing the passage Of the original bill, and feeling now
as he did then that necessity existed for it, he would
be sorry to stultify himself by voting for its repeal
The Senate had no more power with ii than without
u, but It had a safeguard against undue power on
the part OF the Executive. Abolish the law and the
Ofices Of the country to the number Of CO. 600 are
laid at the feet OF the President comforting patron
age dangerous from It's very temptation misdrec-
ton and abuse.


Senator Conklfna spoke in favor OF the proposi-
ton TO suspend for four years. and thought it would
be satisfactory to General Grant as 1t was to him.
He did not understand why there should be such
disposition among certain Senators to reject all
promise and modification, and insist so obstinatey
on repeal. II had been dnned into his that the
State Legislature OF New York had instructed him to
vote for repeal; but he rejected the claim or any
Legislature, or Of any man to become the keeper Of
his honor and conscience He should vote as he
thought proper not the state Of New York
thought or the Senator from Indiana, or any other
man.


Senator Warner, OF Alabama, said he was aston
ished to find many Senators OF high standing and
reputation uphoding the retention OF law which
was unquestionably partisan In its character. He
had great respect for the proposition to retain
the law because II was good he had for the pro-





could not the logic OF those who held that the
law was wise one, and yet proposed TO suspend It
for General Grant This seemed to him to smack
more Of subserviency TO the will OF the Ex
ecutive than the proposal to repeal. Besides
this suspension would be regarded by the
country, and justly too, as a mere matter
Of partsanship-as suspending great principle ac-
cording to whether the President was a republican
q democrat. Believing that the law was evil in
its eDect and an unwise restraint the Executive,
he was for ts total repeal but was willing TO pro-
vide that the President should not nominate per
son VINO had been once rejected, and that he should
send to the Senate for confirmation within days
after the meeting OF Congress all appointments made
during recess. These things good President would
observe and o bad President should be made to OBJ
serve them. General Grant had the confidence or the
country, and the country expected to trust him.
johnson was fmpeached, and, he thought, rightly.
mot because he violated good or bad law, but be-
cause he violated law which the statute
book and In force.


Senator Sherman made few brief remarks pro-
testing against further daying with the subject and
calling for decisive expression side or the
other. 1t was . shame he thought, to keep General
Grant standing In the White House for over two
weeks with his hands full OF nominations and unable
TO send in o solitary one OF any importance, with
this useless and obnoxious law blocking up the
way.


Senator Morton declared himself entirely opposed
60 the being held for the purpose designed.
This was no time TO be coming together In secret
and binding men to vote q certain way when some OF
these same men may have already committed them
selves In open session to q contrary line OF
action. He thought II no more less than out
rage on the independence OF Senator'S and he ndlg-
nantly repudisted the right OF any caucus to bind
p.sxr taA tta nxvs,vv ~
the case, and so did Senator Sprague.


Senator Edmunds said IL gentlemen held such an
opinion OF the caucus they ought to withdraw
from II.


Senator Grimes replied that he certainly had no
disposition to stay. He attended before call OF
Senator Conkling some weeks ago and found nothing
but empty wrangling over the same question that
brought them together to-day. Then IL was a call
for caucns which senator Conkling SYSTEMATICALLY
announced was to settle finally and forever the
Tenure OF once law.


Senator Conkling disclaimed having made 80 san.
guine statement


senator Grimes continued that as ne had already,
some twelve months ago, given a very emphatic ex-
preston Of his opinion in regard to the Civil Tenure
law, no caucus resolution could NJ this late hour
alter his convictions. Here the three Senator's
Morton, Grimes and Sprague-quitted the caucus IN
evident disgust.


Senator Morrill,, OF Vermont, twitted the members
who voted for impeachment on the change OF posi-
tion between themselves and the anti-lmpcachment
Senators. Last year the famous and unfortunate
seven were thrown into limbo; but since then they
have not only come out OF II, but put those In VINO
consigned them there. The anti-impeachers, after
all. had their revenge as ample men ever had II.


At ths stage the caucus adjourned till two O'Clock
In the afternoon. Al that hour II reassembed, and
Senator Morton proceeded 10 make a speech auanst
the propriety Of calling TO decide question
which had already been under debate for over
week, and upon which he and other Senator'S had
spoken very definitely In open session. lie was
afraid this precedent would be found to be ex-
srcmely dangerous and calculated TO provoke dissen
sion. n not division, n the party lie was AZ anxious
for harmony as any man, but he was unable to re-
press his disgust with The style Of proceeding some