Year: 1869




They had yesterday at Washington a Sena-
torial republican caucus on the Tenure of
Office law. (See our dispatches on the sub
ject) The difficulty between Congress and
the President on this question has thus been
reduced to the alternative Of repeal or sus-
pension of the obnoxious statute, the suspen-
sionists having the vantage ground from the
caucus. General Grant says: II can do
nothing toward thorough reorganization Of
the machinery of the government until this law
is repealed" The House Of Representatives
responds, Every good" and passes the bill of
repeal; but the radical leaders of the Senate
par ercdlence say that the law is q wise and
benefcent law, and should not be abolished,
but rather modified or suspended for the ben
eft of the present administration and of the
party ofice-seekers clamorous and impatient
for a general division Of the spoils.


But the simple truth is that the radical lead
ers Of the Senate do not like to relinquish the
power they hold under this law over the dis
trbution Of the Executive patronage. Repeal
the law and the ofice-holder removed by the
President is gone, while under the law the re-
moval is subject to the concurrence of the
Senate The law was passed to head of Andy
johnson. In his no quarter conflict with Con
gress he had commenced 'the slaughter of the
innocents" Of the radical party In Office, and
perhaps he would have made clean job of il
but for the effective check OF this Tenure ol
Ia Lac Arfyon IN. Aoupowofinv, he
undertook, in the case Of Stanton, TO fight the
law itself, but only to find himself caught in
the trap Of impeachment and that the unsatis-
factory Secretary he had ordered to leave was
fastened upon him in spite of himself by the
will Of the Senate


General Grant, standing by the law, recog-
nized the right OF possession Of the War Office
as belonging to Stanton, and, still standing by
the law, the General says he cannot undertake
to any extent the removal Of Office holders an
pointed 'sby and with the advice and consent
OF the Senate" In short, the Senate mus
consent TO the removal of this law before h,
can venture upon anything like general sys
TEN OF removals from Office. But the radica
leaders Of the Senate say this is asking TO,
much. II General Grant intends to act il
good faith as the grand almoner Of the repub
lican party he must feel convinced that ther
will be no difficulty with the Senate In th
matter OF his removals from Office. Why
then, Is he 50 urgent in his demand for tn
repeal Of this law? II must be because he hs
policy OF his own TO play, like Johnson, ant
accordingly, wishes this impcdiment removed
, Shall the Senate, then, consent that the ma


shall become the masterp The answer OF th
Senate radical faction, thus reasoning. woul


be mo" and very promptly, too, but for tt


pressure Of the House and the Cabinet, an
) the clamor OF the Office seekers in their appea
for the untying OF the Presidents hands.


Pushed to the wall, the anti-repealcrs pr'


pose the legislative absurdity Of temporar


suspension OF the law, or repeal FOX


limited number Of months or years. In an


event these champions OF this Office holder
1 protective law wish to hold Il as safety chez