Year: 1869

The Proposed Compromise ON the Tenure


Subject.


1t appears that the difficulty in the Senate
in reference to repeal or suspension of the
Tenure of Office law has been settled among
the republicans in caucus in an agreement for
a modification of the law. The main object
of Congress In passing the law was to keep
Secretary Stanton in the War Office during
Johnson's administration. Johnson's policy of
Southern reconstruction was not the policy of
Congress. Johnson was dead-set against this
policy, while Stanton was an active ally Of
Congress and complete check upon Johnson
in the matter of those Southern military gov
ernments. Hence, when it was limited to Con-
gress that johnson had resolved upon the
removal of Stanton, the two houses hit upon
the Tenure Of Office law, providing among
other things that the members of the Cabinet
shall hold their Offices, respectively, during
the Presidential term Of their appoint
ment and for one month thereafter, sub
ject to removal only with the consent
VI tuc CCuItC. 4uiS 5CCSAuu vi tuc law
the Senate has agreed in caucus to strike
out, so that the President may remove any
member of his Cabinet at discretion, leaving
him subject here only to the constitutional re-
quirement of concurrence of the Senate in
his appointments.


But the law, in view Of the havoc which
Johnson otherwise might make in the absence
of Congress among the radical ofiice-holders,
including Stanton, was framed to head him off
in the section providing that in the absence
Of the Senate the President may suspend any
executive subordinate but that within twenty
days after the ssemblng of the Senate he
shall give his reasons for such suspension, and
If voted unsatisfactory by the Senate the sus-
pended officer shall be reinstated. Under this
provision Stanton was suspended by the Presi-
dent and reinstated by the Senate, the reasons
given for the suspension being voted INSULT
cient. The Senate proposes so to modify the
provision that the President may make re-
movals from Office during recess Of Congress,
and that with the return Of the Senate he shall
not be required to give his reasons for re-
movals made, but only to report them; where
upon, If the Senate consent, the removal shall
hold good, but If otherwise the party removed
shall be reinstated. Our Washington despatch
states that the Senate Caucus Committee last
evening waited upon the President and sub
mitted to him these notifications, and that he
expressed himself satisfied with the bill in Its
proposed form.


Here are some important concessions to the
President; but the reservation Of the power
Of the Senate overremovals from Office Is still
the main question. The copperhead organ Of
the Manhattan close political corporation
enters just complaint against the shabby
device Of only suspending this ofice-holders'
law for the benefit Of republican President,
in order that 1t may come into full play
| again in the event Of the election of
democratic President. But this cop
perhead organ, through its party spec
tacles, can see nothing in General Grants
desire to have the law removed as an obstruc-
ton in his way except purpose to gain the
power so to manipulate tho republican party
10 bis app0iptmspts % to secure another term