Year: 1869

Ths Singular Situation Of TEA,ss In Wash-


ingtoa.


The situation Of things at Washington 10
singular and complicated, and from present
appearances the Senate is about to make .
dangerous plunge that may lead to the disrup-
ton and reorganization of parties, and, as
consequence, to desperate fight between the
Senatorial oligarchy and the administration.
The war has already commenced in an insidi-
Gus manner on the part OF the dominant fac
ton in the Senate, though unavowed and
though words Of peace and harmony are ut
tered to the ear. The case of Mr.. Stewart has
been made the pretext of opposition or hos
tility; but If it had not been that some other
might have been seized upon for the same pur-
pose. Indeed, the refusal to repeal the Tenure
of Office law is sufficient proof that Senators
intend either to hold General Grant in leading
strings or to fight his administration.


Sumner and other Senators who are active
in this hostile movement are Presiden-
tial aspirants for 1872, and want to
hold Grant so crippled that he would
have no chance of denomination. 1t is
the old political game over again. and has
been tried with almost every President from
the foundation of the government. 1t is
game, too, which Presidential aspirants and
plotters generally commence early and follow
up to the end OF Presidents term. Some
times, however, they overreach themselves,
when the people, seeing through their schemes
and purpose, take the side of the President and
re-elect him. There is notable example Of
this in the case of General Jackson, and
Grants position is not unlike his. Jackson got
into muddle with the politicians about his
question split his Cabinet again and the party,
which was divided into the Calhoun faction on
one side and that of Van Buren, on the
other. The latter adhered to the President,
and the former, powerful in talent and num-
bers, particularly in Congress, made desperate
war on him. There never was, perhaps, in
the history Of this country fercsr political
contest. But for this, probably, Jackson
would not have been President second term.
1t was this that rallied the people to him and
reelected him. Grant occupies similar posi-
tion, and, if we mistake not, has the same
sort of stuff in him that Jackson had So
these Presidential aspirants Of the Senate
this oligarchy and political ring-may over
reach themselves and by their hostility to
Grant may re-elect him in 1872.


But, besides this political view of the situa-
tion, there is another one which affects the
very constitution and practice Of the govern
ment. The difficulty about Mr.. Stewart, as we
intimated, was mere accident and side issue.
II served, however, to show the disposition Of
the Senate, and afforded an opportunity to
manifest the disapprobstion of that body to
General Grants independent course. He had
not taken his Cabinet from their political ring
and had not consulted them even as to whom
he should select This was terrible blow to
the old system Of political management 1t
seriously offended them. But the real issue is
on the Tenure Of Office law and involves q
struggle between the Executive and the Senate
for the power and patronage of the govern
ment. On this issue the popular branch of
Congress goes with the President, as we have
seen in the overwhelming vote by which it
passed the resolution TO repeal the Tenure of
Office act. The reason for the action Of the
House is apparent. That body, in the bitter
fight with President Johnson and for the pur-
pose Of tying his hands, passed the act in
question, and thus surrendered unthinkingly,
perhaps, the whole patronage of the govern
ment to the Senate. Before this law was
made, and throughout all the previous his
tory, the members Of the House had good deal
to say in the distribution OF Offices. Every
President had deemed it proper to consult
their wishes and to appoint to Office their con-
stituents. Now, however, Senators have alb
sorbed the power over government patronage,
more even than the President himself pos
sesses; for he cannot remove from Office with
out the consent Of the Senate. The House has
reason to repent of its action and to be almost
unanimous for the repeal Of the obnoxious
law.


Thus. then, the principle, theory and prac-


tics Of the government have been changed.
| The President is reduced to cipher and the
mere instrument of the Senate, and the direct
representatives OF the people have neither
directly nor indirectly any control over the
Offices or patronage. The government has
become an oligarchy composed Of few poll
ticians or ring in the Senate Chamber. This
| is a singular and grave state Of things. Nor
does there appear to be any way Of reaching
the evil. We see that Senators cling tena-
ciously to the power and privileges they have
| acquired. Il will be hard to wrest these from
them. They form close body and hold their
position for long term. While they endeavor
to make Il appear that they are not opposing
| the President or the win Of the people they
can, by parliamentary tactics, stave of any
action on the Tenure Of Office act; and this,
probably, they win do. What Is President
Grant To do under the circumstances? If he