They claimed that they were entitled
to protection like native-born American citizens everywhere
on the face of the earth.
The number of civil officers appointed by the Executive had
largely increased. This put an undue and most dangerous
power into the hands of the party controlling the Government.
There was a strong feeling that this should be checked.
Besides; during the controversy with Andrew Johnson the members
of the two Houses of Congress had come to think that they
were entitled to control all appointments of civil officers
in their own States and Districts, and they were ready with
scarce an exception to stand by each other in this demand.
They had passed, over the veto of President Johnson, an act
of disputed and quite doubtful constitutionality, seriously
crippling the Executive power of removal from office, without
which the President's constitutional duty to see that the
laws are faithfully executed cannot be performed. So each
Senator and Representative was followed like a Highland Chieftain
"with his tail on," by a band of retainers devoted to his
political fortunes, dependent upon him for their own, but
supported at the public charge.
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