President Grant in the beginning undertook to break down this
arrogant claim. He recommended the repeal of the Civil Tenure
Act, the establishment of a system of competitive examinations
for appointments in the civil service and, under the advice
of Attorney-General Hoar, made the nominations to the new
Circuit Court without regard to Senatorial dictation. But
he very soon abandoned this purpose, and formed a close friendship
and alliance with the most earnest opponents of the reform.
While, in my opinion, this claim of the Senators was untenable
and of injurious public consequences, it tended to maintain
and increase the authority of the Senate. The most eminent
Senators--Sumner, Conkling, Sherman, Edmunds, Carpenter, Frelinghuysen,
Simon Cameron, Anthony, Logan--would have received as a personal
affront a private message from the White House expressing
a desire that they should adopt any course in the discharge
of their legislative duties that they did not approve. If
they visited the White House, it was to give, not to receive
advice. Any little company or coterie who had undertaken
to arrange public policies with the President and to report
to their associates what the President thought would have
rapidly come to grief.
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