The law passed in 1867 was exceedingly radical, and in effect
distinctly purported to confer upon the Senate the power of preventing
the removal of officers without the consent of that body. It was
provided that during a recess of the Senate an officer might be
suspended only in case it was shown by evidence satisfactory to the
President, that the incumbent was guilty of misconduct in office or
crime, or when for any reason he should become incapable or legally
disqualified to perform his duties; and that within twenty days after
the beginning of the next session of the Senate, the President should
report to that body such suspension, with the evidence and reasons for
his action in the case, and the name of the person designated by the
President to perform temporarily the duties of the office. Then follows
this provision:
And if the Senate shall concur in such suspension and advise
and consent to the removal of such officer, they shall so
certify to the President, who may thereupon remove said
officer, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate
appoint another person to such office. But if the Senate shall
refuse to concur in such suspension, such officer so suspended
shall forthwith resume the functions of his office.
On the 5th of April, 1869, a month and a day after President Johnson
was succeeded in the Presidency by General Grant, that part of the
act of 1867 above referred to, having answered the purpose for which
it was passed, was repealed, and other legislation was enacted in its
place. It was provided in the new statute that the President might “in
his discretion,” during the recess of that body, suspend officials
until the end of the next session of the Senate, and designate suitable
persons to perform the duties of such suspended officer in the
meantime; and that such designated persons should be subject to removal
in the discretion of the President by the designation of others. The
following, in regard to the effect of such suspension, was inserted in
lieu of the provision on that subject in the law of 1867 which I have
quoted:
And it shall be the duty of the President within thirty days
after the commencement of each session of the Senate, except
for any office which in his opinion ought not to be filled, to
nominate persons to fill all vacancies in office which existed
at the meeting of the Senate, whether temporarily filled or
not, and also in the place of all officers suspended; and
if the Senate, during such session, shall refuse to advise
and consent to an appointment in the place of any suspended
officer, then, and not otherwise, the President shall nominate
another person as soon as practicable to said session of the
Senate for said office.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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