as has been pointed out, this habitual deference of the House had
enabled the Senate to originate a voluminous tariff act in the
form of an amendment to the Internal Revenue Bill voted by the
House.

In addition to these extensions of power through superior address
in management, the ascendancy of the Senate was fortified by
positive law. In 1867, when President Johnson fell out with the
Republican leaders in Congress, a Tenure of Office Act was passed
over his veto, which took away from the President the power of
making removals except by permission of the Senate. In 1869, when
Johnson's term had expired, a bill for the unconditional repeal
of this law passed the House with only sixteen votes in the
negative, but the Senate was able to force a compromise act which
perpetuated its authority over removals.* President Grant
complained of this act as "being inconsistent with a faithful and
efficient administration of the government," but with all his
great fame and popularity he was unable to induce the Senate to
relinquish the power it had gained.

* The Act of April 5, 1869, required the President, within thirty
days after the opening of the sessions, to nominate persons for
all vacant offices, whether temporarily filled or not, and in
place of all officers who may have been suspended during the
recess of the Senate.


This law was now invoked by Republicans as a means of
counteracting the result of the election. Such was the feeling of
the times that partisanship could easily masquerade as