“LIBERIA. | a 701

- A very important act was passed at this session of the legislature, in-
troducing into that body.the:- house) two native.chiefs from each of the
principal tribes living in and around Liberia, for the purpose of consult-
ing on native affairs. Had Liberia adopted the policy indicated by the
spirit of this act twenty-five years ago, the country would not be in such
signal want of men to-day. However, it remains to be seen whether
this act will be executed, or remain, as many other equally valuable
laws, neglected and dormant on the statutes of the republic. .

Quite an exciting question arose between the senate and the President
respecting cabinet and other executive officers, whom it has been cus-
tomary at the beginning of each administration to submit for confirma-
tion of the senate prior to the adjournment of that body ; thus avoiding
appointments during the interval that may meet with rejection upon
the re-assembling of the senate. The observance of this usage seems to
have been the invariable practice. In this instance, the senate held
that it was both the pravtice and the law; while the President main-
tained that all executive officers appointable by him he was constitu-
tionally entitled to appoint and continue during his pleasure, without.
consulting the senate’s will as to the period for which such officers should
be appointed. (See inclosure 4.) This difference of opinion created-an
exciting debate in the senate, during which senators accused the Presi-
dent with attempting to exercise prerogatives unknown to the law and
usage, and of acting with a stronger hand than the law or the spirit of
republican institutions allows; and that if such was the spirit of his
policy, he had in effect already leaped from republicanism into the
bounds of monarehy. -This question originated by the President. hold-
ing over into the new administration the honorable the secretary of the
treasury. Seuators took position ostensibly with reference to all officers
to be appointed by the President, but I am convinced their opposition
was really to the continuance of the secretary of the treasury, with whose
management of the finances the senate seemed displeased. Could the
senate have received the submission of the name of this officer, I believe
he would have been denied confirmation. The position of the President
might have been rendered exceedingly embarrassing had not the house
of representatives manifested little or no interest in.the matter. They
of the house morally and indirectly gave to the President their support,
by urging the senate, in the heat of the discussion between the Presi-
dent and the senate, to fix a day on which tq adjourn. Having by this
means brought themselves to a disagreement with the senate, they, by
resolution, requested the President to exercise his constitutional privi- —
lege and adjourn the legislature. To this the President consented, and
adjourned that body on the fourteenth day of February, 1874, pending

the debate in the senate. (Seeinclosure 5.) — - | oo
-Itake this opportunity to inform the Department of the retirement. —
of Hon. H. B. W. Johnson from the post of secretary of state. Mr.
Johnson assigns as his reason for this retirement his inability, on ae-
count of the absence of progressive policy in the conduct of the affairs
of government, to acquiesce with the views of the administration. —

Hon. J. E. Moore (formerly temporarily in charge of the archives of
this legation) is appointed successor to Mr. Johnson. _ ne

IT have, &e., ye |

J. MILTON TURNER.