They came not to help the South, but to
make money out of it, and under their rule, the condition of the
Southern States became truly pitiful.
But at length this wretched time passed. The troops were withdrawn,
the carpet-baggers followed, and the government once more came into
the hands of better men.
Meanwhile bitterness had increased between the President and Congress.
And now in 1867 Congress brought a bill to lessen the President's
power. This was called the Tenure of Office Bill. By it, the President
was forbidden to dismiss any holder of a civil office without the
consent of the Senate. The command of the army was also taken from
him, and he was only allowed to give orders to the soldiers through
the commander-in-chief.
The President of course vetoed this bill. But Congress passed it
in spite of his veto. This can be done if two-thirds of the Members
of the House and the Senate vote for a bill. So the Tenure of Office
Bill became law.
Now the President has grown to dislike Edwin Stanton, the Secretary
of War. he disliked him so heartily indeed that he would no longer
speak to him, and so he determined in spite of the Tenure of Office
Bill to get rid of a man he looked upon as an enemy. So Stanton
was dismissed. But Stanton refused to go. And when his successor,
General Thomas, appointed by the President, walked into the War
office, he found Stanton still in possession, with his friends
round him.
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