They claimed that they were entitled to protection like native-born American citizens everywhere on the face of the earth.
The number of civil officers appointed by the Executive had largely increased.

This put an undue and most dangerous power into the hands of the party controlling the Government.
There was a strong feeling that this should be checked.
Besides; during the controversy with Andrew Johnson the members of the two Houses of Congress had come to think that they were entitled to control all appointments of civil officers in their own States and Districts, and they were ready with scarce an exception to stand by each other in this demand.
They had passed, over the veto of President Johnson, an act of disputed and quite doubtful constitutionality, seriously crippling the Executive power of removal from office, without which the President's constitutional duty to see that the laws are faithfully executed cannot be performed.

So each Senator and Representative was followed like a Highland Chieftain "with his tail on," by a band of retainers devoted to his political fortunes, dependent upon him for their own, but supported at the public charge.
This not only threatened the freedom of election, but itself brought a corrupting influence into the Administration of the Government.
But there was a still greater danger than all these in the corruption which then, as always, followed a great war.

Unprincipled and greedy men sought to get contracts and jobs from the Government by the aid of influential politicians.

This aid they paid for sometimes, though I think rarely, in money, and in contributions to political campaigns, and in the various kinds of assistance necessary to maintain in power the men to whom they were so indebted.