The small minority was composed of Republicans.

The Democrats, who had solidly voted against the Tenure-of-office bill two years before, voted now with entire consistency for its repeal, and with them also, in solid ranks, voted the men who, in the preceding Congress, had clamored most loudly for Johnson's decapitation.
When the bill reached the Senate, there was a disposition on the part of some leading members of that body to pass it as promptly as it had been passed by the House.

Mr.Morton urged that it be put on its passage without referring it; but the Senate was not prepared for such haste, and on motion of Mr.Trumbull, the Bill was sent to the Judiciary Committee.

That Committee reported it without delay to the Senate, with an amendment in the form of a substitute.

The House bill was a simple repeal in the fewest possible words.