The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-01

| Mr.. MckEON, of N. Y. moved TO amend the reso-
luton BY striking out the word President, and IN
sening Vice President nov exeercisingthe Once OF
President"
Mr. Mex, said it not in any political view thai
| he had submitted this amendment but for the purpose
Of settling this question, and fixing as guidance
Tor future legislation. lie believed that the Ind.idn-
al now at the head Of Government not President
Of the U. States He referred TO Art. l. Sec D.
Clause B. of the Constitution Of the u States which
| Is as follows; ii
The Senate shall choose their other officers and
also President pro feDpore in the absence Of The
Vice President when he shall exercise the Office OF
President Of the United States"
| He believed by examining this, il would be found
that in Of vacancy in the Office of President the
powers and duties Of the President dcvoive on the
Vice President, but the Vice President did not sd-
vance to the Office Of President He also referred TO
Art. Sec l. Clause 9th Of the Constitution, which
| is as foliowr;
ln Of removal of the President from Office, Of
hrs death, resignation or inability To discharge the
powers and duties oftle said Office the shall de-
volve on the Vice President, and the Congress may
by law provide for the Of death, resgna
ton, or inability, both Of the President and Vice
President declaring what officer shall accordingly
until the disability be removed President shall be
| elected"
| During the last year. VIM Henry Harrison had
been elected President the United States and John
| Tyler, Vice President. The President died one
month hlteT luuugurNllOn. what, then, OtchIlit
OF the Office The Consultation said the powers and
duties of the Office devolve the Vice President and
he commended, those only, and not the office itself
lie farther referred 10 debates on the adoption Of
the Constitution as establishing the same point.
he wished the question 10 he settled entirely
constitutional question: and thus.a precedent esta
| blished Ef.
Mr.. WISE said the vote on this amendment would
settle the relation in which they stood to the acting
President of the United States That individual as
by the Constitution, and by the Of God President
OF the United States. With the deepest sentiments
Of sorrow, he regretted that the office had dcyoved
on him. He referred TO Art 2, Sec %, clause 6, oil
the Constitution the last above quoted)--t provd-
cd "that Congress might by law plovde for the case
of removal DEATH &c of the President Of the United
States, DECLARING -" that the sams"--hat is
tke Office" shall deyolye the Vice President -
This view further supported by the latter part oil
the clause -" and in of the removal death e-
sgnation or inability both Of the President and Vice
President, declaring what officer shall then act as
President, and such officer shall act accordingly" SC
When the President and Vice President both died
we should haze an acting President but when the
Vice President was living the office Of President de-
wolves the Vice President.
! Mr. lNGERSOLL of Pa. then moved that the
| House adjourn; which negatved
| Mr. l. moved to lay this resolution on the table
| this was negatived
| The question then taken, and the amendment
| lost.
| The question recurring the resolution, it was
adopted and Messrs. SARGEANT, Of Pa. and
DAWSON, of Ga, appointed The Committee.
| Mr.. KING, Of Ga, offered the following:
| Resolved, That when the House adjourn they ad-
journ to meet tomorrow at II O'clock
| Which was adopted.
| Mr.. WISE offered the following:
Resored That the s,andingIrules and orders of the
last House Of Representatives be adopted the rules
and orders of this House for the next ensuing ten
days. and that committee Of nine members be APP
pointed to revise the said rules and orders and to
port thereon within the said ten days.
After som, conversation between Messrs. Wise
and Underwood, Mr.. Adams moved an amendment
to the resolution by inserting after the words last
House of Representative" excepting the 2st rule,
which is hereby rescinded'
Pending which question: motion of Mr.. BRIGGs,
the House adjourned at quarter past five O'Clock