Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-06-16

IHE OFFICE OF VIcE PREsIDENT.--Ih There |
are some doubts entertained ana not wisnout
reasonable grounds, touching the real nature |
ofthc Office now held by Mr. Southland. as Pres
dent Of the Senate pro tenspore. The New
Arb Daily Advertiser Of Monday contains let |
ter on the subject from the Hon. Geo. Poindex- |
ter 10 Mr. Southland, in which the writer MAIN |
tains that the latter has become the successor
Of President TYLER, as Vice President OF the |
United States precisely as he held that Office |
before the death Of the late President.
Il would certainly imply some difficulty TO
maintain that there is no Vice President OF the
United States at present. Again by taking a
Senator from his seat and placing him perma-
nenfiv in the presiding char Of the Senate he
Is deprived Of his privilege Of voting except in
case Of a tiei he is prevented from participa-
ting in discussion In that position is he Sen
ator If not, what kind Of anomalous charac-
ter does he hold The language ofthe Con-
stitution leaves the subject in obscurity. We
give the concluding portion Of Mr. Poindexter's
letter:
viii now proceed to notice more particu-
larly the Office OF Vice President. You, as Pre-
sdent pro tempore of the Senate villas mat
ter Of right, take the chair at the commence
ment Of the next session of Congress,a and there
being no person in existence who can appear
and determine your office, its Charters per Sc
changed from pro tempore or temporary APP
pointment to one which can only be determin-
cd by death, resignation, impeachment, or at
tho end Of four years from the 4th Of March
last.
There is no express clause in the Coustitu-
ton as to the succession in the event OF vacan-
cy in the Office Of Vice President,and the ques-
ton must ofnecessity rest on the structure OF
the Government IN reference to the legitimate
exercise Of the granted powers. Can these
powers be fully executed if there be no Vice
President of the United Statesl | have =lrea-
dy shown that they cannot The possibility OF
. a permanent vacancy in the second office OF
the Governments manifestly inconsistent with
the plainest dictates OF common sense, and
could never have entered, Into the view of the
trainers Of the Constitution. The Senate may
choose President pro tem2ore whenever he
ee CHE Vice Preeident) shall exercise the office
Of President-art. l, sec. 3. The words ofthis
clause clearly imply the continued existence Of
the Vice President, who may appear and take
the chair at future day it contemplates a
,Ytsmporary exercise of the office of President
and not the full and entire investiture of the
powers and duties Of chief magistrate. But
when the incumbent abandons the Office o.
Vice President, and cannot again appear in the
" President pro tenlpore of the Senate IS merged,
7asand whoever may fill it takes at once the va
canuoffice of Vice President. In no other man.
Ter can the integrity of our system be maintain
cd, and in no other manner can the granted
powers in the Constitution be perpetually eX-
ercised. IfPrcsident Tyler should die or re-
sign before the expiration of his term, the sue
cession would devolve on the President pro
fe1Dore of the Senate, in case there be no Vice
President, under the provisions ofthe act OF
1892, passed in pursuance OF the Constitution.
" hat would be the operation and effect OF
this act if the second Office in the Government
+" should not be filed at time that the event may
: happen Your right to succeed TO that high
!, Office would depend on your occupancy OF the
chair from day to day throughout every session
Of Congress, to its close. You could not sub
- stitute member to perform the duties beyond
an adjournment. You could not withdraw from
the Senate, according to established usage, TO
enable the body TO choose presiding otlcerto
sact as such in case of your death or resigna-
ton during the recess. Your absence, from
sickness or inability to discharge the duties of
thechair, or from any other cause, would CON-
pei the Senate TO choose a President pro tenn
pore, and you would of course be superseded
unless you are regarded as the successor ofthe
late Vice President There could not be more
than one President Of the Senate pro tsmpore
NJ the same time but ifsuch plurality in the
Office were admitted by the Senate, in case Of
the death ofthe President, which Of the two
would succeed him! make these suggestions |
which might be enlarged, to enforce the prin-
eiple which I advocate, and 10 demonstrate the |
propvicty 81 establishing a perpetual success |
sion 10 The Office OF Vice President when va |
eancy shall happen, which would serve as
precedent on all future occasions like the pres
ent. s,ts..
These arc my views on the object, hastily
drawn out, and VI erroneous, the error can rea-
Oily be detected BY the august body over whose
deliberations you preside.
Ihavs honor TO be,
- With great respect,
Your friend and ob't serv't,
GEO. POINDEXrER.