The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-04-29
THE VICE PRESIDENCY.

THE VICE PRESIDENCY.
According to the Charleston Courier, "oul
Constitution was half century old before
any instance occurred of the death of Presi'
dent in office. The decease of Vice Presi.
dent King is the first instance of death Of
the incumbent of that office, and the fact
may suggest inquiries as to the constitution.
al or statutory provisions for such an emer.
gency.
"Our Constitution only provides, directly
for the death, removal, &c, of the President
substituting for him the Vice President; but
by that instrument CART. 2, Sec. l, 9th Clause,)
the Congress- were empowered to provide, by
law, for the death, removal, &c, of the Vice
President. The power thus vested in Con-
gress was exercised in the Act of March lst
1872, entitled Act relative to the election
of a President and Vice President tswn1
United States, and declaring the Officer who
shall act as President, in case of vacancies in
the Offices, both of President and Vice Presi.
dent
awe subjoin the 9th and 10th Sections Of
this Act, being all relating to the point before
us.
Sec. 8. And be IL further enacted, That in
case of removal, death, resignation or ina
bility, both of the President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, the President of
the Senate pro tempore, and in case there shall
be no President of the Senate, then the Speak
er of the House of Representatives for the
time being, shall act as President of the
United States until the disability be removed
or President shall be elected.
Sec. 10. And be ii further enacted, That
whenever the offices of President and Vice
President shall both become vacant, the Sec
retary of State shall forwith cause a notiica-
ton thereof to be made to the Executive OF
every State; and shall also cause the same to
be published in at least one of the newspa-
pers printed in each State, specifying that
Electors of the President of the United
States shall be appointed or chosen in the
several States within thirty-four days pre-
ceding the first Wednesday in December,
then next ensuing: Provided, There shall be
the space of two months between the date
of such notification and the said lst Wednes-
day in December; but if there shall not be
the space of two months between the date OF
such notification and the Ist Wednesday in
December, and if the term for which the
President and Vice President last in office
were elected, shall not expire on the Sd OF
March next ensuing, then the Secretary OF
| State shall specify in the notification that the
Electors shall be appointed or chosen within
thirty-four days preceding the first Wednes.
day in December in the year next ensuing
Within which time the Electors shall meet
and give their votes on the said first Wednes.
day in December, and the proceedings and
duties of the sal Electors and Others, shall
be pursuant to the directions prescribed in
| this act.
at will thus be seen that no provision has
been made to supply vacancy in the Vice
Presidency co nomine, and it is only in case o.
the removal, death, &c, of both President
and Vice President, that the President or thu
Speaker of the House of Representative
becomes President of the United States a
interim. The Presidency of the Senate il
now filled by Hon. David r. Atchson, o
Missouri. The last Speaker Of the House o
Representatives was Hon. Linn Boyd, o
Kentucky, but as the House whose legisla
tive tenure dates from the 4th March last
has not met or organized, there is in con
stitutional strictness no speaker at present.