Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1855-09-05
From the N. Y Tribune.
2 THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.

1t is an error that Mr. Atchison IS yet mem
Der Of the United States Senate HIS term ex-
PRED last March, and MIR. Jesse d. Bright,
VIII, filled the chair of the Senate for some
time previous to the adjournment, is now thu
presiding officer of that body Mr. Bright
would become the Acting President in the
event of the death Of Gen. p rec. Tie provi-
son> of the law upon The subject of Succession
are these: he Constitution Cart. IL. Sec. y
says that SIN case Of the removal of the Presl-
dent from office, or Of his death, reslgnat on, or
Inability 10 discharge the powers ard duties Of
sa,d office, the same shall devolve on the Vice
President; and the Congress may by law pro.
vide for the case of removal, death, resis nation,
Or inability, both of the President and Vice.
Pres dent, declaring what officer shall then act
as President, and SUI b officer shall act accord
inely, until the disability be removed, q
President shall be elected" This is ali that
the Constitution says OH the su! ject. But in
March, 1892, Congress passed a law, pursuant
to The special authority conferred IN the Con-
removal, death ,,r inability of both p. es dent
and Vice President, the President Of the Sem
ate pro tempore shall act as President of the
United s ate and in case there be 10 Presi-
dent of the Senate, then the Speaker of the
House of Representatives will act as President
But the next section provides for a special
election BY the people, enacting that whenever
the Offices Of both Presid mt and Wee Preslden.
become vaca {, The Secretary of State shall no.
tify tue Governors of the Stat, 8, and publish
III at least one newspaper in eech State that
Electors must be chosen within the thirty-four
days preceding the first " edne sday Of the COM
ing December. This official notice must be
given at least two months before the said
Wednesday,; but in case the time is less than
two months, the special election would go over
until the next year at the same time, unless a
regular election should intervene. thus, in
case of the death of Mr.. Pierce, (Which we
trust will not happen for many years YETI both
the Offices Of President and Vice President
would then he vacant, Vice President King
having died some time ago. By virtue of his
office as President of the Senate, Mr. Bright
would become the acting President, with all
the powers and privileges IF the present Execu-
tive. But Secretary Marcy would at once no.
tify the Governors of The various States of the
held on the Tuesday following the first Mon
day in November next. for Electors of Presi-
dent and Vice. President These Electors
would meet in their severa, capitals on the first
Wednesday IN December and vote in the usual
manner The votes would be opened in Con-
gress on the second Wednesday in February
next, and tire persons fonnd to be elected would
be inaugurated as P esident ard Vice Presid snt
on the 4th day Of March, to serve for one year
only, that beng the remainder OF Mr.. Pierce's
term. But it the supposed death or removal
of Genei al Pierce should not happen until after
the first Wednesday in October. No special
election would be held his year, or next year
either, Slice regular election then occurs; and
therefore Mr.. Bright would be President until
March 3, 1857 Should Mr.. Bright meantime
vacate the Office, it must remain vacant until
the meeting of the next Congress, as the term
Of Speaker of the House died out with the
House itself on the Sd of March last On the
meeting OF Congress in December, The person
elected to preside over the Senate in place OF
Mr. Bright, would become President for the re-
mainder Of the term; and in case Of his demise.
the Speaker of the House would act until
another President of the Sraate was chosen,
and so on until the reguisrly-eiected officer $
should be inaugurated on the 9TH Of March,
1851. ~. ss