Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-10-11
out head to the government, swhoswiIl tell

which they may undertake to solve and
therefore. may solve to suit themselves; aud
instead Of hayin gan intesregnum, Mr. Breck.
/ inrilge, bcing tlien member Of the Senate
they may elect lin President offs that body
and treat him as President Of the U. States
after the 4tli of March,. The Constitution oil
the United States appears to have lcfta very
unfortunate. it may prove, some day. very
dangerous, gap. 1t is possible that con-
struction may close that gap, but none has
yet 1t declares, in the event Of the Death,
resignation, or disability of the President and
Vice President, happening after entrance in
to Office, Con grcss may declare what officer
shall discharge the duties OF President, till re-
moyal Of the disability oT-an election.
Congress has provided that the President Of
the Senate becomes, For the time being, the
! President, and in lis absence, the Speaker OF
the House OF Representatives, becomes the
| President But there seems to be no pro-
vision for failure 10 (lcct both President and
Vice President. The CunStituton-aud the
law which WIS intended TO provide for the
vacancy Of tie Presidency follows the Ian
guage OF the Constitntion-doe not author
ize Congress to- proyid for that case. There
seems to be no provision anywhere for the
case of the Presidential office being absolutely
vacant at the commencement of II tcrn,-tLe
case Of an absolute failure to elect either n
| President or Vice President. Whether in
that contingency the President pro tempore Of
the Senate would assun G TO exercise tie now
crs O President Of the United States, or wlcth-
or it woud be treated by the Senate ithe on
| Is legal body existing on the 4th OF MARCH,
rs vacant, no mind can now determine; and
legal arguments may possibly be adducea on
both sides. We may well rest assured that
the majority of the Senate will settle it in
which ever way will best suit their interests
st rests with them it rests with no one else;
you and have nc power over it. When the
matter goes to the Senate, if they see fit to
make no election, we are pushed upon this
dangerous alternative, a vacant or disputed
Presidency.
| if the people wish to run afcul of these dif-
| fculties, well and good. They were not o.
| ri2inally intended to be made by bargaining
| politicians. The provision Of tile CynStitu-
ton is for case Of accident or f,lurc, after a
bona f'de cfolt Of the people to elect, NOT for
Il conspiracy Of few politicians in a corner,
in ore State of the United States, 10. adjourn
| their political di&cultcs, aud their. personal
hatrcds, into the Halls Of Congress. i, there
fore enter my protest solemny against any
such style Of electiorecring. Others may en-
gage in il. In the State Of New York, it is
none Of my business. am not called upon
to vote for Mr.. d ,uglas or Mr.. Brcckinriigc,
and have nothing more 10 say about it, cx.
cart that it is with them; hut it is not our
style, here in Maryland, o.: standing TO our
principles, and conducting our canvass, and
doing our best to e Ct our own candidates.
Great applause
What have said, gentlemen, covers the
exposition desired to make to you this eve
ming. am aware that there is great cry
about seetlonaism, and great scramble for
tie vacant title Of National. / wish, gentle
mcn, that there were National candidate
for the Presidency. ! wish there We're a re-
lIly National party--uot merely one which
uaS the principles that will suit the whole
land, but Que whose power extended unbro-
ken from North to s nth, as did the Wig
party. in It's days Of glory. CApplausc.1 !
trust that, ERE | die, shall again soc tue
lines Of these divisions oblitcratcd. But when
people talk about scctioualism, and on, par
~ casts upon another the imputation of be-
ing sectional. am free for my part to say
t at they are all sectional, in any proper
sense. Mr. Douglas--is he National can
lidste? He is, it would seem, the regular
nominee Of the Democratic party; but The
Democratic party is not the nation for the
regular Democratic party is as much whole
party, MS man ID whole when eleven by q
sabre from head to heels Where is his
strength? In the North, He has few
supporters i'll the South, IT is true. Mr..
Brcrliniiige--is he national candidate =
He has great strerg 9Th in the South Whet-
cr it will be as powerful there as he supposcs,
remoins TO be seen. Circumstances now in
iicate that somebody will have say, in no.
litica matters, in tllc $ nth besides the u ON.
ocrats, hereafter but his strength il in tho
South. IN the North it is the sllrurk shank
Of a drcripid Ola man. Mr. Iincoln's strength
is unloultedly in the North hc has sup
p rters in some @! the Ter slave States. =
Is Mr.. Bells strength in the South, although
he has supporters sporadralIy over the whole
North?
Gcutlcmcn, it is the misery Of our condi-
ton that turn wherever we may, we find that
this inftrnal strife has split every body into n
thousand pieces; aud TO man can tell where
to find the piece that belongs to him.
Laughter Nay, more, gentlemen, if may
be allowed To quote words which found in
sacred place. from very eloquent gentle
man, tRev. Mr.. StCckton,l whom, doubtless.
many o. You have heard in the pulpit here in
Baltimore, ] say Of the condition of the rco-
pie Of this conntry AMI its party, especially
Of that great Opposition party to the Demo
Gratis which now is rent into fragments and
struggling tlgctlier, as he said Of the Chris
tim r,lgian; that the vase IN which the pre-
cieus spirit of Christianity was held had been
broken ly seetdran st'ie int 50 many pieces
That not only was its beauty marrcd aud gone
anl its precious essence poured out and lost.
but that h, who Oh a mission OF love rttcrnp-
ted To collcbt its fragments and put them to-
Gchcr, was in danger in the attempt to re-
construct tue vase, of cutting his fingers. II
is the dangcr--it is the sirknts' Of the times:
and instead of attempting to cure it, men
who ought to know better. are acting so as
and they wrap him up in blankets. His blood |
is boiling. and they dose him with strong
drinks and fre-watcr. and call that--c,lring |
Gentlemen, there is a degree ofrimidty that |
Is, Of all things, in my Judgment, the most dan
rerous in political life Hall the blood that
was shed in the French Revolution was shed
from sheer terror. 1T was no! courage; il was
not feroeitg, it was sheer terror that made
,bem cut their neighhors throats to-day, lest
hose neighbors should cut theirs tomorrow,
Flat Is the state Of mind in which the conduct,
IF too many in this canvass tends to throw the
pie Of the United States. ! lift my voice
against it.
Whether these sentiments are popular here
,r not, is 10 me matter OF secondary moment.
have duty 10 perform 10 myself, as well as
o you. Iacree with that most honorable and
gentleman, my friend, Mr.. Mill
on, Of Norfolk, who, in his late letter, said If
am not mistaken, that he thought it his duty
o warn his constituents, as well when there
eas danger of invasion of their rights, MS
when, in point of fact, there was none. And,
citing upon that high principle, | say here
low, this night, that peace is within our grasp,
{ we only see fit TO hold fast to it. If we
hoose to encourage war we may encourage
t too far. ... ..
: Gentlan,nn Tiara La. Loan a xa.. &c i..... |