Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-01
The .ngibIIIty- question.

The Constitution. provides for the election Of
Governor only once in four wears. In case OF
the resignation, death, or other disability OF the
Governor TO perform the duties OF the Office. it
also provides for a succession without the neces-
sity of An election by the people. II the elected
Governor is from any unable to discharge
the duties Of the position, the Constitution says
the Office shall devolve upon the Lieutenant
Governor. aud in case of his disability it shall
then devoIve upon such officer OF Site. elected
BY the people, a the Legislature may elect
Bv law the Legislature has provided that in case
of the disability of the Governor and Lieuten-
ant-Governor to discharge the executive power
ofthe State that il shall be vestel in the Sec
re.ary of State Even in the case of the incom-
petency of the Lieutenant Governor and the
Secretary Of State. from any cause. to discharge
the duties of Governor. if the executive power of
the State should happen to devolve upon either,
the Constitution provides that the Legislature
shall then declare what officer shall act Ms Gov
rnor: and such officer shall act accordingly,
until the disability be removed. or Governor be
elected.
The Constitution does not provide for the
election Of Governor but once in four years, and
at the same time it declares that "the executive
power of the State shall be vested in
Governor" IL provides, however, for
successor or incumbent. in of the
disability of the person elected by the
people without the necessity Of an election.
expression of the popular will The franz
ers Of the Constitution provided for every con-
tngency that they anticipated might occur in
the discharge of the executive power of the State
without the necessity of an election By the peOnla
made for the election of Governor by the PEG
pie If the duties Of the Office should devove upon
the Lieutenant Governor, and none even if both
the elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor
should become disabled to discharge the execu-
tive power Of the State. l. it not clear then. as
any proposition can be. that whoever the Cuusti.
tuition designates shall be vested with the execu
by the people should be disqualified. the Leg
islaiure should select for that position under the
provisions OF the organic law of the SAFE. il Just
as much Governor though he was elect
ell by the people such Ii seems
to us that there cannot be the shadow af doubt
a. To the correctness of this proposition IL
this conclusion he admitted, aud it cannot be
successfully denied. then it follows that OLIVER
p MoRroN has been vested with the executive
power of the State since the IL h day of January,
1861. The Constitution says the Governor "shall
hold his office during four ye,rs, and shall not be
eligible more than four years in any period OF
eight years 2" We make no personal war upon
Governor MORTON. 1t makes to the Democracy
hut little difference who the Republican candi-
date for Governor may be. But if the people OF
the State propose to adhere to the Constitution
and respect its provisions the organic law OF
the State, there can be no doubt but Governor
MoRroS Is ineligible for an election to the Office
of Governor, which he now holds and has held
since tie 18th day of Janutry, 1861, at the ell
suing October election.