, 1866-11-15

The question of the succession 10 the Pre-.
Eidency, If Congress should think fit to
impeach Andrew johnson, is attracting some
attention. The Constitution provides that
the President and Vice President shall hold
Office for the term of four years, nnd that
upon the death, removal, or resignation OF
the President, the duties Of the Office shall
dcvolvc upon tho Vice President. The Con-
stitution also authorizes Congress to provide
by law for the succession, in the event ofthe
death, OF disability, Of both the President
and Vice President. The net ofl792 provides
that in such case the President pro tcmpore
ufthc Senate shall act as President until a
new President shall he elected, and If there
be no President pro tsan1>ore fthc Senate, then
the Speaker OF the House Of Representatives
shall act as President until an election shall
L.. held. The act provides further, that in
such an event the Secretary of State shall
forthwith issue wri's for an election Of Presi-
dent and Vice President. OmlttinE the YER
biagc and machinery Of the law, 1t prescribcs
such rule Of procedure that IN election for
President mud Vice President would be held
in 1867 instead Of 1868. Until the 4th OF
March, 1SCS, Mr.. Foster, Of Connecticut, the
President pro temlore Of the Senate, would
be the President Mr.. Fosters term OF Office
rs Senator expires on the 4th Of March, 1851.
r But, from the moment that he becomes
President, he ceases to be Senator. Hence
the tact that his Senatorial term would have
expired on particular day, If he had con.
tinued to be Senator, does not operate to
limit his term as President, which would cou.
tinue until March 4th, 1SGs.
1t is an cfror to suppose that another cleo.
tion for President aud Vice President would,
in the case mentioned, require to be held in
lsG0- The Constitution provides that the
President, when elected, shall hold his Office
-four years. No exception is made, either in
the Constitution, or in any law Of Congress,
fer the case Of an election coming betw cen
two ordinary terms Of Office. The President,
when elected, must hold his Office four years,
/ unless his term be Interrupted By death, re.
moral, or voluntary resignation.
The best thing Congress can do, TO pcsma.
ncntly purity the Presidential office, Is tc
propose an akaendment to the Constitution
! making tleI I3esident ineligible to second
term, and the Vice President likewise inclig
ible In any case where he actually
succeeds to the Presidency. Andrew
johnson might have been q better ma,
If his pate had not been stuffed
with the idea that the Southern rebels aut
Northern Copperhcads would rc-clect linn j,
16GS. Nobody will have any scruplc abou
voting for such an amendment to the Consti
tuition noso. While alr. Lincoln was in otl1c
it was deemed ungrucious to propose such Al
amendment, because it would operate agains
him. But nobody will stop to inquir
whether it is unErac.ous toTard the presen
occupant OF the Executive chair. Probabl
there never will be time when equal una
nimily can be found in favor of that amend
mcnt. The necessity for it is admitted b.
all, and the only difficulty in getting
passed before, has been found in the auxict
ofthc Presidents friends in Congress t
secure his reelection. Nobody desires Ar
drew Johnson's reelection. Therefore, thi
is the time, Of all others, TO adopt 1t. Til
amendment should be adopted by ITSELF s
that it might be ratitled separately, and ne
clogged with other things Of less importanc,
| ar 1,.s 1,nNnlnritv