The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-09-20
PERIL OF THE vIoB-PRBsIDBNOY
Startling Condolences.

It is a singular fact in our history that
while from 1889 to I84I-6fty-two years
we lost no President while in Office.
though five of them during that time
served two terms eacH, yet Ia the next
twenty four years ending in April, 1865,
we lost three Presidents-Harrison, Tay-
lor and Lincoln, aud within the same Pc
riod it is well known that an attempt was
made to poison fourth, James Buchan-
an. These things have caused thinking
men to fear that General Harrison aud
General Taylor were each poisoned, as
was. attempted, but unsuccessful, with
Mr.. Buchanan. This suspicion was
strengthened with many when Mr.. Lin
coin was assas siuated soon after his Sec
oud election.
To one who has not examined this sub
Ject IN all its bearing and condolences, it
may appear strange that Mr.. Lincoln was
not assassinated during his first term; but
if he recollect that during that term Mr.
Hamlin, most iGcoTruptible Union man,
was Vice President, and would have sue
ceeded Mr.. Lincoln, he will see that moth
ing would have been gained by Mr.. Lin
coins assassination then. To take the
lives of both would not only have exposed
the plot, but even then Mr. Foster, the
President OF the Senate, would still have
carlied out the policy of Mr. Lincoln, and
nc thing would have been gained by re-
moving Mr.. Lincoln during his first
term.
Now, let it be remembered, that be-
sides the singular fact that from 1889 to
l84I we lost no President. and yet, from
l84l TO 1865. less than half that time, we
lost three by death and the life of another
was attempted to be taken, aud then re-
fleet that in each instance of the success
sion of Vice President, though elected on
the same ticket with the deceased Presi-
dent. the whole policy of the government
IN relation to the great issues of the day
was at once changed, aud we cannot ra
tionaly resist the conclusion the Vice
Presidency had much to do in presenting
the inducements and offering the fit occa
sion for the sudden removal of the Presi-
dent. Such coincidence of three almost
successive deaths of Presidents, in so short
time, and the more unaccOuntable coin
cidence that in every instance the policy
of the government was Immediately
changed to suit the political party opposed
to the deceased President, and also the
Vice President himself, must cause every
rejecting mind to fear that General Har
rison aud General TAYLOR, as well as Mr..
Lincoln, were fouly dealt with. Had
Mr.. Buchanan been poisoned. it is easy
to see what John G. Breckinrilge would
have done. The whole government would
have been surrendered to the South, and
all resistance to seces sion and the Confed
eracy would have been prevented. Such
no doubt was the plot at that particular
time. But Mr.. Buchanan's preference
for old Bourbon saved him and saved the
government from this well-condueted
coup d'etat.
Though I may be right in my conjec
lures as to the fatality which has attended
on Presidents in the last twenty-five
years, yet 1 would not be understood as
insinuating that in all-perhaps in none
of these cases-the Vice-Presidents had
any direct hand in tie plot to take the life
of the President But the guilty actors
at least understood that a change in the
Executives would bring about change
of policy to suit them, and on this assn
rance they acted, and have never been dis
aPpoin ted.
Would it not be well, then, to remove
this temptation, and place the Executive
in position that no one could calculate
an advantage from his removal. The sub
ject is worthy Reconsideration. The Vice
President is, at best, useless appendage
to the government, and has very many
times, in our history, given US much
trouble, even saying nothing about the
death, poisoning, or assassination of four
Presidents since 1871 Correspondence
Cincinnati Gazette.