Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-17
axsroRsoAL "REMINISCENCES.

evessthing he deemed to be wrong.
Soon after the death of President Harri-
SOD, in April, 1s4l, Mr.. Cooper hap
pened to be in Buffalo on visit to his
SON in-law, Mr.. Phinney. the book seller.
UP to that time there had been no prece-
dent established as to the precise title
that should be assumed by Vice
President succeeding to the Presidency.
That subject was discussed by Mr.. Tyler
and the members of the Harrison cabinet;
but Mr.. Tyler promptly decided the
point by assuming the title of President.
Mr.. Cooper made that decision the SUBJ
ject of an ingenious and interesting ar
ticle, which was published as editorial in
the Buffalo Daily Courier, aiming to
prove that Mr.. Tyler should have desig'
mated himself "Vlce President and Act
ing President of the United States" and
not President. The article attracted wide
attention, and was, we believe, one of
the last ever written by Mr.. Cooper for
the press. The decision of MIR. Tyler
established the precedent, which was
afterward adopted by Mr.. Fillmore On
the death of President Tyler in 1860, and
by Mr.. johnson, on the assassination OF
President Lincoln, in 1865.
The Albany Argus says: A brief refer
ence to the circumstances under which
Dir. Tyler determined to assume the title
of President, on succeeding to the place
made vacant by the death of Gen. Har'
rison, may not be uninteresting in this
| connection. 1t will tend to vindicste the
truth of history, and at the same time
show how events unimportant and trivial
in themselves, frequently exercise large
influence in determining the practice of
governments and shaping the destinies of
parties.
We do not doubt the correctness of the
view entertained by Mr.. Cooper respect
ing the title of Vice-President on sue
ceedipg to the Presidency; and under
other circumstances this view would have
been adopted by the government. The
provision in the Constitution covering the
case is couched in the most precise and
explicit terms. The language of the fun
damental law is, that when the Presidency
becomes vacant by death or otherwise,
the Vice President shall succeed to the
powers and duties of the executive Office.
Mark the exact words-not that he should
become President, but shall Succeed to
the powers and duties of the executive
Office"
The Cabinet of Gen. Harrison hsd no
doubt of the meaning or intent of this
clause Of the Constitution. On the death
of the President, The question was con-
sidered in Cabinet meeting, the Vice
President being at his home in Williams
burgh, Va; and it was unanimously de
cided that the proper title of the new
Chief Magistrate would be "Vice Presi-
dent, Acting President" Mr.. Tyler was
spprised of the judgment of the Cabinet
before he came TO Washington. His
mind was not clear on the subject, but he
was inclined at frat to concur in the
view taken of the question by Mr.
Webster and his associates in the Gov
eminent. And some OF his most judici-
Gus friends in Virginia insisted that this
was not only the correct thing to do, but
the wisest and most discreet course to
pursue with reference TO the material
well being of Mr.. Tyler. Upon reflec-
ton, however, ard after consultation
with those who sympathized in his exul.
tation at the prospect before him, he de-
termined TO assume the name and style of
President. He argued that if he was
merely the acting President, question
might be raised in respect to the salary of
the Office; and the difference between
five thousand dollars and twenty-five
thousand dollars per annun was al i'm
poItant one.
The Cabinet acquiesced, not very cheer
fully TO be sure, but without remonsuance;
the relations between Mr.. Tyler and the
Harrison Cabinet not being well. defined,
and the hazard of q rupture being too
great TO be incurred, when the point in
dispute was not vital one. There were
controlling reasons for preserving coed
understanding with Mr.. Tyler, and the
Wing party, asrepresented in the Cabinet,
carefully absiained at that time from pre-
cipitating a collision. A few months
later, the differences became so much ex-
asperated that final explosion became
inevitable.
Immediately on the opening of the ex-
ira session of Congress, few weeks af-
ter the accession of Mr.. Tyler, Mr.. Nc
Keen, then a member of the House from
the city of New York, moved a resolu-
lion declaring that Mr.. Tyler was Acting
President of the United States, conform
ably to the constitutional provision. This
resolution was generally supported by the
Democrats, but the Wings voted it down,
thus sustaining the precedent established
by Mr.. Tyler, and determining the ques.
ton for all time.
If it had remained open up to the time
when Mr.. Clay forced the Wings TO quar-
rel with Mr.. Tyler, and thus overthrow
that powerful organization, who can
doubt that it would have been decided the
ether way, and that when the Vice Presi-
dent succeeded TO the powers and duties
of the executive cflice," he would have
been Acting President, and nothing else.
Practically it is question of not much
consequence; and We have alluded to it
chiefly to Illustrate the position laid down
al the outset, that matters inC0nsideTable
10 themselves have often great inf fence
in governmental operations.
-----s---a-----z@~---@
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
The name of Mr.. Jefferson continues
TO grow in brightness as tina passes. He
yves pTnnbaticallV E!One of the few. the