New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-12-19
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1872.


Though il is now established that MI.
Greeley's rumored insanity WAS only one OF
the SYMPTOMS of his last mortal Illness, a
Kind Of dei:riunl always attending brain
fsve-s O. typhus, this rumor has drawn at
tcntion 10 the question, "What has to be
done TO proven. mischief in the possible case
that President should become really &C.
rangei:" and strange enough. there are no
adequate legal means provided for such an
event 1t is true the Constitution says that
in case Of the death. resignation. deposition,
or iacapacity OF the President, the Vice Pres
idert is to succeed him IN office. This clause
seems to cover the whole ground, since in
sanity has to be ranged emphatically under
the head Of incapacity; yet it does not do SO
in reality. Death, resignation, or deposition
after due impeachment, are simple, incontro-
yertible facts, which do not render any doubt
or complication impossible; but about in
sanity Congress would have TO give its YER
dict, and how if it should appear when Con-
cress is not in session? From the fourth Of
March to the first Monday in December there
is a space Of nine months, and since none but
the President i. entitled TO call an extra ses-
sion, great mischief might be done before
even the apprehension Of the truth would
dawn on the people, and much more, before
lawful redress could be had.
The Prussians felt very indignant num-
Der of years ago, when they discovered that
their King, Frederick William ", not only
was totally deransed, but had been SO for
several years without their knowledge. The
Queen, his wife, partly from love Of power,
and partly from jealousy and hatred OF the
Kings brother, the present Emperor, con-
cealed his condition by keeping close watch
over him, and not allowing anyone to see
him in his insane moments, until at length
the disease reached point which put an end
to all further attempts Of hiding the truth.
Aside from the indignation about the inposi-
ton practiced on the people and the legiti-
mate successor, there was also feeling OF
notification and shame at the idea Of hay
ing been for three or four years, at least, I'M
der the rule of deranged man, without hav-
ing been led or the track by occasional
freaks and outbursts, which were ascribed to
intoxication. In Republic, where no dy-
nastic interests are at stake, it does not seem
possible that the consequences would be as
injurious as in Monarchy, since there would
always be Cabinet to prevent any truly in
sane and dangerous political act; neverthe-
less, we notice that the party which is work
ing for the abolition OF the Presidency and
at the late election cast about 5000 or 4 900
votes altogether, bearing the inscription,
"No President at all, ;" seize on that omission
in the Constitution which anyhow can easily
be corrected, in order TO make war on it and
win converts to their view Of the question.
As usual, however. they overshoot the mark,
and the Pioneer, the chief advocate of the
abolition Of the Presidency, instead Of SIM
ply pointing out the truly possible conse-
Quences of case which fortunately-is, after
all a very improbable one, goes on TO picture
impossible ones, by ascribing powers to the
President which he does not possess under
the Constitution. When the Pioneer tells its
readers that deranged President might ap-
point Jefferson Davis Secretary Of State !;
Tweed, Secretary Of the Treasury; Forrest,
Secretary ofWar, pardon al. criminals, fill the
most important Offices with robbers and scoun-
drels, invade Mexico with an army under the
command Of some ex-Confcderate General,
and deliver up the negroes once more TO the
tender mercies Of the Shareholders, it pre-
sUmes rather too much on their ignorance of
our institutions and of the spirit Of the ma
ton. We remember too well how little
damage Andrew johnson, q sane traitor,
could do, though certainly the will was not
lacking, and cannot be frightened by the
busbear OF an insane one, into throwing
overheard one Of or most important institu-
lions on that account.