, 1875-11-24


led to good deal Of speculation concerning
the line Of succession to the Presidency in
cnso President GRANT should dio before the
expiration Of his term; and tho Chicago
1f1es, With its usual luQecs1racy, has told tile
public that the Constitution provides that tho
Honsa Of Representatives shall elect sue
cessor. This IL sllccr and inexcusablo igno-
rance Tho Constitution simply prescribea
{Art. H., ~ Tint, ia casa Of vacancy Ia the
Offices Of both President and Vice President
the Congress may By law pro-
vide what officer shall then act as President"
Congress hss provided by law (Isovisel Stat
utes, Chap. l., Sec. 1l1,) rs followa:
tn canh Of removal dcsh, resignation. OF Inability
Of both the President aud TceIrcsdeus Ut the Uned
StateA, tbs President Of tho Bcrste, or IL therp u
none theu the Speaker Of tho House Of 1epstseuta-
tics, for the time being, RhaA act President until
tho disability IL removed Or a pres!dent elected.
Tho United States law further provides
tint whom both Offices shAll be vacant the
Secretary OF State shall notify the Executives
Of the various States, and specify that
electors shall bo chosen within thirty-fo1lr
days before tue first Wednesday, in December
next succeeding when two months intervene
between the vacancy and TINT date, and ot
tho December Of tho following yenr when
two months do not intervene, unlega the
Presidential term expires on the I'd Of
March following tho vacancy. Thus It will
bs seen that tho Temporary occupant
Of the Chief Mag'stsacy could not hold tho
plnco beyona ono year In any event. It las
always been thought that a question VII! arise,
II special Presidential election shall ever
be called, whether tho porson chosen at such
election would be entitled to serve four years
or merely the unexpired term OF the vacancy,
| ~ the Law sea1ns to be somewhat vaguo In ita
terms in this regard.
! II IL tho custom OF tho Benato to elect q
President pro ten. Mt the beginning Of oaola
Congress, and this officer serves throughout
tho session. At the special session OF tho
Senate last spring, Senator FERnx, Of Michi-
sa'l, waa chosen to TINT position, Gn.l In case
0t President CHANTS death no would glcceeI
to the Presidency. II Senator T&nxy siIoultf
dio before Congress meets there would be 10
Hpeakcr OF the HOUSE to take tho sent, aud
tho Senate wonlA have the right to elect M.
oshos President pro tem., who would then be-
come President. The Speaker Of tho House
would becomo President II both Gen.
GRANT and Mr.. tEnay ullonll dip aftcr a
Speaker ia elected. hut tAero IL still another
circumstance that might cut sone figure
III the eaao. Though it IL tho custom to con-
tinuo the President Of the genato in ofIice
throughout tho term Of Congress iu which liz
Is elected, the Senate IL permanent body
anl ,uay ulect iss officers wheneyeri 1t caoosea
Al it needs to do is to paaz rcsolution that
It will procced on n cestaiu day to eleet :.
Secretary, or President pro teu, or other
oflcer Of is own. This Is Tho way it las ri
dis1nissing its oAlcsss, 'lhera IL, thortforo.
nothing to prevent the senata from electtuu
auothor President 7Fo lem. when ii convene.
} neat month, Il 1t ssss dt to do 10. II such
actiou IL taken, the porson 4.cces1iug Mr
, FEpnx in that position would become Preai
dent upon Gen. GaANE's dAath during biz
term and until successor should b. cAoser
by the people In the manner aud form pre-
Acrihed by low. The contingency Is probabl
ind hopefully remote one.