The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-23
V|CE-PRES|DENT HENDRICKS
How He Answered Ward Lannon's
Political Catechism.
snsnial nIsnatch TO the Enauirer.

Special Dispatch 10 the enquirer.
INpIASAPoLIs, December 2l.-A rep
resentative Of the Enquirer called At the
Governors rooms, in the State Building,
last evening, for the purpose OF obtain
ing Governor Hendl.ck' opinion in re-
gard to q few political matters. Mr..
Hendricks was within, absorbed in the
columns OF the Enquirer, while several
other journals were lying around wait
ing their turn. After the usual intro
ductory remarks, 8 printed slip contain
ing the following questions was passed
over TO the Governor:
|. Is there anything in the constitu-
ton or laws requiring the President to be
inaugursted at the seat of government?
=. Who is authorized TO administer the
oath of office to the President elect?
8. Is the taking of the oath sufficient
inauguration. at the sest OF government
or elsewhere to authorize such sn insu-
gurated President 10 act a. such2
4. When does the term Of President
explre-the day and hour2
5. The 4th of March. 1877, coming on
the holy Sabbath, and the President elect
is not insugurated on that day, but is on
the day following, does this cause an
interregnum?
6. limo interregnum, who is Presi-
dent, and does the out. t.going President
hold over. or is the President of the
Senate ex-otficis President OF the United
States2
:. In case the Inauguration OF the
President-elect is deferred until the 9th
of March, and pseudo. president or n
usurper should be inaugurated on the
4th, and he should exercise acts OF mag
isterial and executive purpOrt, would he
or would he not be regarded by law as
the president de facto for the time being
and his acts accepted as legal?
8. Should Tilden be quietly lnaugur
ated in the city of New York on the
4th of March, and take possession OF the
custom house, navy-yard, sub treasury
etc, what will be the consequence
Mr.. Hendricks read the eight questions
carefully, and said:
These are questions of law which |
had not before considered"
After examining n couple OF law
bound volumes without seeming to find
what he was looking Tor, he continued:
However, ! think can answer the
first five interrogatories in one, and he
did it in these words:
"Belng elected to the Presidency, and
taking the oath of office as required by
the Constitution before some person
authorized by law to administer oaths,
the person so elected becomes President
OF the United States on the 4th day
March"
LAS to the sixth question" continued
Mr.. Hendricks, after intently regarding
the printed slip for tGw moments, las
to the sixth, l suppose if no person be-
came so qualified to take the office on
that day, the President Of the Senst"
would become President
The paper was handed back to the
correspondent, who reminded the Gov
ernor that he had ignored two very I'M
portant questions, the seventh and
eighth.
The Governor whlstled very softly,
and shook his head rs If 10 delicately
convey the Intelligence that he had iin-
ished.
"You have nothing to say, then, in re-
gard to No. r. was suggested.
Nothing" was his reply:
"Or No. 81"
1T is 10 be- hoped answered Mr..
Her bricks, that nothing OF that nature
will take place. | do not anticipate any
thing of the kind
This formslity disposed of, His Excel
ency was requested to tell what be knew
about the reported secret organization OF
Democrats throughout the State.
"I learn" he SAID, that few Repub-
ican newspapers are laboring TO create
the impression that Democrats are organ.
izing armed bands 10 resist the Inaugural
tion of Hayes. i am in position 10 know,
and Am glad to say, that there Is not
the least foundation for any such talk.
The people of Indiana do not desire war.
They are for peace.
In regard o the 9Th Of January Con-
vention, Mr.. Hendricks believed it
would be large demonstration, but
temperate in its action. He did not
look for any inasmmatOry spec ches or
resolutions. The people Of Indiana
would meet and give expression to their
views in a rational, common sense mar
ner. or the County Conventions be
rather expected that, taking everything
into consideration, q few Of them would
be loud" in their tone He believed
that the vexed question Of the Presidency
would be pesceably and satisfactorily
settled by the representatives of the peo-
pie at Washington.