The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-15
What Caleb Cushing Says of the Crisis

Like one OF Mother Carey's chickens,
CALEB CUSHING always contrives to fly
about and screech when storm is brewing
or threatened. lie has been in Washing
ton since election day, occupying his time
in telling the reporters how the Constitu-
ton may be overthrown, and mildly sug-
costing the Spanish fashion of % military
prOnuncidmientO ms n short cut out of Pres
idential complications i'll certain contin-
gency.
Hear this expounder of constitutional
law. who has drawn more money from the
Treasury than any living man, except
Gen. DIX, and who has changed his coat so
often that the memory of the original gar
ment has entirely faded away;
"Once at least in the history Of the United
ell ipsed after the death Of one President and
before the accession II anothtr. Daring those
twenty four hours the Government went IN
smo othly enough In the hands ~ the esds If
depattnents II It tan do So twenty -four hours,
II can DO 80 tueuyJOuf diBs o. uttks.
lie might have said, too, that when the
4th OF March fell on Suuday-as will occur
this time-the outgoing President has re-
manned in the White House until the next
day, in order to assist ut the Inauguration
of his successor, but without performing
any Executive function. In these excep-
tional cases there was no dispute, and pub
lie opinion accepted the transition As the
result OF accidental circumstances which
in no way affected great principle.
There is nothing to prevent IA newly elected
President from being sworn in on Sunday,
but the universal observance of and re-
speot for the sabbath by the people Of the
United States.
Having advanced this startling PROPOSE
ton. GRANTS Minister to Spain goes step
further and brings us face to face with the
modern methods in practice at Madrid;
although the Constitution does not express
w provide that In "A case Of non-election the ex-
isting President snail hold over until new cleo
ton snall have been duly envcte 1, vet It wo lld
not De rae, At, inc to oTsIe mt such the mPed
event Gen. GRANT would continue 10 exercise The
functions Of President
This is the first time that n doctrine so
revolutionary has ever been advanced, and
the time chosen for 1t is significant Arti-
Gle 2, section l, of the Constitution ex-
pressly excludes any such idea as Mr..
CUSHING has audaciously suggested. 1t
says:
OF tie United States of America lie shall hold his
office during the term orJor Ssars"
The act of March /, 1892, section Isl, de-
clares as follows:
The term Of four years Tor which President and
the fourth day OF March succeeding the
DAY on which the votes VI tue electors nave Oeen
given"
Thus the pretence of any doubt on this
subject is swept away, and the "imphed
meaning" is nothing but weak invention
| of CUSHING, To prop up a conspiracy which
is the last desperate resort of the ofiicebo old
ers, Rings, and public plunderers to keep
| CUSHING has used still stronger language
| than this in Washington, rejecting the
| temper and the purpose of the reckless
men with whom he Is associated, and who
boldly proclaim that the solution OF the
present problem will be in the hands of
GRANT, backed by the army and navy.
OF course, these vaporings only do harm
to those who utter them, and will not af-
feet the result one way or another. They
serve to show to what depths Of despera-
ton GRANT and his surroundings are driven,
| and what they might attempt TO retain
their hold on the Treasury. and to prevent
| the exposures that will surely follow Mr..
IILDEN's accession 10 the Presidency. The
practical good sense and patriotism OF the
American people will conquer these diff
| culties aud drive the revolutionary CON
spilators into exile and disgrace.