The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-05-17

The Vice President.
From all quarters come the sounds OF
preparation tor the Centennial CAM
paign that is to result in giving q new
President to the United States. Ger
tainly no political event can be more I'M
portant than the selection OF a Chief
Magistrate to preside over the destinies
of nation of forty-fve millions Of men.
Partisan papers are filled with diurnal
homilies on the greatness of principles
and the fitness of particular men. The
Held Of discussion has been narrowed
down to but two or three men on each
side; and the time is at hand when each
party must make its final choice of
Presidential candidate. And it can not
be doubted but that either one Of the
eminent citizens now prominent before
their respective parties for the nomina-
tion would make an able and upright
President of the United States.
But, amid all this din of preparation,
in all this voluminous discussion in re-
lation to the Presidency, scarcely word
Is heard or an opinion expressed con-
cerfIfng the man to be selected for the
Vice President. 1t would seem that
either party has tacitly admitted that
the selection Of the incumbent Of this
high office is to be left to the chapter Of
accidents. The only consideration that
ts given to this nomination is merely the
consideration Of expediency as to the
catching Of votes for the head of the
ticket, with no regard to any special fit
ness in the man himself to exercise the
functions OF Chief Magistrate OF the Ma
tion. Certainly, he is not to be nomi-
mated for that Office; and yet he is to be
nominated for election to the position
wherefrom he may on any day OF the
four year term be called upon to assume
the duties ana exercise the functions of
that office.
The life of man Is by no means as
sured to him, because OF his election to
the p es dency, In any greater gree Of
certainty tnan would have been had he
remained in private station. lntirmity
Of m nd or body squ te as likely to seize
him in the Executive Mansion as in his
quiet home. And when death or disa-
bility occurs to him, then the VICE
PRESIDENT Immediately becomes clothed
with all the powers and prerogatives Of
the Presidential Office. And yet he has
been chosen without any special regard
to his qualifications for the performance
of Its duties.
That such Indifference to the fitness
OF the nominee to the Vice Presidency
for the duties Of the Presidency is a
great political blunder, has been three
times verified in our Constitutional his
tory. The last words OF the dying Presi-
dent HARRISON were addressed to the
Vice President, John Tyler, saying-T
wish the government administered ac-
Dording to the principles upon which we
were elected:-1 ask no more" And yet,
with this solemn injunction still sound
ing oil his ear, before q single twelve
month had elapsed, John Tyler had be-
trayed and abandoned the party that
had elected him. Vice President FILL
soRE's administration, as the Constitu-
tional successor Of Gen. TAYLOR, was
almost as faithless to the party that
nominated and elected him, as was that
of Tyler. And the course pursued by
ANDY JOHNSON, as the successor Of 1.-THE
murdered LINCOLN, is too well known to
require comment .s,t
These three are all the instances in
our history OF the accession of the Vice
President to the Presidency by opera
.tion Of constitutional law. And every
one OF them has been unfortunate. Ev-
cry one of them proved to be a misfor-
tupe, to the country, and disaster to
bhe party.
These examples, all that our history
affords, ought surely to be sufficient
warning to political parties, acting pre-
sumably for the good OF the country as
well as for their own good, to put them
on their guard against indifference
concerning their nominee for the
Vice Presidency. The other functions
Incidentally attached to this office are OF
NO great consideration. The Vice Pres
jdent ought, then, to be selected es-
peciaily In view Of his fitness for the
Pres Dental Office, which is the only i'm
porlant consideration connected with
his official position. The contingency
OF the Presidency 10 before him every