The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-25
Saturday. November as, ls76!
From TIE MsaO York World.
The Inauguration.

Much of the speaking and writing about
the possible result of an unjust and illegal
return made by the New Orleans board,
appears to proceed on the idea that what
we are in the habit of calling the inaug-
uration oe the president" will necessarily
be turning point in the legal relations
of the situation. On that theory, it may
be, an army is to be concentrated in and
about Washington, movement which is
we'll enough, and proper enough, perhaps
if the authorities have good reason to
think violence is meditated by the Radi-
Gals, or anyone else, But of what legal
consequence are the pomp and ceremoney
of what we call inauguration day2" If
a candidate is lawfully declared to be elect
ed, all that is needed to make him presi-
dent is that he take the oath of Office pre-
scribed in the constitution, and that oath
can be taken before any magistrate compe-
tent under federal Law to administer
oaths. If we mistake not, the oath of
Vice President King was administered to
him in Cuba. The oath has heretofore
been taken by the president before the
chief justice, but there is no efficacy in
him in such matters, above any other fed
eral magistrate, nor is there any special
virtue in the capitol as the place. 1t is
not necessary that either Tilden or Hayes
be in Washington when the competent
authority declares either of them duly
elected to be president, and, according to
the legal ideas of the present administra-
ton, it is not required that either be 10
Washington to execute the Office of presi-
dent. President Grant issued his impor-
tant orders of tie 10th instant to the army
from Philadelphia. Occupation Of the
White House, Is on those ideas, not vital
to valid acts by the president, The result
Of foot-race for that edifce can therefore
be thrown out of the calculation.
Nor do we believe there is to be an IN
seemly row between the house and senate
if it shall be found that the two bodies
disagree land we do not think they will
disagree when all the facts are assenbled)
over the right of the votes of any state to
be counted. If, when they meet to exam
inc the votes, a member of either oody
objects to counting any state, we assume
that the senate will with dignity retire, if
the hall of the house be the place of meet
ing, and enable the house to deliberate,
and itself to deliberate thereon, with pro-
priety and decorum. If, on reassenbling,
both houses agree to reject the state, does
anyone suppose that the president of the
senate will persist in counting it? If the
two houses disagree, will the president Of
one body any the more be disposed to
count it2 But if the house decides to ex-
clude, and the senate to include, the con-
tested state; if the president of the
senate nevertheless counts it and declares
Governor Hayes TO be president; and il
the house, on the other hand, decides that
no candidate had a majority of all the
electors appointed" and then elects Coy.
ernor Tilden to be president, and SC
declares and to informs him? Then we
have the spectacle OF t,1o presidents, both
claiming to be legally elected, both taking
the oath Of Office before competent mag.
istrate, and the house upholding TIldeI
and the senate recognizing only Hayes
On neither theory can Grant be in office
after the 4th Of March to command the
army or anything else. He can possibly
before his term expires, convene the mex
congress to meet on the 9Th Of March
1877, but the two houses of that congress;
would probably differ just as the two
houses Of the present congress differ.
Now there is not necessarily any riot OF
tumult or revolution in Washington over
this condition of two presidents. All ex
ecutive officers, including army and navy
officers, would, to be sure, need to decide
each for himself, which of the two hi
would obey. The senate and house, o
course, would not agree about legislation
Neither president would venture to take
or order to be taken, any money out of tht
treasury without an appropriation thereto
by congress. The existing annual appro
priations would endure till the LIST of Eek
July, and then neither president woult
have public funds to pay any official, civi
or military.
The people Of the United States ough
to be able, and are able, to look all thes
contingencies calmly in the face, becaus
they ought to be, and are, capable Of sell
government. They are not children o
hysterical persons, from whom a statemen
Of possible peril is to be withheld. On tn
contrary, it is for the public good thai
while the general temper is so amiabl
and healthfuL the people get a clear an
comprehensive view Of what may happe
if the president of the senate persists i
counting state which at least one hous
of congress, and which a great majority {
candid persons may think it is wrong
illegal and fraudulent to count. The co
Letting of troops in Washington, or the ru
NOR of such collecting, compels the countr
to put on its ''thinking-capl"