Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-12-26
Ward LamonIs Shorter Cataehism.

l =
csgo Tones gives the result of an interview
between Col. Lamon, of NIartinsBurg, and
President Grant and Secretary Chandler
It would seem that tie Colonel successfully
bull. dozed the pair with some little conun.
drums, the text of which is given. The
Times says:
Among the significant facts which have
come within the knowledge of the Times
commissioner is the resultsot- curious ycous
ference between Grant and Chandler and
Ward Il. iLamon. Thegentlemanw will be re.
membered by Illinois people asa former law
partneriof Lincoln's and United States mar.
shall of this district during his fern and John
sons. Lamon has been a Conservative Re-
publican, and supported Hayes during the
campaign. Indeed, SO interested was he in
Hayes success that he consented to run for
Congress at his home in-Wes Virginia, where
he has been settled for some years. in order
to give the Hayes ticket the strength of his
name. He came to Washington the other
day, and gave the Chandler people great un-
easiness by denouncing the scheme to count
in Hayes as a criminal blunder, not only
against the party, but against the republic
He had not been in town long when infu,
entail delegations waited upon him to cause a
change in his views: He seems to have been
unmoved, however, but finally turned upon
the Hayes people and drew up the following
questions, which he laid before Grant and
Chandler, as q formal interview, and de-
handed categorical.and explicit answer. The
subject was made state secret, aud Lamop
refuses to acknowledge even the facts, but the
Times diplomatic corps succeeded in obtains
ing the document laid before Grant and
Chandler, with the substance of the answers.
The questions were eight in rumber, as
follows:
l. Is there anything in the Constitution or
laws requiring the President to be inaugu>
rated at the seat of government2
2. Who is authorized to administer the
oath of Office to the President elect?
g.. Is the taking of the oath sufficient in
auguration, at the seat of government or else.
where, 20 authorize such an inausurated Press
idept to act as such
4. When does the term of President ex>
pire-tho day and hour?
5. The 4th of March. 1877, coming on the
holy Sabbath, and the President elect is not
inaugurated on that day, but is on the day
following, does this cause an interreenum
6. Ii no interregnum, who is President,
and does the outgoing President hold over,
or is the President of the Senate ex-oficio
President of tho United States?
Z. In case tho Inauguration of the Press
ident-elect is deferred until the 9Th of March,
and pseudo president or usurper should be
iuauguratcd on the 4th, and he should cxer-
else acts of magisterial and executive purport,
would be or would he not be regarded By law
as the president dc t;,cto for the time being,
and his acts accepted as legal?
IS. Should Tiden be quietly inauenrated
al, n
and take possession of the custom house. navy
yard, sub-trcasury, etc., what will be the coz
sequence
To the first query, Grant, who was good
ways gone in liquor, answered with great so>
lemnity, that he didn't know. Zach allowed
that the oath might be administered to Til
den in New York, in accordance with prc-
cedent settled when Fice-Presdent King
took the oath in Cuba, many years ago.
Grant, however, doubted whether, in the case
of president, this would not be considered
too violent departure from the customs of
the country. lie was disposed to think that.
To the second question the President held
that as the chief justice has always per-
formed the ceremonial, departure would
mean revolution. To the third both Char-
der and Grant agreed that the oath was suf>
hclent. 10 the fourth they were of the
opinion that the term begins at noon on the
lth of March. AS to the fifth intcrrogatory
Grant and Chandler were not agreed but be
lieved that there would be an intcrrcgnum.-
As to who, in that case, would be President,
Grant held that the outgoing official would
hold until his successor took the oath. To
heseventh neither Grant nor Chandler would
commit themselves. They could not con-
ceiye of such state of things. In response
to the eighth, read solemny by Lamon. Grant
looked thunder>struck, and Chandler said em-
Phatically, ''Hell would be to pay ]" This
episode is perfectly authentic, aud tho evil of
it Is not yet over, by any means, as the Cab
met are to consult on it,
NOTICE OF a FORMER TowNsMAN.-Thc
Stanntnn M \ III L.. L.. l. l