The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-07-09
VICE PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITIES.

vl1E pnEotuEWjI jIAL pU0OlbtLtiI6Os
The Vice President is in sense
the heir-ap apparent of the President.
Tie Office was invented by the franz
ers of the Constitution because they
thonght there ought to be some one
to take hold of he helm of State at
once in case of the death, removal or
resignation of the President. But
it was very difficult TO find anything
for him to- do. The wags Of the Com
vention proposed that he should be
styled "His Surperfiuous lIignness T"
Finally it was agreed to make him
President of the Senate without a
right 10 vote except when there il a
tie. The Consti,utionmakrrs also
thought that they were comforting on
him the power To count the votes in
Presidential election. As matter
of fact, the first Vice President OF
the United States dld perform that
function in the election Of George
Washington. But Congress, whose
officer be is, gradually reduced him
to to a mere cypher. 1t began by
providing that the votes should be-
counted by him under its direction.
This occurred in pursuance OF the
well-knowp law that power will al
WAYS revert to it's ultimate source.
The Vice President therefore, by
law, has for the time being all the
characteristics of fifth wheel Tn a
coach, with, however, none of the
moral degeneracy which is inselara-
bic from the position in monarchical
g", ernments The heir apparent Of
Il crown, if his chances of succeeding
soon are not very brilliant, almost
always gives himself up to pleasure.
and gairty. The Pri"ce of Wales IL
not 30 much to bt. blamed for the lite
he has led. as the circumstances by
which he il surrounded. II il like.
wise n canon of the office that the
heir apparent must be of oppnsi,r
politics from the father or relative
into whose shoes he expects to step.
Ii the father is f-spo,ic i'm his gov
rrnn,ent, the son or heir il snre to
lean to the liberal side, and cice verso.
IN this way il is thonght that all par.
ties can he well kept in hand. Presi
dent Hayes. when he entered upon
the duties Of his office, had an idea
of increasing the power and influence
Of the of the Vice President. His
notion was TO make Mr.. Wheeler n
sort of informal member of his Cabi
net. But he soon found that he could
not convert him into an alter ego.
1t was not good for the heir appar-
ent either, for it was, in sense, max
inv ] i'm the scapegoat for the sins OF
the administration.
notwithstanding all these draw
backs the Vice Presidents of the
United States have managed TO play
II very conspicuous part III our hisio-
ry. The policy which makes the
heir apparent to a crown uphold dit
fer-nt principles from the father ais"
finds expression, in modified sense.
in the selection of President and
Vice President. If a candidate can
ie got that will draw somewhat from
the other side good point is thought
To be made. But those tactics which
recommend thems. Ives
to the politicians have been prndut..
tive of very curious episodes. Tw"
Vice Presidents who became Presi.
'lrnts were Southern men. They sur-
ceedpd Northern Presidents. Both
followed pretty nearly the same
They strove to hand over
the party winch elected them to the
ps rty with which they really sympa-
tliized. Johnson Iabored as sfrcnu.
onsly to place the Republican party.
wl,h h elected him, at disadvantage
in it's contests with the Democracy
as Tyler did To deliver up the Wings
to the same party. Millarl Fillmore,
q Northern Vice President, who snc-
seeded Southern President, made
no change in the policy Of the AL.
There was no, in those.
days the same incentive for North
rrn man to attempt political revoln-
lions az for the Southern. He had
no interest in maintaining an institu-
ION ,,li.t, ta.1 h...nno s,l,u,xi.,,. sn