Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-08-18

arrival | have been 81 occupied
with personal nature that have
deferred writing from day to day
until this morning. aud now FIND
myself in debt 10 you Another
letter in acknowledgement of your
favor of the 18th, was received q
few DAYS since. have concluded
% leave here the 10Th Tomorrow
EVENING" SO that | may he expect
rl IN New York ON the 3lst inst
IL has been cold aud dreary since
my arrival here. have worked
like a Turk Il presume that
means hard work., in the coun.
try IN making fences, cutting down
trees, repairing building, etc.
and am at least able to say that
st Louis is the coolest place in
the winter and it is the hottest in
the summer of any that ! have en-
countered in temperate zone.
have known st. Louis in Decem-
bert 70 have genial weather through
ont the month this December has
been frigid and the river has been
more solid than | have ever known
il.
When heard the rumor that |
was ordered to the Pacific coast, |
thought it probably true, consid-
eriug the past discussion on that
subject. The possibilities seemed
to me to point that way. Had il
been true, should of course have
presented no complaint nor made
resistance of any kind. would
have gone quickly if not prepared
TO go promptly. | certainly would
have been relieved from the tes-
possibility aud auxieties concern
lug presidential matters, which may
fall to those too near the throne Oh
in authority in the next foui
months. as well rs from other III
cideuts OF matters which | could
not control, aud the action con-
corning which might not ap-
prove. | was not exactly prepared
to go to the Pacific, however, aud
/ therefore felt relieved when | re-
ceived your note informing me that
there was no truth in the rumors.
Then | did not wish to appear to be
escaping from the responsibilities
aud possible dangers which may
cluster around the military com
mander, in the east, especially in
the critical period fast approach
ing. Ais well that ends well.
The whole matter of the presi-
dency seems TO me TO be simple
and to admit of a peaceful solution,
The machinery for such contin-
gency as threatens to present IT.
self has been carefully prepared
Ii only requires fabrication owing
to disuse. The army should have
nothing to do with the election OF
Inauguration of presidents; the
people elect the president; the
congress declares in a joint session
who he is. We of the army have
only to obey his mandates and are
protected in so doing only as ia,
as they may be lawful our COM
missions express that.
| like Jeffersou's way of inau-
guration it suits our system. He
rode alone on horseback to the cap
ital 4 fear it was the old Capitol
tied his horse to a rail fence, enter
cred and was duly sworn, then rode
TO the Executive Mansion and tool,
possession. lie inaugurated him
self simply by taking the oath o
office. There is no other legal in
auguration in our system. The
people or politicians may institute
parades in honor of the event anC
public officials may add to the pa
geant by assembling troops auC
banners, but all that only comes
properly after the Inauguration
not before, and it is not part o
it. Our system does not provid,
that ono President should inaugu
rate the other. There might b,
danger in that, and it was studious
Is left out Of the charter, but yol
are placed in an exceptional posi-
ton in connection with comm;
events. The Capitol is in my ju
risdiction also, but | am subordiat
and not on the spot, and, if were
you also would be my superior il
authority, for there is the station
of the General-in-Chief.
On the principle that rcgularl
elected Presidents term of oilic
: expires with the 3rd Of March, c
which | have not the slightes
doubt, and which the laws bearin
Oh the subject uniformly recogniz,
and in consideration of the poss
t hility that the lawfully electe
= President may not appear until th
9TH Of March, a great deal of II
sponsibility may necessarily ia
upon you. You hold over; yo
z will have power aud prestige {
! support you. The Secretary {
$ War, too, probably holds over, bU
p if no President appears he ma
not he able 20 exercise the fun,
tons in the name of "a Presiden
: for his proper acts are those of
$ known superior, lawful Pres
@ dent You act in your own re-
possibility and by virtue of a con
mission, only restricted by the Law