Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-08-06

within the next four months, as well
a. from the other incidents, OF matters which
I could not control, and action concerning
which might not have approved l was
not exactly prepared to go to the Pacific,
however, and therefore felt relieved when
I received your note informing me that there
was no truth in the rumors. Then do not
wish to appear to be escaping from the re-
sponsibility and possible dangers which may
cluster around military commands in the
East, especially in the critical period fast ap-
preaching. Calls we'll that ends well.''
The whole matter of the Presidency seems
to me to be simple, end to admit Of . peace
full solution. The machinery for such .
contingency as threatens to present itself;
has been all carefully prepared. It only re-
quires lubrication, owing to disuse. The
army should have nothing to do with the
election or Inauguration of Presidents.
The people elect the President, the Congress
declares in JOINT session who he is. We of
the army have only to obey his mandates,
and are protected in SO doing only so far as
they may be lawful. Our commissions ex-
press that.
like Jefferson's way of Inauguration. 1t
suits our system. He rode alone on horse
back to the capitol, before it vas the old
capitol. tied his horse to rail fence, entered
and was duly sworn, then rode to the execu-
tive mansion and took possession. He in
augurated himself simply by taking the oath
Of office. There is no other legal inaueura
ton in our system. The people or poiiti-
clans may institute parades in honor of the
event and public officials may add to the
pageant by assembling troops and banners,
but all that only comes properly after the
Inauguration, not before, and it is not part
of it. Oar system does not provide that
enc President should inaugurats another.
There might be danger in that and it was
studiously left ont of the charter.
But you are placed in AZ exceptionally im-
portant position in connection with coming
events. The capital ID in my jurisdiction
also, but am subordinate and not on the
spot, and if were 80, you would bo my
superior in authority, for there is the station
of the general in-chief. On the principle
that . regularly elected Presidents term of
Office expires with the I'd of March, of which
Ihave not the slightest doubt and which the
laws bearing on the subject uniformly re-
cognize, and in consideration of the pos
sibility that the lawfully elected President
may not appear until the 9Th of March, q
great deal of responsibility may
necessarily fall upon You. You hold over.
You will have power and prestige to support
you. The secretary of war, too, probably
holds over, but if no President appears, he
may not be able to exercise functions in tho
name of the President, or his proper acts be
those of his now superior, lawful president.
You act on your own responsibility, and by
virtue of commission only restricted by the
law. The secretary of war is the mouthl iece
of President, you are not. 1t neither
candidate has constitutional majority
of the electoral college or the
Senate and House., on the, occasion of
the count, do not unite in declaring some
person legally elected by the people, there is
. lawful machinery already provided to meet
that contingency and decide the question
peacefully. It has not been recently used,
no occasion presenting itself, but our fore
fathers provided it. 1t haa been recognized
and submitted to rs lawful on. every hand.
That machinery would probably elect Mr..
Tilden the President and Mr.. Wheeler Vice
President. That would be right enough, for
the Law provides that on q failure to elect
duly by the people, the House shall imme-
diateIy elect the President and the Senate
the Vice President.
Some tribunal must decide whether the
people have duly elected President. Ipre-
sumo, of course, that it is in the joint af8rma-.
tive action of the Senate and House, or Why
are they present to witness the count, If not
to see that it is fair and just7 II . failure
to agree arises between the two bodies, there
can be no lawful affirmative decision that the
people have elected . President, and the
House must then proceed to act, not the
Senate The Senate elects Vice Presidents 1
g. R.sl
ure by the House to elect . President by the
fourth of March, the President of the Senate,
If there be one, would be the legitimate per-
time being, or until the appearance of q law
The constitution. = ;.
Such courses would be peaceful, and 4 have
. firm belief lawful. have no doubt GOV.
have met him and know OF him for brief
period. BE served under my command, but
as the matter stands I cannot see Q likeli-
the people unless the Senate and House come
to be in accordance to the fact, and the
House would, of course not otherwise
peaceful determination Of this matter, % fair
. determination as possible, aud q lawful ot,e:-
No other determination could stand the test.
The country, if not plunged into revolution,
would become poorer day by day. Business
would languish, and our bonds would come
home to ind . deprecated market. 's@ssssssas1s''
was not Ia favor of the military action
in South Carolina recently, and Il General
Ruger had telegrsphed to me or asked mo
for advice, wonld have advised him not nm
dap anv 80 IN HIlov hisnaen ~ hi