The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-10

A question which is now being actively
debated in the press and among the people
is, whether in case of the Temporary disa-
bility" of the President the Vice-President
should succeed to his official functions, he
by that act becomes President and cannot
be displaced by the former President re-
covering from his disability and offering
to return to the discharge of mis- duties; or
that in case Of such disability the Vice
President merely acts for the President
during that disability and retaining still
merely the title of Viee-President, returns
to his former position when the disability
is removed
The subject is certainly an important
one with us at present, as we now, and
even under the most favorable possible
view of President Garfelds condition, win
not, for many days to come, have an ex-
ecutive for our government capable phys
ically of transacting business.
The argument in favor of, in such a
case, the Vice President retaining the po-
sition and title of President after the
i
can be briefly stated to be that our consti-
tuition recognize no such Office as
Prime Minister. That we must be govern
eddy an executive who shall be the head of
all the departments. That that executive
is the President of the United States and
one but the President of the United
States can constitutionally perform them
That the President of the United States can
only be relieved Of his Office through death,
resignation, impeachment or disability.
That in the case of the succession of the
Vice President to the duties of the Presi-
dent on account of the disability of the
President, he does not act as President,
but is President, for he performs duties
which no one but the President in under
the constitution allowed to perform.
Hence, once becoming President he can
only be relieved of his position through
such means, or for such reasons as the con
stitution allows.
When the subject was debated in tn G
Senate in 1s41, Senator Allen, of Ohio,
expressly raised the question now before
the country. He supposed a case in which
''the President should be seized with a
temporary illness, producing for time
such an alteration of mind as untitled him
for the discharge of his official duties,
and he asked the Senate whether in such a
case the Vice President should become
Presldent-since if the President should af-
f1xar acSsO
would arise which of the two officers should
continue in the chair" and he showed that
under the doctrine advanced by Senator
Walker though President should be re
stored, a Vice President discharging his
duties might hold out, and the President
take his place as a private citizen. If o
"Vice President became President none
'scould remove him. Temporary disabil-
'sity of a President Mr.. Allen went on,
twas csse likely more frequently to oe-
ton ssttled;" and he therefore urged upon
the Senate an amendment to joint reso-
luton from the House by striking out the
words President of the United States and
inserting in lieu thereof the words the
Vice President, on whom, by death OF
the late President, the powers and duties
.sof the office OF President have devolyed. "
This brought the issue squarely before the
Senate, and upon division the Senate de-
cided, by the overwhelming majority of IS
to s, that under the Constitution, when
ever through the removal. the death, the
resignation or the inability of the President
to discharge the powers and duties CT the
office of the President the same shall de
volves. On the Vice President the Vice
President does not 'sact IS President
but becomes President The eight Sena-
tors who contested thissw Allen. Ben
ton, Henderson. Linn. McRoberts, Tap