The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-08-26
President Garfield's "Inability."

For nearly eight weeks past the country
has been anxiously awaiting the result of the
Presidents wounds, hoping for the best, but
at present with every reason to fear the
worst. Men are now looking at the Presi-
dents illness in another serious light. Our
government has been run so long and is still
running without any acting executive
Apart from the mere act Designing his name,
President Garfield has attended to no official
duty since July I'd, nor could he have done
so, however urgent the occasion. If this
state of affairs had happened at a more i'm
portant season, as for instance during the
session of Congress, doubtless the emergency
would have been provided for at once. AS
it is, every thing necessary to be done has
been by the heads of the various Depart
ments, and the other business has been left
undone.
The Constitution provides that "In case of
the death or inability of the President to
discharge the powers and duties of said Of
flee the same shall devolve on the Vice Pres
ident" 1t further says that Congress may
by law provide for the case of remova, death,
resignation or inability" In fact, there never
has, heretofore, been occasion, and Congress
never has so provided. That there is no ju-
dical decision necessary to decide when the
Vice President shall act at the death of the
President has been settled by precedent, as
on three different occasions he has taken the
oath of office after having been unofiicially
informed of his predecessors death.
Since the case of Inability" is mentioned
with that of death" it would seem that Vice
President Arthur has only to be satisfied of
the Presidents "inabilty," and it will become
his right and legal duty to act as President
while necessary.
1t is evident to the country that this in
ability to attend to the presidential duties has
existed ever since the President was
wounded but, not being the written duty of
any body to declare it, and the Vice Presi-
dent representing wing of his party so rad
ically different from the present admnistra-
ton, il is delicate question for either him
or the Cabinet to take any active steps in the
matter. 1t would seem the plain duty of the
Cabinet, however, who are nearest to the
President, to take the same step they OF
Secretary Blaine evidently would in case of
the Presidents death.
1t is plainly an error that Mr.. Arthur
would, as has been suggested, be acting as
President if he were to attend to the duties
of the executive at present. He would do
nothing more than pursue the course mapped
out by the present administration, just as
Vice Presidents of our great corporations
often attend to the business as planned by
their superinrs. In this connection it might
be said that the fears of radical changes in
the pI II of administration, and the many
evils attendant thereon in case Vice Presi-
! dent Arthur Should become President, arc
probably without foundation. Neither prin-
ciplc nor policy would dictate such course
way would naturally impel The incoming
President, rs far rs possible, TO carry out the
views of his lamrned predecessor, while the
boldcst politician would scarcely dare Ia
| bidN' we ICIAhIC anu ulSSNSl VI u III JOl'N
of his own party and thus make douby sure
the success Of ID mocracy at the next Prcsi.
DENTAL election.
The present crisis, however, proves con.
cusrcly that if possible the President and
| Vice President should be in full accord, in,
| stead of representing different factions of the
same party. If this were the case, we would
now See Vice President Arthur attending to
the piles of executive business so long left
untouched.