Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-07-14
les prescribed for him become

lies prescribed for him become
odious because he can do no con-
structive work and cannot bring his
Judgment and experience to
bear upon any question of legislation
or administration. Like the late
Vice Presidents, Mr.. Wilson and Mr..
Wheeler, he may have spent life>
time in the public service and be &C
to active Efforts in the field
of craftsmanship, but the youngest
member of either branch of Congress
has more influence at the White
House and in the Capitol than be
can exert. His Office letters him
like strait-jacket. BE can neither
speak nor vote, nor influence the
speech or votes of others. And yet
he was elected by the same suffrages
which put the President in his chair,
and he represents, as does no other
man save the President, the express
ed will of a majority of the American
people.
Excluded from the councils at the
White House by custom, the second
office of the government naturally
drifts away from the President in
his personal relations, and accepts
perforce the unpleasant position of a
digniied do-nothing. He feels that
Franklin described his Office ad-
mirably when in the Constitutional
Convention he proposed in jest to
apply to it the title of ellis Most
Superhuous Highness." 1t is only
human nature that he should regard
the acts and policy of the President
with close if not unfr,endly criti-
cism, and should map out different
course for himself in case he should
be called to the place of power. He
has taken no part in shaping the
work of the administration; why
should he feel bound to commend it :
Why, without any Intentional I'M
fairness, should he not think he
could improve upon it If he had a
chance?
It would be easy enough to fit the
Vice-President into the Administra-
ton or give him an important place
in the Senate. He might, for exam
pie, be made member of the Cabi-
net without portfolio, and thus be
put in a position to act as an aid to
the President. Or he might be made
a full member of the Senate with the
right to speak and vote upon all
questions. If it is objected that this
would disturb the power OF the
States in that body, the answer is
that he has now tue authority to dis
turb that power on important occa
sions by giving q cast ng vote. An
on her plan, which, like the first one
mentioned above, could be carried
out by legislation without constitu
ional amendment, was suggested
some years ago by President Garfield
1t is to make the Vice President ex-
oficio governor of the District Of
Columbus, provide him fitting resi-
dence and give him the power of ap
pointing the subordinate officers o
the District. In favor of this pla1
1t can be urged that Washington is I
natlOnal olUy, SvseIuou ny tus
national legislature and its executive
functions might therefore consistent
~ be put into the hands of an oficia
elected by the whole nation. The
| growing Importance and beauty O
the city and the increasing interes
felt in it by the people at large, would
make the administration of its affair
a dignified and honorable task TO
the Vice President.
The subject is certainly worthy o
a careful consideration by men of al
parties, and of such discussion b
the press as will draw the attention
of Congress to it at the next session
No one will deny that the presen
limitations upon the Office of Vice
President, which make it's incumben
a cipher and naturally lead him int
such an attitude of dissatisfaction
with the management of the Admir-
istration that the public regard hir
as a malcontent, who would proba
bly, upset the policy of the Presiden
if he should succeed him, and Nigh
thus cause grave political disorders
is a positive evil, which should b
remedied without further delay.