New-York tribune., 1881-09-12
THE INABILITY QUESTION"

To The EdtGOr Or Tho tribune
SIR: The Constitution has fully provideA
for and clearly sets forth the 20 be pursued IN
emergencies like the present The 5th clause OF the
1st section OF the pa article reads a. follows;
In OF the OF the President from oae ar
Of his death. resignation inability 10 discharge tie
powers and duties oi the said Office the shall
yove upon the vice-President" In the present euer
gency Is quite unnecessary for any consider The
question Of removal" Of death resgnaron~ q.
Of these things have The only question
is the Presidents present inahility 20 discharge ts
powers and duties OF the Presidential office Under the
Constitution these duties devove upon the Vice
President; therefore any papers documents requiring
the signature OF the President ouly TO be s4e
Chester a Arthur, ePresident give 10 them the
same power. force ami effect II signed by President
Garfield himself Just this and nothing more But a. Il
might he well Ia have al executive documents sined
10y the Wee President carry upon their face an xpan
ton Tor such signature, he might sign them. Chester A.
Arthur, Vice-Presideut and Acting President" or yi
President and Acting Presdeut during the inability of
the President"
There IL need whatever and there is no a,tbo-,tv
whatever for the vicePresident assume the Office and
title of President 10 be laid aside whenever President
Garfield shall have been Restored to bealth M Garfield
IT, and viii remain, President Mr. Arthur is aud viii re-
main. Nice-lresident. II respect would Mr. Arhurs
Official title stains be changed. except IN this that
during the Presidents inability" 10 discharge The
and duties OF his Office, woud as authorized
by the Constitution. attend 10 them, All executive acts
President. or as NicePresdent Acting President,
whichever form of signature best suited him
And now few words in gard To the anne when The
icePresident shall perform the duties of the President.
lt is due 10 him, and 10 the dignity and chac of tie
duties ne may DC required 70 perform, some for,ua
iy be observed although special fornalty Is In the
least essential Had OF the Secretaries or members
OF the Cabinet requested suggested the Vice rsi-
dent to sign an executive document emSnatng
appnc nts department at the % of JaIg
last his signature NeePresden would have L1vu 10
such paper the same power aud effect though slced
by President Garfield himself; but formsty inVess a
act with dignity. and II sometimes
cIiticsing public. would. Therefore, that lie
members OF the Cabinet formally request the attend
ing phys clans of the President 10 give TO then
in writing their professional opinion as 10 tue
probable continuance of the Presidents aud OF ms
inability 10 discharge the duties Office ON ~
ceiVing such report, let the Cabinet unite formal letter
TO the Ncer,sdent setting forth the facts, and suggest
TO him tat lac at once enter discharge
executive duties as the eXigences of the public business
demand during the illness of the President
would give 10 the proceeding all proper dignity
ality, satisfy the pUhhc, and the time ID would
heve NioePresldeut Arthur from possibility of any
one criticising him for having nwaTrantabh or 90
hastily assumed the duties Of the Executive ,lioe
AeU YORK., sept. 10, lSSl. wnw