The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-12-16

who is to determine that inability. he said
that Congress is unable to determine, and
the only means for the determination of
that question would be a constitutional
amendment. The clause of the constitu
ton simply gives to Congress the right to
say what officer shah act, and that neither
in that nor anywhere else is it empowered
to pass upon inability. The truth is it
was intended to be left to the President
and Vice President as matter of comfy
to be settled between them If Vice Pres
ident Arthur had been in full accord with
President Garfield did any one doubt he
would have been called to act in the lat
ter's stead within ten days after the
President was shot, because it was then
generally known, Notwithstanding the dis
patches to the contrary, that the President
could not survive. Suppose the idea of
the inability of the President had become
generally entertained by the country and
that upon being waited on and informed of
the popular belief he denied there was any
ground for it and held on to office, how
could a remedy be applieda There was no
remedy, for behind the President was the
multitude to support his claim that there
was no means for determining what con-
stituted inability, as the constitutional pro-
vision was intended to be self-sustaining
without any Intervention by congress with
the coordinate branch of the government.
Various instances of inability might be
suggested. One, the absence of the Presi-
dent at the head of the army, in which
case the Vice President would act The
measure he had proposed, vesting the sue
cession IN executive officers, c0ntradistinc-
ton with the legislative and judicial off
GERS OF the government although open to
objections that had been suggested, was
the best he could conceive of.
Coke urged the duty of congress to pro-
vide promptly fer averting complications.
Mr., Jones, of Florida, advocated an
amendment to the resolution SO as to pro-
vide for inquiry whether any additional
provision or changes in the power of the
constitution are necessary to secure stabii-
ity in the Office of President pro lem of the
Senate, when Vice President becomes
President of the United States in the con
tingencies provided for.
a message was received from the Presi-
dent transmitting communications from
the Secretary of the Interior in reference
to the applications of the Chicago, Texas
& Mexican Central and st. Louis & San
Francisco railroad companies for right Of
way across the lands of the Choctaws in
the Indian territory The communication
" do ptCs ia siiC iA5stuS
tiens to and the report by the special
agent designated to present the applications
to the authorities of the Choctaw nation,
with the bill passed by general council
and approved by the principal chief, such
right of way, subject to ratification by
Congress, and the report of the Indian
Commissioner in favor of the proposed
legislation in which the Secretary concurs.
Referred to the committee on railroads
Mr.. Brown from the committee on terri
tories, reported favorably the bill ~ratify-
ing the act of the council of the Choctaw
nation granting the ST. Louis and San
Francisco Railroad company right of way
through the. territory of that nation
Placed on the calendar,
Mr.. Plumb introduced bill granting a
right of way through the Fort. Selden
military reservation, New Mexico to the
Rio Grande, Mexico and Pacific railroad
Referred.
The chair also submitted an executive
message, transmitting report from the
Secretary of State with the accompanying
papers, touching the proposed modifica-
tion of the Clayton Bulwer treaty OF
1850, between the United States and
Great Britain. Ordered, printed and re-
ferred to the committee on foreign rela-
tions. After short executive session, adj
iourned.