National Republican., 1881-09-02
Population Of The National Capital. 100000
The Vicc.President and the Cabinet.

The Vicc-Prcsident and the Cabinet.
In our news columns yesterday there
appeared statement that some of the
members of the Cabinet and several at
tending surgeons had conferred together
with reference TO relieving the President
of the cares of his Office on the ground of
inability. II was also stated that ma
jority of the members of the Cabinet are
of the opinion that this can and ought to
be done. One plan suggested was that
the President could proclaim his own in-
ability and request the Vice.President
to act accordingly. Our reporter, who
received his information from high
source proceeded as follows
Another plan is that General Garfield shall in
writing, request General Arthur to come TO his as.
sisance and remain at the White House until the
Presidents recovery with full authority to sign the
name OF James A. Garfield to any commissions Of
public officers other executive documents.
Such trust could bo legally given to General
Arthur, and as by the vote of the citizens OF the
United States no has been chosen TO perform the
functions Of the President in the constitutional
contingency, no valid objection could be made to
the plan TO perfect II there would only be re.
quircd the consent Of and acceptance OF the trust
by Vice President Arthur
These startling announcements reached
this Office at three in the morning, and
were not seen by the editor until he read
the morning paper This will explain
the absence yesterday of the comments
about TO be made.
The proposition thatt the President him.
self might declare his own inability and
request the Nice-President to recognize
the fact and proceed to act as President
during the inability would no doubt be
taken by the country us Il safe one. 1t
was first suggested in The REPUBLICAN as
apostolic way out of any difficulty that
might arise. The other proposition
that Vice President Arthur should relieve
Private Secretary Brown of his duties.
whoever may have originated it, is either
a deliberate insult or an exhibition of
gross ignorance.
The Star of last evening, commenting
on the matter, says:
The fact that nothing has been done in the mat.
ter or is contemplated at present is established ON
tho authority ofmembers Of the Cabinet. Sugges-
tons have been made that the President could ask
ehN " ullu ne COulu uO
so; or that Congress might pass an act, &c.
The Critic, whose able editor speaks as
might an honorary member of the Cabi-
net, seeks to tranquilize the public mind
by the following:
The public may rest assured that tS,s,I,st ii can.
tion will be observed, and, , CO., Iii, Lo
taken without the s9I,r,c; comcprronce p ANA oO'
rW' " NS-tablnet, the members of the Supreme
", and the leading representatives of the
States and the people.
This is kind in Buell.. But for him both
the Cabinet and the public might have
gone off at half-cock.
The Critic also says:
II should be remarked here that, in view Of the
anomalous condition of affairs, the Cabinet Is
really the only remaining source of unQuestona.
BILE authority; but the lack Of precedent and the
vague phraseology OF the Constitution upon the
points involved constraIns members of the Cabinet
to feel their way with great caution.
To this we reply that there is no such
thing as Cabinet known TO the Constitu-
ton and laws of the United States. There
are seven Executive Departments, each
having head. They are the source Of no
other authority than is conferred upon
them by statute. There is no suggestion in
the law that they shall ever meet, or that
they or any of them shall together
perform any Off cial act or exercise any
official authority whatever. Their duties
are clearly defined in the Revised Statutes
from Title ". to Title XI, inclusive. The
habit is for the President to select for
oil IL, xVl 1n oil
has confidence, and they meet him by
invitation at stated times in the Execu-
tive Office. They do not add to or
take from his authority They
cannot take his place for an
instant. They cannot confer upon the
Vice-President any authority, They can
not decide when he shall act. They are
as so many eminent citizens whenever
they suggest anything not in the strict
line of their prescribed official duties.
The contrary Of this has never been as
serted by any head Of a Department. and
no one expects it ever will be. The
Cabinet is so called pursuant to custom
not to law. We like the word and shall
use it in its true sense. As confdants of
the President the Cabinet would be very
likely to be heard by him if at any time
there should arise any necessity for him to
act upon the question of inability.
If ever the time for temporary abdication
by the President should come, or if up-
der an act of Congress, the fact of in
ability should ever be held to exist, the
powers and duties of the President will
then dcvolve on the Vice President.
There can never be but one President at
one time, and that one can never consist
of more than one man at one time
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n L. 1. l.. 1