The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-12
INABILITY" DISCUSSION.
London Times.

The I2H18S, IN 1CauIHS Sf1 tiCiC tAiA"
says: In consequence OF the ac-
emulation Of executive business IN the
United States the time seems to be rapidly
drawing near when it will be impossible to
90 on any further, even professionally, with
out some arrangement of affairs during
the disability of the President. According
to common sense that arrangement should
cease when the President again becomes
capable, but the Supreme Court might not
be able to reconcile strict Interpretation
of the Constitution with common sense
and equity, although the Vice-President
would doubtless be willing to acquiesce IN
anv legitimate scheme for removing the
obstacles founded on technicalitles. The
American people have had another warn
ing that the machinery of the Constitution
is liable to awkward bitches where 1t would
be dangerous to get into deadlock.
Hudson Register.l
The constitution of the United States is
as plaiu on this point as the English Ian
guage can make it, as we have before
shown. Article 2, section /, sixth clause,
of the constitution, says:
s.Tn case of the removal of the president
from office, or of his death. resignation or
inability to discharge the powers and duties
of the said Office, the same shall devolve
unon the Vice-President. This is the only
clause in the constitution where reference
is made to the subject, and it is so clear
and concise that it seems impossible Tor
any intelligent person to misunderstood 1t.
AS to the Inability of the president to
discharge the powers and duties of his
Office 81 nobody doubts that such condi
ton has existed since the second day OF last
July, and Mr.. Arthur, by authority OF thf
constitution, should have acted as presl
dent from that time. Is any one SO stupid
! as to doubt that if Mr.. Arthur had been IL
| full accord with the administration hi
would have been performing the presiden
tial functions for the past two months, a.
the constitution directs? And 1T is a serious
question whether he is not liable TO i'm
parchment for disregarding this cieari.
defined duty.
| Denver Coli News.l
/ There never has been In the history o.
this country any such officer as Preslden
pro tempore and we doubt very much L
/ there can be under the Constitution as 1t is
| A Senate remarkable for the number o.
constitutional lawyers enrolled in It's mem
bershiD, entertained at one time PROPOSE
ton to hail Tyler, of Virginia, whom the,
/ did not like, as stVice President of thu
United States of America, acting Presi
dent" but the thing didn't work, and onl.
nine Teight-ED. ARGUsl votes in tina
body were given in its favor. If Cheste
A. Arthur becomes President at all, TO
five Minutes or an hour, he is President t.
the close of his official term, and James a
Garfield ceases from the moment OF Ar
thurs appearance to have any connection
with the Presidential office.
fRichmond State.l
The necessity of having an acting Presl
dent who will be able not only to sign hi
name to documents pardons, reprieves o
commissions, but to fully and wisely con
! slider the nature of the things he signs,
becoming more and more apparent ever
day, and a large portion of our people II
doubt believe that calling Mr. Arthur ten
porarily to the head of affairs is the hes
thing to be done; still, we should be yer
: cautious now we move in this matter, ths
we take no false step by which we ma
place ourselves in o position from whlc
t there will be no receding.
III charleston News.
Nowhere is the news of the President
r condition scanned more closely than in tl
: South, and nowhere are the tidings of tl
! slightest change for the better more trul
welcome But at best the Presidents COZ
valescence will be tedious. and there is n
= good reason why the public business sha
q continue to be neglected. A desire ths
r the duties OF the Executive office shall b
i discharged promptly does not conflict wit
lsympathy for the President.