Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-08-18

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may be to enter upon the discussion
of such . question. and accept the
responsibilities and consequences Of
. decision Of it, ito consideration 10
one Of the unavoidable concomitants
of the Presidents critical condition..
II this question were now to be con-
sidered for the first time, some Of the
difficulties Of settling it might readily
disappear. 1t might then be easily
conceived that presidential disabilities
might be temporary, As we'll ~ per.
manent, and that . President might
determine when it would be impossi-
BILE for him to meet the requirements
OF his position and proper to invite
the aid Of . vice-President. At the
same time it might then be as readily
apprehended that a President might
be disabled for q considerable period
and even rendered incapable by men,
tai alteration Of deciding such . ques-
ton, or making such q request, or
even of Indicating his Office, and that
a Vice. President upon his own judg-
ment, accompanied with general con-
c~urrence, might discharge the duties
of a President without advocating his
right to re-enter upon them after res
toration to reason and health.
Certainly, apart from constitutional
provision or prevailing custom, there
would be nothing IN such actions to
indicate that q Vice-President might
not temporarily discharge q Presi-
dents duties while disabled and with
perfect self-respect, and even in
creased dignity return bis Office to
him when his disability was ended,
but either fortunately or unfortunate
ly as, as may yet appear, all the pres
idential disabilities that have hereto
fore TRANSFERRED have been through
death and were consequently Of an
irremediable and permanent charac-
ter. and the succeeding Vice-Presi-
depts assumed without opposition the
Office of President for their unexpired
terms. The text of the constitution
also seems to favor the idea that pres
idential disability ST any sort devolves
that Office upon the Vice-President.
and makes him at least n of the
judges of what constitutes an emer-
gsncy demanding his Intervention.
It's provision is as follows:
sin CASE of the removal of the
President from Office, or of his death,
resignation or inability to discharge
the powers and duties of said office
the same shall devolve upon the Vice.
President"
Originally, the constitution provid.
ed for q Vice President in every re.
spect as worthy to be the head of the
nation as the President himself, and
to have arranged that one should al.
Tentatively give place to the other
would have been absurd and injurious
To suppose, for instance, that Gen.
Garfield after having spent three
months in organizing q governmen,
and making appointments was under
obligations to give way to Mr.. Arthur,
and that he, after getting up another
cabinet and changing official incum.
bents might have to surrender the
chief executive to General Garfield
to reconstruct and revamo the depart
ments and offices would give an ides
Of the folly and destruction to bust
ness of such organic provisions.
But whatever Interpretation may
be finally put upon the requirement.
of the constitution, it is gratifying
that so far Gen. Garfield has beer
able with the advice and assistance Of
his cabinet to see that the laws have
been executed, and it is to be hoped
that no unforeseen emergency to which
he shall be unequal will arse.