National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-10-05
Some More History.

y
tempore for the solepurpose ofcountingthe
electoral vote in 1889. From that 1t APP
peared that the Senate asserted the power
and propriety of choosing a presiding
officer for limited time and for the per-
formance of o single duty.
This precedent was recognized and the
same power exercised in 1854. The SEN
ate met at its regular session that year
on December 4, and the chair was vacant
The President, Mr.. King, had died
moreshan year before, and the Presi-
dent pro tempore, David r. Atchison, had
notified the Senate that he could not be
present before the second or third week
in the month The Secretary called
the Senate to order. The Democrats were
largely in the majority. Anew Senator
Mr.. Brainerd from Vermont, chosen
for the unexpired term of Mr. Upham-
was in attendance, ready TO be sworn in
Mr. Hunter moved "that General Cass,
of Michigan, be requested TO act as Presi-
dent pro iempore for to-day" and it was
unanimously agreed to. The new Sena-
tor from Vermont was then sworn in by
the President pro tempore, who continued
to preside for that day. On the day fol-
lowing Senator Cass did not take the
chair by virtue of the election Of the pre-
vious day. Again the Secretary called
the Senate to order, and Senator Bright,
of Indiana, was chosen President pro tenn
pore.
On the 22d of the same month Senator
Atchison appeared and took his seat in
the Senate, but Senator Bright continued
TO be the President pro tempore. This
fact is referred to as establishing
the fact that President pro tempore
may be chosen for one day if the
Senate so order, and that he does not
hold by virtue of that election until his
successor is chosen. 1t is also one of many
cases showing that President pro tenn
pore, chosen while there is vacancy in
the Office of Vice-President, does not be-
come entitled to the term for which the
Vice-President had been chosen, but may
be superseded any day and for any length
of time it may please the Senate.
Vice-President King came in as Vice.
President with President Pierce March
4, 1858. At theextra session ofthe Senate
Mr.. Atchison was chosen President pro
tempore. Vice-President King died during
the recess, and when the Senate met in
December, 1858, Mr.. Atchison took the
chair by virtue of his election at the pre-
cedng session, and continued to be the
President pro tempore until December 4,
1854. If during that time President Pierce
had died he would have been President of
the United States. But the Senate chose
Lewis Cass to the same Office December
4 and Jesse ID. Bright December 5, 1854.
Mr. Bright being absent on the 9th of
June, 1856, Charles L. Stuart, of Michi-
gan, was chosen President pro ten,pore He
had been requested by Mr.. Bright to take
the chair, but the Senate preferred to
have him there by its vote. Two days
later, Mr.. Bright having returned, Mr..
Stuart resigned, and the former was re-
elected. January 9, 1857, James M.
Mason was chosen and served during the
remainder of President Pierce's term.
Thus it will be seen that during the
vacancy which existed in the office of
President from the day of Mr..
Kings death in 1858 until the end of
the term in 1867 five different persons
filled the Office of President pro tempore,
and had the President died during the
term Of either one of them he would have
become President. If the. President had
died December A, 1854, Or. Cass would
have succeeded him. If he had died
June or 10, 1856, Mr.. Stuart would have
succeeded.
From all Of which it is clear that the
Senate can elect new President pro tenn.
poreas often as the majority pleases, and il
it really desires to admit the New York
and Rhode Island Senators it can choose G
Presidentpro tmpore for one day or simply
TO perform one act. Thirty-eight can out
vote thirty-fve, but cannot do it on tn,
ground of necessity. If New York anG
Rhode Island are deprived of their equa
suffrage in the Senate next Monday it vii
be because the majority wantonly does it
not for want of orderly precedents, b!
following which it could be avoided. /
the wrong is done a majority of on,
can undo it.
The Chief Clerl, (McDonald) called til,
|, Senate to order in the absence of til,
Secretary on three occasions of the alb
sence of the President of the body-viz
March 10, 1871; December 20, 1872, ant
December 90, 1874.