Morning journal and courier., 1881-08-20
NEW YORK.

l The Presfdency-StaI.vart Leaders Urg. | ing Vice President Arthur to Assume l the Omce-A Conference and Its Result NEW TORE, Aug. 19.-A great deal ot speculation, especially on the part of what are known as administration Republicans, has
 been caused by the presence at Vice President Arthur's house for the past few days of 8 l number of conspicuous adherents of a
 third term, including General Grant, Conk- ling, Logan, Cameron, Dorsey, Belknap, ! Jones and Bliss. The fact of such gather ing when the President is at the point of death has occasioned considerable talk, but it seems that the conference was projected last week, before the Presidents relapse became so serious. It has been an informal gather ing of stalwart leaders to consider an impor- tant subject which has been agitating the press for some time-no less matter than the accession to the Presidency of Vice Presi- dent Arthur. There is 8 clause in the Con stitution of the United States which reads as follows:
 s.In case of the removal of the President from office, of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President"
 Under this clause it is claimed by General
 
 the duty of the Vice President to assume the office of President from the admitted fact that the President is unable "to discharge the powers and duties of said of6ce." These two leaders have for some time been urging upon the Vice President that 1t was his duty to go to Washington and declare his purpose of exercising the duties of President Vice President Arthur has been averse to this course and the matter has been postponed from consideration from time to time until last week, when 1t became evident that there was growing public opinion in favor of such course, and also that the Presidents slow recovery would prevent him from e1er- cising the duties of his office for months at least. At the urgent solicitation of Conkiing the Vice President consented to confer with his friends upon the subject and ask them if they thought the country would sustain him in case the Cabinet refused to recognize his authority. This was the occasion of the gathering at the Vice Presidents house. George Bliss, attorney general, and MT. stitutional clause in favor of the Vice Presi- dents assuming control. AS a result of the conference it was agreed that the matter should be in abeyance for the present until it shall be de termined whether the President will survive his recent relapse or not. In the meantime the opinions of two of the best known constitutional lawyers in the country, one Democrat and the other Republican, have been sought by friends of the Vice Presi- dent and will be presented to his notice at an early day. All persons present at the con ference were unanimous in the opinion that it was the duty of the Vice President to as- sume control It is said on good authority that Postmaster General James and Sec retary Lincoln, who would carry the War de- pertinent, ,are favorably inclined to the project. General Arthur is willing providing Secretary Blaine would consent. Strong efforts are be- ing made to obtain this consent. Important ends are to be attained by such course. If the Vice President becomes acting President stalwarts think they will have no trouble in carrying this State this year. A stalwart will be made Supreme Court Judge in place of Clifford, deceased, and another will be ap- pointed Minister to Berlin, while important offices will be filled to the advantage of their wing of the party.
 The report that Vice President Arthur is sick with cholera morbus has no foundation. He is in excellent health and remains in this city to receive the latest tidings from Wash ington.