National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-09-22


opens the doors Of the Capitol to receive
and shelter his cherished remains for n
time, and then causes them to be ten
derly borne by Representatives and other
officials TO the State which claims the
final care of them. These are sad days
in the country's history. The thought
fitness they inspire cannot be without
good influence.
Concerning an Extra Session of the
Senate.
Although Senators and members of
Congress will visit the Capital at this time
for an entirely different purpose, il can
not he doubted that they will before their
departure hold many informal confer
snces with each other concerning the
public business and the future welfare of
The country. The new President NAV.
and probably will, interchange views
with wise and experienced men as to
the effect and the necessity of called
session of the Senate. The settlement of
the question is not likely to have any
special bearing upon parties, but will be
arrived at rather with reference TO the
governmental necessities of the case.
For the first time in the history of the
Nation the President would have no law
ful successor in the event of death. The
contemplation of such u possibility as a
vacancy in the Office is but the applica-
tion to large affairs of the ordinary pru-
dence which governs us all in the lesser
concerns of everyday life. The making
OF wills, and the qualifying phrase eff l
live " so often added to ordinary engage
ments, come of the same habit of recog-
nlzlng the uncertainty of life th"'
prompted the trainers of the CopSac1usIiat
to take it into consideratiopsSrdE rdEStitution
provided for a presidSthe s!il' when they
authorized Congptser er aential vacancy, and
Tre- oE6F. m.y5ess to take still further
aruS,.tv the subject, which was subse-
guently done.
The President pro TEN. Of the Senate
and the Speaker of the House, who are
by law made a part of the security against
disorder and a guaranty of the continuity
of executive authority, are not in exist
ence. The President is in the full strength
of a perfect manhood, and united peo-
pie will give him their loyal and patriotic
support. No cause exists to render his
life less secure than that of any other,
the humblest citizen in the land. But
the casualties of life and the ills that flesh
is heir to, which make it imprudent in
men to neglect the making of their Wills
appeal strongly to the judgment in the
matter of convening the Senate;in order
that President pro tenn. may be chosen.
--E
The nearly equal strength of parties in
the Senate at this lime is an argument
for called session. Should the organi-
zation be delayed until December the
country might suffer severe jar from
prolonged and animated struggle for
party ascendancy. The convening of the
body at this time would probably insure
calmer and less disturbing methods than
could reasonably be hoped for later
The Senate, when full, consists of
seveny-sixlmembers. OF these but thirty
seven are Democrats and thirty-seven are
Republicans. The other two are Messrs.
Davis and Malone, who go into neither
caucus and are bound by neither But
there are three vacancies on the Republi-
can side, two from New York and one from
Rhode Island. This leaves but seventy
three members. Thirty-four are Repub-
icans, with whom General Malone has
co-operated, making thirty-fve. Thirty
seven are Democrats, with whom Senator
Davis has co-operated, making thirty
eight. If Mr.. Davis, of Illinois, should
sustain the views of the Republicans as to
the choice Of presiding officer and the
steps leading to it, the vote world be but
thirty-seven opposition to thirty-six Ad-
ministration, even if the Democrats We're
united in opposition.
AS Judges of the Supreme Court meet
in their consultation room to discuss the
decisions which are to be afterward an
nounced in court so we can easily i'm
agine consultations Of Senators in ad-
vance ofthe assembling of that body. At
some of these consultations there would
perhaps be present men Of opposite par
ties and men of neither party. Each
would freely express his views as to the
questions of order and privilege which
must arise when the Senate meets. There
would be the question as TO how the
body should be called to order in the alb
sence Of both President and Secretary
\, Precedent would doubtless govern, by
agreement, and the Chief Clerk would
from his desk receive and put the motions
until a President pro hm, was chosen.
But even this might not be the first
question. Who ShaH rOte? Shall the Sen,
ate receive the new Senators before or Qtte,
the presiding officer is chosen? The stat
ute says that new Senators shall beswOrr
in by the President of the Senate. But
the Constitution makes the Senate, ant
not Congress- the sole judge of the time
when and the conditions under whicl
new members shall be admitted.
An act of Congress cannot override Tho
power of the Senate as to the admission o
members. Judgment upon the election
return, and qualification of Senator's is be
yond the reach Of any act Of Congress
What the Senate shall will on that sub
ject is the highest expression Of indisput
able constitutional authority, The Con
sttution guarantees to each State equa
representation in the Senate, New Yorl
is unrepTesented Rhode Island il
but partially represented, The tire,
new Senator'S from those States vii