St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-07-08
THE VICE PRESIDENT.
HOW THE NEWS AFFECTED HIM.

W
The Nicc-prrsidcnt left for Washing
ton ON Sunday, and appeared over
whcmed with horror. On the way
there he said he considered it his high
est duty to 90 to Washington, although
there were many personal reasons why
he would prefer to remain i'll New
York The President and himself. he
said, belonged to different factions in
the party, but the terrible calamity of
Saturday was one which arose above
all factions, and which appealed not
only to the party but to humanity.
The Vice President declined to talk
upon the political aspects of the situa-
ton, or to discuss the events which
might happen in case the President
should die.
Arrived at Washington, he was not
permitted to see the President, not
withstandimg he was extremely anxious
to do So. He said to MacNeagh: at
has been severe shock to me. | was
so nervous and depressed last night,
not only from sympathy and sorrow foI
the President. but also because | WAS
so late in receiving the news of his in
iuricS. and feared he might misintcr-
pref my silence, that it was Il long time
before ! closed my eyes. 1t Is my ear
nest desire to see the President. Is
there no possibility of my seeing him
| wish to see him, and if
cannot | wish To keep myself Informed
of his condition. am more depressed
than seem 1t affects me especially
for | not only share in the general sor-
row, but | am especially agitated 10y
the possibility that duties and respon-
sihiliticS which never expected vii
be suddenly thrust upon me"
In meeting of the Nice-presiden
with the cabinet, nothing of political
nature was said. The meeting wa'
confined to an exchange of regrets Il
the nations misfortune, and of pleas
urc that General Arthur should have
come To Washington. TWAS, however
urged that in case Garfield died
General Arthur should be sworl
in Immediately. 1t was also though
best that the Nicc-presidcnt shoul'
| hold himself ready to he sum
mOncd at any moment to the Whit
House. For this purpose IA hack wa
! in constant attendance.
EX-SENATOR PLATT'S OPINIONS.
There is no question whatever tina
| Mr.. Arthur was greatly troubled men
tally over his peculiar position. II
has been Sorcly annoyed by the news
paper criticisms of his conduct ut Al
bany. ! mean the prominence whic
! he has taken in the Senatorial canvass
and to add to this natural anxiety, in
iudicious friends had brought him rc
ports, more or less exaggerated, of eX
prcsSions which reflected upon him am
his party friends i'll connection wit
the tragedy ut Washington. a goo
deal was said on this subject, but ther
was no sort of a discussion before Ii
left as to what policy he should pursu
for the present, or in the event of til
Presidents death"
Mr.. Platt spoke incidentally of hi
pleasant personal relations to Gen. Gan
field. and his regret ut the misfortun
which had ovcrtaken him. He did no
see how any political significance coul
he attached to the act of the asSaSsl
when the evidences of insanity wer
so positive, and deprecated the cours
of persons and papers that endeaN0re
to find "A connection between an at
tempt To murder and "a political strug
Gle of the serious character of that go
ing on at Albany.