The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-08

The people Of the United States are now
able TO sympathize In aud understand 'Oe
rejoicing which always follows the plf'n o.
a new heir 10 cue crown OF monsfeny'
we Al, feel that but two lives stand between
US and q possible condition OF apafcns'
We say . possible because we cannot say
nprobable.v We do not for one momeus
believe that n both she President snd vice.
President we're 10 die, the corntry wou'o
Cal, into any other or worse condition than
/, IL now In-.hai Is, OF course, unless tne'r
de,ths we're the result OF political or pari'.
san movements. We have 10 every State ana
Tcrr,tory and IN the District Of Columbia
recognized governments which protects al
our rights OF person and property, ana u
the people were not told CT the fact there
would be nothing present 10 tne'r oa's
lives even after the decease OF Mr. oAh'
FIELD snd Mr.. Arthur TO remind tneio 'nS'
The President and yice-President OF tue
Tinted States were both gone, ana tne
conntry without lawful ruler. We hoid'
with Attorney-G eneral MAcVEAGH, that the
senate Of the United States would at once
assemble and elect President pro TEN ana
TIA, this President pro tenn. would become
President OF the United States as quietly
and peacefully, and with as unanimous
public sentiment behind him, as did and had
Mr. HAYES in 1877. The people OF thls
country have confidence In themselves
and in their government. They know Just
what would be the proper thing to 10 uhoer
the extraordinary circumstances supposed,
and that thing they would not only De Will
ing Ia see done, but would take a band 10
seeing well and quickly done. Public SEN
fiment Is stronger than laws. A people
customs are inyinclble. The people OF the
lJoited States have walked alone so long
that they are entirely unlike the people OF
any other country in the world. Infant re-
nublics might be embarrassed by such
state OF things as the one we are contem-
plating, but not so this republic. IL is
eousl 10 any emergency that is likely to
arise.
Nevertheless, our people would be GLAD
il there were few more lives IN tue me
OF succession TO the presidency. The law
ought to be so changed as TO leave out alto
gsther the President pro lem. OF the Senate
and the Speaker OF the House OF Repre-
senlatiyes (who belong to the legislative de-
partment), and as TO include all the men,
bers OF the Cabinet in Office at the time a
yacsncy happens 10 the presidential Office
and then, out OF abundant caution, all the
Governors OF all the States, in the order OF
The ages OF the States. There are hundreds
OF officials TO choose from; and 1t is not
likely that the Governor OF even New York
would decline to become President OF the
United States.
And as our people would gladly see
dozen persons crowded into tue line OF sue
cession 10 the presidency, they can, we re-
peat, understand now better than ever be-
fore why the British people rejoice when
ever new heir TO the throne is born. We
say ths British people; but we might baye
said, the people Of every monarchy. Con-
eress cannot too soon change the law so as
to provide for a hai-dozen or dozen heirs
10 the Presidency of the greatest nation on
earth. II The Federal Constitution would
allow IL, we would have all the ex.Presi'
dents and ex Vice. Presidents Of the United
States placed in the line OF succession.