Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-23
A sTALwART CONFERENCE.
The Inability of the President Con-
sidered, and Mr. Arthur Urged TO
Accept the Position of Acting
President-Why He Hesitates.

A New York dispatch says great
deal of speculation, especially on the
part of what is known as administration
Republicans, has been caused by the
presence at Vice President Arthur's
house, for the past few days, of a number
of conspicuous third term politicians, in
Guiding Gen. Grant, Conkling, Logan
Cameron, Dorsey, Belknap, Jones and
Bliss. The fact of such gathering
while the President is at the point OF
death, has occasioned considerable talk,
but it seems that the conference was
projected last week, before the Presl
dents relapse became so serious. lthas
been an informal gathering of stalwart
leaders to consider an important subject
which has been agitating the press fol-
some time-no less a matter than the
accession to the Presidency of Vice
President Arthur. There is a clause in
the Constitution of the United States
which reads as follows:
"In case of the removal of the
President from Office, or of his death,
resignation or inability to discharge the
powers and duties of said office, the
same shall devolve on the Vice Presi-
dent"
Under this clause it is claimed by Gen.
Grant and ex Senator Conkling that it is
now the duty of the Vice President to
assume the office of President, from the
admitted fact that the President is unable
ito discharge the powers and duties OF
said Office" These two leaders have
for some time been urging upon the Vice
President that it was his duty to go to
Washington and declare his purpose OF
exercising the duties of President. Vice
President Arthur has been averse to the
course, and the matter has been post
pOned from time to time until last week,
when it became evident that there was a
growing public opinion in favor of such
a course, and also that the Presidents
slow recovery would prevent him from
exercising the duties of the Office for
months at least. At the urgent sOlicita-
ton of Mr.. Conkling 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
Ward and Mr. Conkling gave legal
opinions upon the constitutional clause
in favor of the Vice Presidents assum.
ing control AS result of the confer
ence it was agreed tina: the matter should
remain in allegiance for the present, until
it shall be determined whether the Presi-
dent will survive his recent relapse OF
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 President
and will be presented to his notice at an
early day.
All persons present at the conference
were unanimous in the opinion that il
was the duty of the Vice President to
assume control of the government. 1t is
said on good authority that Postmaster
General James and Secretary Lincoln
are favorably inclined to the project.
General Arthur is willing, providing
Secretary Blaine would recognize him,
and strong efforts are being made to OBJ
tain his consent.
Important ends are to be attained by
such a course. II the Vice President
becomes acting President, the stalwarts
think they will have no trouble in carry
ing New York this year. A stalwart
will be made Supreme Court Judge in
place of Justice Clifford, deceased. and
another will be appointed Minister to
Berlin, while many important offices will
be filed to the advantage of their wing
of the party.
The report that Vice President Arthur
is sick with cholera morbus has no foun-
dalton. He is in excellent health, and
remains in New York to receive the latest
tIdings from Washington.