The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-09-03
INABILITY QUESTION,
A VERY DRLIcATE POINT TO DECIDE.
Ex-SecretAFy Robson ON the DlSahil,
ity Of the Pre4Ident-WhO Is the
Judge OF lhe Exigencles
Ofthe OccasiOns

NEw HoRE, September 2.-Ex-secretary
Robson, in an interview with reporter
to-day, on the inability question, said: ~The
Constitution provides that in case OF the in.
ability of the President to discharge the
powers and duties Of his office the same
shall deyolve upon the Vice President.
You will see clearly by this that when any
Inability on the part Of the President to
discharge the powers and duties Of his
office arises it il not only the right, but the
duty OF the Vice President to assume and
discharge them, 1t Is not an assumption
OF the power by himself nor gift from any
one, but it deyolves upon him by the Con-
stitution, under the provisions Of which he
holds his office of Vice President.
"ln the absence OF legislation by Con-
gress pre.existing on the subject, the Vice
President himself is the only person or
power who can actually decide this ques-
ton, and no would do 80 upon the general
and undisputed p tnciple that when the
Inv imposes upon lny person, officer or
body the obligation to perform any duty
upon contingency, 1t imposes upon that
person, officer, or body the obligation and
duty Of deciding under his responsibility
when that contingency occurs"
"upOn what evidence Is tho Vice Presi-
dent TO decide this question:"
"There Is no statutory provision upon the
subject, and tho question must be decided
a Nr, Nn
evidence OF the same general character as
that which would avail to effect the decis-
ion Of other questions. This presents to
the Vice President Us graYGa responsibility
Ns has ever devolved upon a man in the
government Of our country. He IL, think,
II man OF strong good sense, OF modesty,
perception and courage. All these Quali.
ties are necessary 10 him now. lie never
will decide the question In favor OF his
own power until II Is thrust upon him by
the inevitable logic Of events, and comes
to him in such u shape and with such sane
ton that his action will be called for by the
general consent Of the good people oil the
country, and his decision will receive It's
confirmation from the aggregate good sense
OF the community"
"What do you think would be sufficient
evidence for his decision ?"
at Is hard to detinewhat evidence would
bc u proper foundation for action on his
part, but there are certain kinds which
would be satisfactory to the good sense Of
tho American people, II the President
himself should declare to him his inability,
and invite him to discharge tho duties Of
his office during It's continuance, this
would bO unimphaceable testimony OF the
fact that the inability contemplated by the
Constitution existed. II tho President was
unableto do this, and II the Cabinet, which
now represents him and executes hs will,
should, with the concurrence Of the attend.
ing physicians, signify the fact OF inability,
this would DO good evidence on which to
found the action Of the Vice President In
the case OF George Ill the decision Of the
attending physicians was held to be sufii.
Cient evidence Of tho Kings inability to
discharge the powers and duties Of thcroyal
office. H