The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-06
Richmond 4ispatrh,
sr,NpAy. FEBRUARY 6, 1881.
No.. Blalne-n,a Succession.

BLAINE admitted in the Senate tbe o'he' oay
that be expected TO become member OF
Mr.. GAaFIglp's Cabinet. HIS remark
which has been construed TO carry that
meaning might lead 10 conclusion en-
tire,y diiiercpt--thc very reverse, IN iac,'
As reported In The Congressional Record,
The official organ Of Congress, 1t was as io''
lows
Mr.. Blaine: do not know that COM
mifee can be appointed now u resch over
TIC recess; bu, give notice tbat 90 tue "'s'
dty OF The spring session OF the cens,e' a.
there viii probably be one, shali move 10,
the raising of committee OF 'ne Seha'c-o'
which am not willing TO be memoeI-d
committee OF i've, to sit curing tue Ieoess
and renort on the first Monday Of December
,cyt remedy for this evil. am going to
make II an Impartial committee. want 10
re .xo pcnnb,icans on IL and two Demo-
Gratis. and tue Senator from Illinois nv
Dsvisl tor chairm,n. [Laughter.]
Mr.. BLAINE may mean tba; he VIII be m
tue Senate on the first day OF IFS spring sos-
son, although be will not be there long al
forwards. But at any rate, the remark as
Il stands is an implied assertion that he VIII
be in the Senate after the 4,h OF March
next, the day The new administration viii
come into power.
II would be easy OF course for Sr. BLAINE
10 remain in the Senate few days after the
An Of March and then resign II there were
no good reason for him TO do otherwise.
But there is good reason why he SHOULD
-.
OF March il he intends TO become Cabn9
officer. The Republicans desire to control
the senate, and they will need Republican
senator from Maine In order TO that end.
IL Mr.. BLAINE resigns now, or at any time
before The All Of March, he must fix the
time when his resignation shall take enect.
Surely It would be on the An OF March; not
"a day, nor week, nor month afterwar IS.
II bis resignation fixed the Atm OF April III
stead Of the Alb Of March, aud bis appoint
lnent a. Secretary Of State were confirmed
on the 5th OF 9th Of March, Maine and the
Repnblcans would lack senator IS soon
as that confirmation took place.
Mr.. THURMAN--the best lawyer IN the
Senate declared last week that the vote OF
Georgia for President Of the United States
could not be counted; because 1t was cast
on d,y different from TINT fixed by law.
He is said to have expressed recently sim
liar opinion as TO The election OF United
States senators on day different from that
fixed by law. Mr. HILL. OF GeoIgi1, eX
pressed The same opinion Us TO The vote OF
Il 4 = a
presidential election is the most important
OF al elections, il may he set down a. GER
tain that these senators will not be more
liberal in the case Of iae election OF sen-
ator man in the case OF the election OF
President Fl the United states. The great
constitutional right Of 4 State 10 vote Tor
President is much greater than the great
constitutional right Of a State 10 elect SEN
a.or. Neither will he allowed 10 he done
unless according TO law. Therefore, we
understand Messrs, THURMAN and HILL
tbe latter will be IN the Senate 10 mean
that MI. SHERMAN will have no right to a
seat in the United States Senate under the
elecron recently held in Ohio at a time dh-
ferent from that fixed by law.
II the Legislature OF Maine should ad-
iourn before there is a real vacancy IN the
Senate, Governor PLAlsTED would have the
right 10 appoint Mr.. BLAINE'S successor. If
Mr. BLAINE were 10 resign tomorrow, the
Legislature could nq elect bis successor
until after the time fixed by law for his
resignation TO take ofect-a good reason
h. Ho1 IN mi n fqhi
he should resign to take effect before the 4ih
Of March.
A. We have heretofore pointed out, the |
act OF Congress providing for the election |
OF United States senators is very defective. |
Under 1t senator can be elected only
l. On tue second Tuesday after the meet
ing and organization OF the Legislature |
chosen next preceding the expiration OF the |
regular term OF a senator.
.. Ga the second Tuesday after the meet |
ing and organization OF Legislature
which meets whilst a vacancy actually eX-
ISIS.
8. On the second Tuesday after the Ec-
gi,lature receives notice OF Il vacancy which
occurs during lis session.
Clearly Mr.. BLAINE's successor cannot be
elected under either the first or second pro
vision. lie must be elected, If at al under
the third; but even thi, cannot be done
unless the vacancy shall actually occur du
ring the session Of the Legislature. a
vacancy cannot occur until Mr.. BLAINE
leaves the seat The act OF Congress draws
q clear distinction between a vacancy ard
prospective vacancy. Mr.. BLAINE must,
therefore, resign 10 take effect whilst the
Legislature is in session, or else Gov
ernor PLAIsrED will appoint Greenbacker
TO 6ll his place. The only other chance
for the Republicans to have Republican
successor to Mr.. BLAINE is for the Legisla-
ture Of Maine to remain in session until the
day liked by him for his resignation to take
effect. Tia, body will hardly be allowed to
extend It's session for such purpose. II
not. and he concludes TO go into the Cabi-
net, he will not have IA chance to make any
motion In the Senate on "the first day OF the
spriug session"
And emphasize that woTd [Staie,l as
a States'-rights man." said Mr.. EDMUSDs in
the United States Senate the other day.