The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-12-31


The Succession to the Presidency.
Congress has before 1t no more isp-
pcrtant duty than that Of providing for
thc Succession TO the presidency. The
law as Il stands Il tliscrcdltable TO the
industry, patriotism, sagacity. and fore
sight Of our law-givers. In fast, as the
Irishmans chapter, headed "Snakes In
Ireland" contained nothing more than
thc statement, "Thcrc are no snakes In
Ireland" so OF the law providing for
SUCCESSORS 10 the President OF the United
States. It might be written, "This law
provides for no successors 20 the President
Of tho United States" Mr.. AETHUR's life
II all that will stand between the country
and anarchy after the 4th of March next
Unless In the mean time Mr.. DAVIS resigns
and allows new President pro ten. OF
the Senate TO be elected. whose term will
extend beyond that date, or a new law
upon the subject shall have been passed by
Congress.
Az the law now stands the Nice-Pres;-
dent OF the United States, the President
pro fem. Of the Senate, and the Speaker
ot the House OF Representatives, are The
only three officers or persons entitled 10
succeed TO the presidency in ease OF the
death, resignation, or disability OF the it,
cumbeaf. Mr.. ARTHUR as Vice-Prosident
has already taken the Office under the law.
Mr.. DAvIs's term viii expire on the 4th OF
March next, and then Of course he will no
longer be President pro lem. OF the serate,
and therefore no longer capable OF taking
Mr.. ARTErR's place should it for any rea'
son become vacant. The present term OF
Mr.. KEIFER, the Speaker OF The House
oi Representatives, will also expire on
the 9Th OF March, and with it will eX-
pire his right to succeed to the presi-
deney. Thus i; appears that, as we have
said, there will absolutely he no officer or
person who can become President II Con-
.rtss shall pass no new law on the subject,
and il next year after the 4th OF March Mr..
ARTHUR shall die.
One Objectionable remedy has been hint
cd al hereinbeiore. II is for Mr.. DAVIS TO
resign and the Senate to elect President
pro TEN. whose term will not expire until
the 4,h OF March, 1885. Or both houses Of
Congress might under law providing for
the sane, or upon call OF the Presidea OF
the United States, assemble Oh the 9Th OF
March, and elect new presiding officers, in
which case there would be lives enough TO
save the Government from becoming
aecphalous. But not lives Of the right
kind.
We may remark here that ii Mr.. DAVIS
or Mr.. KEIFER should become President Of
the United States before his term expires,
the expiration Of his term would have no
eject upon his title TO the presidency.
Once he becomes President, he is entitled
TO continue President until the 4th Of
March, 1885.
Thoughtlcss persons in this country often
ridicule the roioicings in other lauds over
tho birth OF an heir to 4 throne. These re-
joielngs are not merely because notable
person is born, but because every new heir
TO the throne Is al additional guarantee
that there shall be no disputed succession
10 tho throne when the incumbent dies.
There is good reason for the rejoicing.
We in this country now lack that very
cause for congratulatiug ourselves upon
the condition OF our country; and many
thoughtful persons are much concerned on
The subject. We need new heirs TO our
republican throne. Congress ought at once
to piovide sufficient number Of them.
But the existing law ought not to be con-
7inued. No heir 10 the Executive Office
ought to be found in either branch OF the
legislative department. or i'll the judicial
DEPARTMENT. OF the Government. The bill
now before the Senate Is based upon the
correct theory that the legislative, eXecu-
tive, and judicial departments Of the Gov
eminent ought to be kept separate. 1tpro-
yidos that the Cabinet officers shall succeed
IN the order OF their supposed dignity. We
advocated this change in The law in 1858,
when ANDREW Johnson was President oi
the United states. We are still in favor
oi II.