The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-05-02
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.

The condition of President Arthur's
health is such as to create no little anxiety
Possibly, as was stated by our esteemed con-
temporary, the Journal, that Mr.. Arthur
took Garfield's Office "by the act of God"
but, if such was the arrangement, it does
not seem to have shielded him from the ills
of the flesh. The fear is that the President
may die before the expiration of his term of
Office to which he was so divinely elevated,
and this possibility, which is taking on Inc
coloring of probability, brings again into
prominence the question OF the succession,
and some other questions about which
there seems TO be different opinions.
If Mr.. Arthur should die before his term of
Office expires, Mr.. Eimunds, President Of
the Senate, would at once be clothed with
all the power and prerogatiyes of Chief
Magistrate; that is to say, if Mr.. Edmunds
were alive and able TO discharge the duties
of the Office. Unfortunately Mr.. Edmunds
is in feeble health and is now seeking
strength By travel. But Mr.. Edmunds il
he should draw the highest prize in the
lottery of assassination, would not therefore
be entitled to hold the office during the re-
mainder of Arthur's, or rather, Garfield's
term. An election would at once be
ordered and just here comes the difficulty.
Would the President elected at a special
election be elected for four years. or for the
remainder of Arthurs, otherwise. Garfield's
term? The Chicago Tribune says:
The law providing for called election is silent
on this particular point: il merely says that 'te
provisions of This title relating the quadrennia
Il. e.. the regular election Of President and Vice
President shall apply with respect to any cleo
tion to I'LL vacancies in the ohices of President
and Vice President held upon notification given
when both Offices become vacant" The language
of the Constitute would indicate an intention
that President cho en- at called election shall
serve the full Preside entail OF four years. The
Constitution says that the President shall hold
Office during the term OF four years." and II also
says that in case of the death of both the Presi-
dent and Vice President the officer designated by
Congress 1.-THE President Of the Senate) shall act as
President "until a President shall be elected -,
The inference from this language. without fur
Their limitation, is, that President chosen upon
the death of both the President and Vice Presi-
dent shall serve the full Presidential as pro-
ylded by the Constitution. The trainers OF the
Congressional law of 1892 only five years later
than the adoption of the Constitution, seemed to
take this view of the matter, because the law
does not undertake to limit the term Of the Presi.
dent chosen at the special election to the unex-
pired term OF the deceased President, but makes
the special election and the qualification of the
newly elected President correspond in every
tial particular TO the process of regular election.
This is in conflict with the popular impression
that President chosen at special election to
al q vacancy would serve out the unexpired term
only.
Evidently there is in all of this muddle
OF very extraordinary proportions. Who
can tell what the Constitution means? Who
can authoritatively decide the questions in
volyed? Possibly the Supreme Court, in
which event, II anything is to be gained for
/ the Republican party, the decision would
be intensely partisan. The Tribune is of
the opinion il the decision, however OBJ
tanned, should be that the election OF a
President is for the unexpired term, that
Mr.. Edmunds would be the Republican
candidate, and would be elected without
serious opposition" while il the election
should be for a full term of four
years, the campaign would partake
of the usual "strife and bitterness"
There is not a remote probability that in
any case Republican would be elected.
The country wants TO be done with the Re-
publican party. The death Of Garfield, the
elevation of Arthur and his death, the ele-
walton of Edmunds snd a special election
would be themes so fruitful of hsggard rem
iniscences that the people would by over
whelming majorities wash their hands OF
the whole bad business and retire the Re.
publican party from power. 1t is to be
hoped that President Arthur's physical
troubles are exaggerated. and that he may
live to serve out his entire term.