The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1883-01-18
EDITORIAL MATTER.
The Matter Of the Presidential
Succession.

OF Mr.. Hoar which provides Tor TAX
ing up the officers of the Cabinet in
regular sequence as successors to
the Vice President, according to rank,
beginning with Secretary Of State,
and ending with the Secretary of the
Interior.
1t will be remembered by our read
ers that the Constitution only pros
vides for the succession of the Vice
Presi lent, leaving Congress to ar
range for further contingencies
this Congress did, early in the life Of
the Republic by making the line of
descent in the event of the death of
both the elected officers, first in the
President pro tenn of the Senate, and
in the event of there being none,next
is the Speaker of the House, the in
cumbent to act as President until
President should be elected.
Our experience of 1ssl-possibly
to be repeated in 1SS3-proved the
possibility of a contingency arising
in which there would be neither
President pro tenn nor Speaker, hence
it is regarded as essential to amend
or supplement the old law at the
present session, and Congress seems
determined to do it's duty in that be-
half, though much difference OF opin-
ion is apparent at the outset OF the
debate.
Mr.. Hoar in his leading speech
last week took the position among
others, that the President pro tenn of
the Senate in assuming the Office of
"acting" President, retained his seat
as presiding officer in the Chamber !;
-and claimed that this double duty
was more than any man was equal
to while Senator Morrill, interposed
the suggestion that as n Senator he
would be called upon to vote on the
question of confirming his own NOM
nations, in Executive session. Mr..
Morgan and others alluded to the
fact that the term of the present
President pro tempore, Judge Davis
expired on the 4th of next March,
and that if suddenly, by act OF Prov
idence or otherwise he WAS called to
the Presidency, his term rs acting
President would end with his Scna-
torial term, aud a new dillema would
present itself.
1t seems to us that Senator Hoar
overlooks the important fact that an
"acting President would not possess
the rights of a President pro tenn, Of
the Senate; while General Morgan
ignores the clause in the existing law
that actually, whether SO intended OF
not, gives to the "acting President
az absolute term of Office.
The President pro tenapore of the
Senate, in the event of the death oi
| the President of the United States
and the elevation of the Vice Presi-
dent to the Chief Magistry, becomes
"acting Vice President" but he as
sumes no new functions for the rea>
son that there are no important
duties pertaining to the position ex
cept those incident to presiding over
the Senate. But in the event of the
death of the President who was elect.
cd by the people to The Office Of Vice
President, the President pro tenn o.
the Senate becomes "acting Presi'
dent" and as "acting President" o.
the United States can only assume
the functions that legitimately per-
tain to that high station, and must
for the time being surrender the
gavel and all rights, powers and
privileges incident to n Senator or Q
pro tenn presiding officer.
If, as in the possible case OF Judge
Davis, he should be called to the
"acting" Presidency OF the United
| States in the last days of his Senato'
rial term, he would not vacate the
White House when his term as Sena'
tor in Congress expired for the law
providing for his succeeding to the
Presidency-made by Congress in
pursuance of Constitutional author
ity and requirement-provides for ar
actual term, for the 'acting Presi'
dent:" That he shall so act until o
President and Vice President shal
be elected and if he was actually
President pro tenn, when installed, be
is "acting President" of the United
States, regardless of the duration oi
his Senatorial term, until Constitu'
tional President has been elected anC
inaugurated. And if in the NEAR
time his Senatorial term expires, hil
State may proceed to fill the vacancy
in the customary way.
II on the other hand the Presiden
pro TEN, who becomes acting Presi
dent is "long term" Senator, hi
Senatorial functions are for the tim
suspended, for the reason that
President of the United States