The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-13
The Succession-virginia-Othe Mat
tiers.


passed the bin to regulate the descent OF
the presidential oflice--by vote OF more
than three TO onc--is an almost infallible
indication that II will pass the House OF
Representatives In the form substantially
In which It went to that body. We have
felt great interest In this bill. Mr.. JONES,
Of Florida, truly said at the last session OF
Congress that "this question far trans
cends In its magnitude any other ques-
tion Of a similar character which can arise
under the institutions Of government in
this country, far transcends the transition
OF power in a State or in municipality,
because It IS question which concerns the
whole people OF the United States"
We have felt the more interest in the
subject because the debates in the Senate
have brought out some facts which render
the question one OF special interest TO Vir-
ginians. Mr.. MADISON and Mr.. JEFFER-
SON were both in, favor OF making the
Secretary OF State the successor Of the
President OF the United States (after the
Vice-PreSidenO. Mr.. LAPHAM, OF New
York, said last week:
/" Sir. believe this bill devolves the dis
charge OF those duties and the exercise Of
those powers where the Constitution in
tended and designed they should be
lodged. believe this bill puts the exer-
else OF those powers into familiar hands,
the daily advisers and cOnsuters OF the
President upon all measures OF policy in
his administration. Ii Is 4 measure OF
safety, therefore. II does not hand the
administration OF the Government over to
n stranger or TO an alien. 1t keeps il in
the hands OF those who were familiar with
the policy Of the President up 10 the time
OF his disability OF his death or his resig-
nation, and so is the safest repository OF
the trust"
He also said:
"The burning and eloquent words Of
Mr.. Randolph can no more than express
the real condition Of this country IL we
ever undertake TO cast the exercise OF the
duties Of the presidential Office in any other
hands than those designated by the Con-
stitution.''
He quoted Mr.. RANDOLPH rs follows
"But n President of the United States
appointed by the exclusion Of the votes OF
those who are the same flesh and blood as
ourselves-for the people OF Missouri are
not natives OF Missouri, with the exception
OF a few French and still fewer Spaniards-
Is no more the Chief Magistrate of this
country than that thing, that pageant,
which the majorities of the two houses pro-
posed to set up Just twenty years ago-a
President made by law-no, by the form
and color OF law-against the principles Of
L. st,,ts IN, x+;D .nff M
rights OF the ireemen OF this country.
Sir said Mr.. Randolph, Il would not
give a button for him. On his personal
account and for his personal qualities.
might treat him with respect as IN indi-
vidual, but as Chief Magistrate of this
country he would be more odious TO my
Judgment than one Of the house Of Stuart
attempting to seat himself on the throne Of
England in defiance OF the laws OF success
sion and Of the opinion of the people, y
Annals OF Congress, Sixteenth Congress,
second session, lS20-lS2l, page 1lG1.
Dir. MAxEY, of Tennessee, brought out the
fact that the true reason why the law fixing
the presidential succession reads as it does
is "because the great power OF ALEXAH-
DER HAMILTON and those who followed him
in the Senate of the United States ioaS OPP
posed 10 Thomas Jefferson" Mr.. MAxEY
continued:
"That was the reason for ii. Thomas
Jefferson was the Secretary OF State. The
Senate. which at that time was opposed TO
Mr.. Jefferson in politics, passed ILL, the
ninth section OF which now is in the act Of
1892, fixing the succession as it now is. 1t
went to the House, and the House struck
out that ninth section, and substituted
the Secretary Of State for 'the President
pro tempore of the Senate Mr.. Jefferson
was Secretary of State ut that time. There
was great conflict between the friends Of
the Secretary Of the Treasury (Mr. Hamil-
tom and the friends OF the Secretary OF
State (Mr. Jetlerson) as to who should be
the great man OF this country. The House
amended The bill, making the Secretary Of
State provisional successor. 1t went to the
Senate, and the Senate refused TO concur in
the amendment made by the House. The
House receded from their amendment TO
the Senate bill by vote of 81 in favor OF
receding to "a against, Mr.. Madson's
name, who has truly been called the father
OF the Constitution, being found in the
negative"
Mr.. Nancy proved his point by quoting
from letter of Mr.. HAMILTON's 10 Colonel
CARRINGIoY, Of Virginia MAY 26, 1922, the
following:
You know how much it was point to
establish the Secretary OF State as the
officer who was 20 administer the Govern
ment in defect Of the President and Vice
President. Here, l acknowledge, though
took far less part than was supposed.
ran counter to Mr.. Jeferson's wishes: but
il had had no other reason for it, had
already experienced opposition from him,
nhich rendered ii measure Of Se!f-de-
fence"
In letter from Mr.. FISHER AMEs to Mr..
THOMAS DWIGHT on the 9th Of February,
1892, beiore the bill was approved, written
from Philadelphia, Mr.. AMEs says:
"The Secretary OF State MIR. Jeflerson1
Is struck out OF the bill for The future pre-
sideucy, in case Of the two first offices be-
coming vacant. His friends seemed 10
think 1t important TO hold him up as king
Of the Romans. The flrmness of the SEN
afs<keDt him out.-BfSher AmeS'S Works,
rol,tasf ], pages l13, ia"
Truly does Mr.. Nancy say that the pre-
sent law oriN mated in difference between
JEFFERSON an& HAMILTON. or between the
Senate, which was with HAMILTON, and
the House of Representatives, which was
with JEFFERSON.
We call Mr.. TUck ER's attention to the
fact that at the last Apoment, and without
discussion, or at any Fate with next to no
discussion, the Senate amended the bill so
as to make 1t read THAT "the powers and
duties of the office" father than the office
Of President itself shall deyolye upon the
Secretary OF stote3 &c. Is that what the