National Republican., 1883-01-06

suINecJ was enacted.
MIR. Garland also advocated the bill. The
question was whether, in case of the death,
resignation, or inability of the president and
vice president tho duties of the presidential
Office should be performed by executive Offices
rs proposed by this bill, or whether the hybrid
system created by the law of 1892 should be
continued.
One objection to that system was its doubt
iul constitutiOnality; the president of the
senate not being an "oniccr" of the United
States The practical objection to it had been
strikingly illustrated at the time of President
Garfeld's death, and after the 4th of March
next, unless Congress should lcgislato upon
the subject in the meantime, the life Of the
president would be the only ono standing be-
tween us and anarchy. On the other hand,onc
of the advantages of the system pro-
posed by this bill was that it devoted
the duties of the presidency in such cases
upon the secretary of state. No inferior man
was ever nominated for that office. Gcner-
ally, rs stated Mr.. Hoar the other day, the
man nominated for secretary of state by tho
president was the man who had been his most
prominent competitor for the presidential
nomination. This was we'll illustrated by
President Lincoln's nomination of Mr. Sew
ard, q gentleman who had expected the prcsi-
dency itself, u gentleman at that time well
known for his great ability, not merely at
home but in Europe, and q gentleman to whose
(AIr. Garand's) Judgment, more indebted for
success in the war than any other single inilu-
ence. Again, the secretary of state and other
cabinet officers, being chosen by the president,
would of course be in harmony with him,
and would be likely TO administer tile gov
ernment in accordance with the peoples Will
rs expressed in the last election. Under the
existing law the president of the senate
would become, in n certain contingency, act
ing president. This provision rendered the
character of the administration very uncer-
tain For instance, when the senate met af-
ter the death of President Garfield the sena-
tor from Delaware Mr. Bayard) was chosen
president Of the senate, and If he had be-
come president of the United States the
chief executive Office would have been
filled by member of the party
defeated at the polls. But rs If my magic
Mr. Bayard was deposcd and tho senator
from Illinois CMr. Davis) was put in his place
distinguished senator, belonging to no party,
but walking in an atmosphere OF his own,
above all partics-cerulean, etherial or what
not. [Laughter.l If he had been called to
the presidency by the death of President Ar
thur, what verdict Of the people would have
approved him or his "partyY The strongest
argument urged against the pending bill was
that cabinet officers were chosen, practically
without reference to the will of the legislative
branch of the government the action of the
senate in confirming such nominations being
formal and matter of course. This, however,
was really an argument in favor of the bill,
because if il were known that man becoming
member of q cabinet might become acting
president of the United States the senate
would be certain to exercise great care in
considering and confirming the presidents
nominations for his cabinet.
Mr.. Garland, in the course of his remarks,
expressed the opinion that the Presidents
term of office ought to be made six years.
Mr.. Morgan moved to amend, so as to pro-
vide that the officer succeeding to the acting
presidency shall hold office until the Presi-
dents disability is removed, or "tsss+l the
vacancy is otherwise lawfully filed" instead
of until the end of the regular term, rs pro-
vided in the bill.
Mr.. Edmuuls moved that the bill be recon-
mitted to the committee on the judiciary,
with instructions to report, as soon as may be,
n bill to further provide for and regulate the
duties of the President of the United States
by the president of the senate pro tempore
and the speaker df the shouse of representa-
tives, respectively, in case of u vacancy in
both the offices of President and vice presi-
dent of the United States and for the admin
istration of the duties of the office of Presi-
dent of the United States in cases in which
there shall be mt the time being neither
president of the senate pro temporc nor a
speaker of the house of representatives.
Mr.. Edmunds said that this motion pro-
scnted clearly the alternatives of either per-
fecting the system devised by the fathers, or
departing entirely from that system as pro-
posed in the pending bill.
Mr.. Jones, of Florida, favored the motion
to recommit, because even if the wisdom of
the bill, so far as its provisions went werc
conceded, il still fell far short of meeting the
requirements of the case. In his opinion
there was no occasion for providing, us the
bill did provide, Il long line of heirs eXpectant
f.,t In1 ,s,l,-
a century without much practical difficulty
or danger, except in one instance-the in
ability of president (Mr. Gariiold) to dis
charge the duties of his ollce-and this bill
made no provision for a case of that kind.
Mr.. Morgan made a constitutional argu-
ment upon the general subject.
Mr.. Blair offered an amendment providing
that the cabinet officers named lin succcssion)
instead Of acting as president in the cases
contemplated in tho bill, shall so act only
until congress can come together and provide
by law for filing the presidency.
Mr.. Jones, of Florida, offered an amend
mont providing that no cabinet officer shall
succeed to the acting presidency who would
not be eligible for election as president.
Without acting upon these amendments
the senate, at 5 O'clock went into executive
session, and soon after adjourned.
NOMINATIONS.
The President sent the following nomina-
tiOns to the senate
Gusavus Coward of Illinois, to be secretary of
the legation of the United States to japan.
First Lieut.. o. w. Bldd Fourth cavalry, to DO
captain,
Second Iieuts. James Richards jr., Fourth cav
airy; Charles q, Ayrcs Tenth cavalry and Ber.
nard A. Byrne, sixth infantry to be first lieuen'
ants.
Postmasters-Thomns II. Learned at Pttsfleld,
Mass; John w. SprOul, at Abingdon Mass; James
II. Harris, at Fort Edwards, N. "; EbeneZcr W.
Knapp, at Walden, n. "; II. w. Bardwell, at Tunk-
hammock, Pa; BENJAMIN e. Harter, at Ocala, Fla;
Lyman w. HHmin, ut Cedar Keys, Fla; Hugh
Sterling, Mt Wheeling, W. Va. Robert w, Booue, at
Newberry court house, $, O.; Alonzo Webster, az
Oraugeburg courthouse, s. g.; james w. Thomas,
at Mckinney, Texas Thomas Rogers at Dodge
Vile, Wis; G. A. SlOcum at Charles City, Iowa;
James Wallace, at North Manchester Ind; Will
inn Caldwell, Mt Pennington, Ill.,; Henry Il.
Burgess at Princeville, Ill. Jacob A. Wood
Nancy, at Pleasant Hill, Mo- James A. Arbuth-
not ~ BrOokneld, Mo-; William A. Morton, at
Hamilton No.; George S. Eddy, at Wiloughby,
Ohio; Miss Maggie r. Parks at Alma, Col; L. W.
Caldwell. at Sioux Falls, Daki Abial NJ. COndit, az
Orange n. j.
CONTRIBUTIONS,
Tho senate in executive session confirmed
the following nominations:
Posmasters.--io C.. Beall, Lagrange, Ca.
Thomas II. MedtoTd. Cambridge, Md; Thomas II.
Learned, PiJsiield, Mass; Chas y. Scott, Parkes-
burg, w. Va,
THE HOUSE.