Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-12-04
FRIDAY MORNING. DEC. 4. 1885.
THE STEPS OF THE PRESIDEN-
TIAL SUCCESSION.

TIAL SUCCESSION.
While the succession to the Presidency
is naturally at this moment subject
of great interest, it IAN hardly be called
one of deep anxiety. The American peo-
people through two intense strains in the
themselves socapable of self control, and
SO happily warped towards the common
sense view of governmental problems, that
they have become inspired with great
confidence in each other. With this mu-
tual dependence in each other they are,
under the novel circumstances of to-day,
quite satisfied to await the regular pro-
cession of events without wasting thought
about anarchy or any other improbable out
come. And they are spending the inter-
mediate time profitably in compromising
the gravity Of the situation and the ap
propriate legislation to prevent its recar-
renee. Ii the Republican Senate would
subordinate party advantage. however
slight, it would 60 to the core of the stu
alton, elect Democratic Senator as its
presiding officer next week, and thus pro-
vide for carrying out the spirit of the last
Presidential election and for continuing
upon the Democratic party the entire re-
sponsbilIty of the government which the
country threw upon it By its votes year
ago. This would be in the spirit of the
country and of true republicanism. But it
is needless to say the matter will not be
disposed of in so brief, satisfactory and pa
triotic way. The Republican majority
will serve its party FIRST, and see the People
later. 1t will meet next Monday and elect
Republican presiding officer, who in case
of the disability of the Democratic Presi-
dent would become President of the Uni
ted States, thus taxing advantage of an
accident to. reverse the decision of the
Nation only twelve months old. In the
aaean time we can look into the situation
and into the probability of legislation for
future emergencies.
AS the succession stands to-day, should
President Cleveland die, the Nation would
have no head at all. The Senate has no
President pro tenn, Vice President Hen
bricks like his predecessor, Vice President
Arthur, not having vacated the chair in
order to permit the election of such tenn
porary officer. The Speaker of the House.
who would come next to the President OF
the Senate in the order of succession docs
not at present exist and will not until the
House of representatives chooses one next
week. 1t is useless to speculate on
who would take the rejns Of government
should vacancy occur in the Presiden
tial chair in the next few days; first, be-
cause there is not the slightest guide in the
constitution or laws of the country point
ing out successor, and second, because
it is hardly 10 the range of possibility that
such vacancy will occur. A new Presi-
dent and Vice President would be elected
by the people in suca a case under the
law as it already exists, but they would
not be inaugurated until March 4th, 1887,
and their term would expire March 4tn,
1889. 1t is, however, too remote posi-
hilty, to invite discussion of who would
fill the place for the intervening year and
three months. 1t is with the succession
as it will appear after the election by the
Senate next Monday in which the people
are most practically interested. The pre-
siding officer of the Senate then to be cleo
ted, will find his authority to discharge the
that office, under section LAG of the Re
vised Statutes, as follows:
SIN case of removal, death, resignation, Or
inability of both the President and Vice Pres
ident of the United States, the President Of
the Senate, or, if there is none, then the
Speaker of the House of Representatives for
the time being, shall act as President until the
disability is removed or President elected" "
So able lawyer as Senator Evarts has
Just given it as his opinion that this law
IS unconstitutional and that the clause Of
the Constitution providing that ''no per
son holding any Office under the United
States shall be a member of either House
during his continuance in office,' debars
member Of either House from holding
the office of President or Vice President.
That question will hardly, however, be
raised now and the congressional mind
will be turned to devising a law tC
provide against future troubles. Three
years ago the Senate passed bill
prepared by Senator Hoar, which
would have met this case. 1t pro
vided that when there is neither President
nor Vice President, the Secretaries OF
State, of the Treasury. of War, the At
torney. General, the Postmaster General
and the Secretaries of the Navy and of the
Interior, should in the order named act as
President. The bill provided that none
of those officials who were only acting I'D
interim, or whose nomination had not been
confirmed by the Senate OR who are not
eligible under the Constitution of the
United States should act as PIesi-
dent. This bill, unfortunately, was
not passed by the House, and the
country in consequence will stands for
three years with bot one life between it
and a reversal of the national policy it
entered upon on the 4sh of March last.
That the Republican Senators should
handle this accident with higher regard
for the interests of the country than for
the interests of their party IS not to be
hoped for They will not again pass the
law of 1882 for Presidential succession by
the Cabinet officers, but will keep the
country in uncertainty till 1888. There are
three names being actively canvassed fol-
the Presidency of the Senate-Edmunds
Logan and Sherman. 1t is very doubtful
if the first named of these gentlemen will
be chosen. He was acting Vice Preside nj