Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-18
SUCCESSION AND RULES.
rWO IMPORTANT DEBATES IN
THE HOUSES OF CONGRESS.

w,nism M. Evarts Makes a Learned Le-
Argument on the Presidential Sue
sossion BIIl-The Succession Provided
,or BY the Bill Declared UncOnstitu-
,,onal-Mr. Randall and the Appropri-
atoms.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-In the Senate
,oday. after the reading of the Senate
,oprnal. Mr.. Dolph presented the creden-
t,ls OF John II. Mitchell, the newly
oected United States Senator from Ore
ron which were read, and Mr.. Mitchell
vas then sworn in.
Mr.. Hoar, from the Committee on Privi-
sges and Elections, reported favorably
be bill to fix a day for the meeting of the
electors for President and Vice President,
and to provide for and regulate the count
inc of the vote for President and Vice
President, and the decision of questions
arising therefrom.
Mr.. Hoar said he would call up this
bill for action Immediately after the dis
rossl of the presidential succession bill
Eud the bill fixing the salary of the United
ktstes District Judges. The bill went to
be calendar.
DAKOTA's ADMISSION.
The chair laid before the Senate a
kssolution of Mr.. Butler calling for a
tommittee to inquire as to the alleged
Sgsnzation of the Territory OF Dakota
Er0a State, and the alleged election of
h-nlted States Senators. After further
the matter went over till to-
morrow, and the Presidential succession
\ i'll was taken up, and Mr.. Evarts ad-
dressed the Senate on 1t.
THE QUESTIONS PRESENTED.
Mr.. Evarts promised by remarking that
&e would not have addressed the Senate on
. be subject under consideration had he not
&eretOfore had occasion professionally to
Make a thorough examination of the con-
#tiutiOnal provisions involved.
. There are two propositions which think all
.uients of the constitution will admit with
.tQueston. One is, that in the framing of
Ne Office OF President, and Its origin OF au-
#onlg from the direct action of the people in
channel marked out by the constitution, the
&lrpOse plainly expressed and written all
4 er The constitution in this very matter is
bat Congress shall not participate either
IA #bslantially or circumstantially in the cleo
n Dn of 4 President of the United States.
Then think, it would be found generally
4 pressed on the consti tution-I would say
ledded in the constitution-that perl
x cty, an accomodative and readjusted
Hodcity in all action OF the great depart
elts OF the government, except the judicial,
net to be treated as cireumstantial or only
convenience and prOpriety. but that it
ers into the very scheme by which the
Fcton OF a President by the people is effect
"a without the aid and without the control
Il usith 10 hx~C
Y It carries with it that the Presidency
o come into the scheme of elections under
Arrangement of perlOdicity with concur
b. and attendant action of the people on the
Der branches OF the government.
ONE OF THE PLANS OF THE TRAINERS.
believe it Is essentially in the plan of the
mers OF the constitution, and | believe it is
pressed firmly in the provisions of the constl-
t0n. taat duly elected President fixed as
IS rp2i the periodicity of four wears, Is to
ne INTO power and assume the reins of gov
pent with the concurrence Of periOdicity
he election OF the lower house of Congress.
eleve, therefore. that in the inference.
m the mere nomination of the period of
Patton, is not to he found an essential idea
toe Presidency or for the lower house of
N Hess. II ls In this whole frame OF govern
nj when it is launched into action and be-
es the operative government of the people
lle United States.
MOI To BE DISTURBED.
was understood by the trainers, and was
written in the provisions of the consti-
on, that after this government was
ncned and the initial date of this perl
lty was fixed as was predetermined il was
10 be disturbed, and that this svnchrO-
Of action of the electors for President
voters for members of the House of Rep
natives was not to be disturbed.
r. Eyarts, in support of his conten-
cited and analyZed the various
ses Of the constitution, and argued
nowhere in the constitution could
yes be found Of an intention on the
Of Its trainers to vest In Congress any
AoFity IN the premises.
WHAT WAS AIMED AT.
E suggested that if legislators and
sltutiOnGl lawyers would submissive
nd carefully weigh what was in the
os OF the patriotic men who framed
constitution. there would be less loose
lsslons Of what was in the cOnsttu-
lie insisted that the constitution
Mely authorized Congress TO declare
oilcer should till the Presidential
ID the emergency contemplated.
word "officer'' meant an officer of
hted States. 1t could not mean a
officer.
M o0NGREssMEN NOT OFFICERS.
nators and representatives in Con-
could never be officers of the United
r. aence they were shut out from
ssslon. Would the trainers OF the
uluuon, men so circumspect and sa-
Us, nave left such a loOphOle TO the
1ency as that, that the Senators
Vacate It themselves, as for exam
w impeachment, and then fill 1t
'eNesE Then what would the Sena-
do with the decision
constitutional decision In
EYarts' behalf, that neither
ofs nor members Of the House came
the impeachment clauses of the
tuition. The President and Vice
tent were named as liable 10 i'm
ment and both OF them were officers,
lnduStrtd, and 10 guard againt the
mat they would not be included in
mass Of officers the only per-
eclared open TO impeachment under
Institution we're the President, Vice
tent and all civil officers.
NOT LIABLE TO THE CLAUSE.
senator should become President,
Ote' ne would not come within the
nment clause. To Mr.. Evarts'
lo one could under our constitution
M support the deposit of the Presi-
power In any officer Of the Senate
ha not Of tho United States. or in
leer Of the House or Representa-
Vh y and not Of the United States,
ne meaning Of the constitution.
arts remarks occupied about an
delivery, and were listened 10
we utmost attention both on the
the Senate and the galleries,
We're well filed.
M4 Fote on Mr.. Edmunds' amendment
- out the clause Of the bill that
sa with a new election was as