The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-17

but would not, in the emergency contemplated.
place such an office as the chief magstracy in the
hands of any person for the remainder of the
four years term, without any power in the
States or the people to have new election
Mr.. Morgan did not see that the President had
the sole power of designating his successor. The
Senate had TO confirm the Secretary of State, in
the first instance; but the Senate, having con-
firrned six men as Cabinet officers, these men,
in succession and in the emergency named, were
proposed to be vested with power obnoxious to
safe republican government. The Senate al
ways confirmed the Presidents Cabinet, and
party utilization did not weigh in the confrma-
ton Of such nominations
In order to test the feeling of the Senate on
the claims Of the bill repeating the sections of
the Revised Statutes that provide for new cleo
tlcn. Mr.. Edmunds moved that the clause be
stricken out He added to the objections stated
the further one that, if any of the officers
named for the succession should die or go out
OF Office during vacation Of the Senate, the
President would have absolute power to appoint
his successor without confirmation by the SEN
ate Mr. Edmunds inquired Of Mr.. Hoar what
would happen unler we cs.., 70 case G. tempo
rary inability, as by sickness
Mr.. Hoar replied that that had always been a
deoated question under the existing lava ques-
ton which the judiciary committee had tried to
deal with by bill defining inability under the
Constitution. The committee had not in this
BILL undertaken to deal with the difficulty.
Mr.. Beck regretted that Mr.. Edmunds had
seen anything Revolutionary" in what he (Mr
Beck had said. What he had said was merely
intended to convey the idea that, having no sort
OF respect for the political methods of the sena-
tor from Vermont he Mr.. Beck would not
have been in hot haste to have elected him
PRESIDENT pro tenn of the Senate, while the
House of Representatives were electing a
Speaker on the same day, under the forms of
law. lie had no treason, conspiracy revolu-
ton in mind when ne said that.
Mr.. hdmunds did not think the Republicans
expected Democratic help in electing President
pro tempore, but they did suppose that the
State of Kentucky would perform her constitu-
tloLal duty, and send here senators who would
perform theirs The Democratic senators. in
1881, refused to allow the swearing in of three
duly-elected Republican senators, until after the
election of a Democratic President pro tenn, in
hope that, when once in, he would be able to
keep in, contrary to the will of the Senate and of
the people That enterprise, Mr.. Edmunds said,
had failed and he was happy to believe that in this
republic all revolutionary enterprises would
fail. as they had failed hitherto whether carried
on on large or a small scale If there had
been no Democra1 &c quorum present at the
meeting of the House of Representatives, and
the Republicans had filibustered a week or two
to prevent the election of Democratic Speaker,
would not that come pretty near being moral
lesson on the part of the Republican minority?
He thought so; but. for aught he knew, what
was treason in a Republican was patriotism in
Democrat.
Mr. Morgan favored the bill as it came from
the committee and strongly opposed the idea
that the President pro tenn. was the proper per-
son to be invested with the presidential func
tons In case of vacancy. The President of the
Senate should be in the Senate. He illustrated
some of the inconvenience that might result
from that officer becoming President of the
United States. Suppose" said Mr. Morgan,
that tine Senator from Illinois Mr. Logan, who
has been distinguished soldier, should be Presi-
dent pro tempore of the Senate, and should sue
coed to the presidential functions, and war
with any foreign power should arise, and he saw
fit to take command of the armies in the field
Could he keep his place as President
pro tempore of the Senate9 Certainly not.
The Senate would have to elect another
President pro tempore. and if it did he might
take the command of the armies from the Sena-
tor of Illinois. If the President pro tempore of
the Senate were Acting President he would be
voting on bills in the Senate and vetoing them as
President. The officers to be selected for the
presidential functions should belong, rather to
the Executive Department and the Secretary of
State should always be an officer who would have
the confidence of the country"
Mr. Teller thought that in case of vacancy,
the people would be better satisfied with an cleo
ton, and he therefore favored Mr.. Edmundss
amendment.
Mr.. Evarts arose and addressed the Senate on
that the Senate go into executive session. The
Senate went into executive session, and, when
the doors were reopened, adjourned.