Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-01
The Succession.

ultus NcNeltuSiOoos WV
letter worthy Of consideration. 1t is
as follows:
To the Editor Of The Dispatch:
Precedent has established the fact
that when a President of the United
States dies the Vice.President is recog'
pjzcd as President, but | do not think
that such was the intent of the trainers
Of our Constitution, and the very sub
stance of that portion Of it quoted by
you in your leader Of the 9th of No
vember abundantly satisfies me of the
fact. You say 1T provides that in
case of the removal Of the President
from office, or Of his death, resignation,
o. inability TO discharge the po~ers and
duties of said office" the same " shall
devolve on the Vice-President," ttalics
my own.) Now, had il been the intent OF
the trainers Of the Constitution that the
Vice President should become PreSi-
dent, they would, / think, have said so,
and it could have been done in fewer
words than when they said d" the same
shall devolve on the Vice-President."
Instead of using the last-named express
sion, how easy would it have been for
the trainers Of the Constitution (had
such beer their intenO to have said,
"And the Vice-President shall become
President" To my mind it is per-
fectly clear that it was the "duties"
Of the President that would derotce"
on the Vice President, and not the office
itself.
Now, that part of your editorial
printed in italics land quoted by me-
shows that in case of the " disability :"
of the President his duties would de-
rolre on the Vice President" That
fact gives coloriDg as to what was the
true intent Of the trainers Of the Con-
stitution. To illustrate, suppose Mr..
Cleveland should, from some accident
or by long spell of severe sickness
it might be for year or more-become
entirely incapable to discharge his du-
ties, do you not see that by the Consti-
tuition express provision is made that
in such case the duties Of the Office
Of President would derolre on the Vice
President? While that was the case
would any man regard the Vice-Presi-
dent as President and recognize him as
such?
Should Mr.. Cleveland afterwards be
restored to perfect health. is there a
man in the United States who could
Justly deny that he was President, and
had been all the time ne was sick !?
If, then, that part Of the Constitution
which you quote from land it is all en-
braced in one sentence) makes express
provision that in a certain event the
Vice-President shall have devolved on
him the duties Of the President, do you
not see that the real intent was in all
cases that he should discharge the
"duties" of the Office, and not to sue
coed to the office itself? Besides, the
office of President being the highest any
man can fill in our country, great care
seems to have been taken whereby who
ever filed it should be elected, and in
the way the people had provided. Elk
ira caution was used, and so a double
plan was provided whereby the Presi
dent should only become such by al
election.
Our people having just cut loose from
form of government which was KEEP
alive SOY succession " were In no hu
NOR when framing theirs to adopt tina
policy as regards the highest oftic
within the gift Of the States or the PEG
pie thereof. No matter who may dis
charge the duties Of the presidency il
time to come, without change in on
Constitution no man will ever be in fac
President Of the United States unles
such man was elected, and in the man
ner provided by law.
How often do we see it the case tina
in the event of the death or sickness o
some cashier the duties of the ot'ic
(" deyolve" upon the assistant cashier
and yet the latter never become
cashier until he is elected or appointed
1t was an error--or, to say the least, i
conflict with the Constitution lin m
opinion-that the other branches {
the Government ever permitted MI
Tyler to be regarded and recognized
as President. Why it was done you ca
doubtless easily imagine. That, an
three other precedents since, would fol-
ever settle the matter in England, br
the time may come when, if our pei
pie still continue to recognize such pr
cedents, trouble will be the result. I
illustrate Suppose Mr.. Clevelau
: should be overtaken in the manner pr
yiously named, and the man next
succession land who would
= Republican, should get it in
n his head that he became "Pres
= dent" owing to Mr.. Cleveland
n "disability," and after holding b
place lit may be two years. Mr.. Cley
g land should be perfectly restored
|" health, might not the issue be rails,
IS as to which Of them was President
It The longer l live the more convinced
:. am Of the wonderful wisdom and D
triotism Of the men who laid deep Il
n foundations Of the best Government tn
y the wit Of man has ever conceived, al
. . whenever see departure from what
! think they meant cannot help thin
!, ing that il is not for the best.
n "MAc."